Federal Grant Award Summary

The Department of Services for the Blind Washington received a Formula Grant award of $672,541 from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) for the period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, under the Rehabilitation Services Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind program (CFDA 84.177). This funding supports the delivery of comprehensive independent living services designed to help older individuals who are blind or visually impaired maintain autonomy and enhance community integration within Washington State.

The grant funds support a range of specialized interventions tailored to visually impaired seniors, including vocational assessments, career counseling, job training, assistive technology support, and targeted independent living assistance. The Department administers this program as the designated state unit and routinely sub-awards portions of grant funding to local workforce boards, nonprofit partners, and state agencies to maximize service delivery reach across Washington's communities. The award is part of a nationwide formula grant program that distributes funding across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico based on population-based allocation formulas.