Rehabilitation Services Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (84.177)
Rehabilitation Services Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (Assistance Listing 84.177) is run by the Department of Education. It awarded $160 million in 278 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $575,739 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $357,185. Half of the 278 awards fell between $225,000 and $657,735, and they ranged from $724 to $3.4 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$160 million
- Grant awards278
- Typical award$357,185
- Awarded in FY 2025$30.8 million
- Size rank666 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $32.7 million in fiscal 2021 to $30.8 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 666th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 69% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 55 states and territories.
What the program funds
To provide any independent living services that are described in 34 CFR Section 367.3(b) of the program regulations to older individuals who are blind; improve or expand services for these individuals; and conduct activities to help improve public understanding of the challenges of these individuals.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
The State agency in the 50 States, the District of Columbia the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the territories (Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) designated by the State as the State agency authorized to provide vocational rehabilitation services to blind individuals may apply.
What the money can and cannot pay for
For the training and technical assistance grant: The Secretary must first set aside not less than 1.8 percent and not more than 2 percent of the funds appropriated to the ILOIB program to be used to provide training and technical assistance to Designated State Agencies or other providers of ILOIB services that receive ILOIB program funds. For the ILOIB formula grants: The designated State agency may use funds awarded under the ILOIB program to carry out the activities described in the program objectives section of this document. Among the independent living (IL) services that can be provided to older individuals who are blind are services to help correct blindness, the provision of eyeglasses and other visual aids, services and equipment to enhance mobility and self-sufficiency, mobility training, Braille instruction, and other services and equipment to help older persons who are blind adjust to blindness, as well as other IL services as defined in the Rehabilitation Act and the IL program regulations.
Matching requirements
Statutory Formula: Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Part Section 572, Subpart N/A,Public Law N/A.Doesn't have all the items above.Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Oct 01, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Award range and average, in the agency's words
For FY 2024, the estimated range of State awards (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) under the distribution formula is $225,000 to $3,271,162, with a median award of $405,349. The statutory amount for each of the four territories is $40,000.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Rehabilitation Services Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (84.177) awarded$160 million across 278 grant awards, an average of $575,739 per award.
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 94% of the money, nonprofits 2.3% and colleges and universities 1.9%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 257 | $150 million | 94% |
| Nonprofits | 4 | $3.6 million | 2.3% |
| Other | 15 | $3.1 million | 1.9% |
| Colleges and universities | 2 | $3.0 million | 1.9% |
By state
50 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 5 | $16.7 million |
| Florida | 5 | $11.7 million |
| Texas | 5 | $11.1 million |
| New York | 5 | $9.3 million |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | $6.4 million |
| Illinois | 5 | $5.8 million |
| Ohio | 5 | $5.7 million |
| Michigan | 5 | $4.7 million |
| Georgia | 5 | $4.5 million |
| Mississippi | 7 | $4.3 million |
| New Jersey | 5 | $4.3 million |
| Virginia | 5 | $3.9 million |
| Washington | 5 | $3.4 million |
| Tennessee | 5 | $3.2 million |
| Massachusetts | 5 | $3.1 million |
| Indiana | 5 | $3.0 million |
| Wisconsin | 5 | $2.9 million |
| Missouri | 5 | $2.8 million |
| Maryland | 5 | $2.8 million |
| North Carolina | 4 | $2.6 million |
| Minnesota | 5 | $2.6 million |
| South Carolina | 5 | $2.5 million |
| Alabama | 5 | $2.4 million |
| Colorado | 5 | $2.4 million |
| Arizona | 5 | $2.2 million |
| Kentucky | 5 | $2.1 million |
| Louisiana | 5 | $2.1 million |
| Oregon | 5 | $2.0 million |
| Connecticut | 5 | $1.8 million |
| Oklahoma | 5 | $1.7 million |
| Puerto Rico | 5 | $1.6 million |
| Iowa | 5 | $1.5 million |
| Arkansas | 5 | $1.4 million |
| Kansas | 5 | $1.3 million |
| Nevada | 5 | $1.3 million |
| Maine | 5 | $1.1 million |
| Idaho | 5 | $1.1 million |
| Vermont | 5 | $1.1 million |
| Delaware | 5 | $1.1 million |
| Nebraska | 5 | $1.1 million |
| Alaska | 5 | $1.1 million |
| District of Columbia | 5 | $1.1 million |
| Montana | 5 | $1.1 million |
| North Dakota | 5 | $1.1 million |
| Rhode Island | 5 | $1.1 million |
| South Dakota | 5 | $1.1 million |
| Utah | 5 | $1.1 million |
| West Virginia | 5 | $1.1 million |
| New Mexico | 5 | $1.1 million |
| New Hampshire | 5 | $1.1 million |
| Wyoming | 5 | $952,002 |
| Hawaii | 5 | $449,671 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 5 | $157,797 |
| American Samoa | 5 | $139,680 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 5 | $63,580 |