MISSOURI COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES
Revised May 9, 2006
The Missouri Council of the Blind desires to enrich the lives of legally blind Missourians and believes that an adaptive technology grants program can assist in fulfilling this desire.
The Council realizes the inability of many of the legally blind of Missouri to purchase such equipment, both because of the high cost of the equipment and because of other more pressing financial obligations.
A legally blind Missourian wishing to apply for an adaptive technology grant may do so by any of the following means:
A. The Missouri Council has created an adaptive technology matching grants program in which the legally blind of Missouri may participate and through which they may obtain adaptive equipment.
B. The resources of this program shall be twenty-five thousand dollars. This budget may be increased at the discretion of the Board during any scheduled meeting or by the Assembly in Convention. An individual seeking matching funds is not eligible if they have already purchased the piece of equipment prior to or at the time of applying for said device.
C. Grants, not to exceed three thousand dollars, may be granted to legally blind Missourians, but no person shall be eligible for more than three thousand dollars within a five-year period. Each grant from MCB shall be matched dollar for dollar by the grant applicant. The minimum grant will be not less than one hundred dollars.
A. Grants may be used to purchase new adaptive equipment.
B. The applicant must complete an application, and return it along with exact specifications of the adaptive equipment to be purchased, and three completed statements from the vendor/dealer specifying the purchase prices of the equipment being sought, to the Chair of the Adaptive Technology Grants Committee.
C. The Committee Chair shall notify the MCB office in writing of the decision of the committee. Upon notification of approval of an application, the MCB office shall prepare a check for 50% (fifty percent) of the purchase price of the adaptive equipment listed on the purchase price quotes accompanying the application. Should funding for the program be exhausted, applicants shall be notified of the situation within thirty days after receipt of an application by the Chair. Upon receipt of new funds, these applicants will be contacted to determine if they are still desiring to purchase said equipment.
The amount on the check shall not exceed three thousand dollars and shall provide payment to the vendor of the adaptive technology being purchased. The office shall forward the check to the treasurer of MCB for signing, who will then forward the check, made payable to the vendor of the equipment, to the applicant.
D. What can I do if my application is denied?
The applicant may submit a written appeal to the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board will then vote to accept or deny the appeal. The Chair of the Committee will then notify the applicant of the result of the vote.
A. The Adaptive Technology Grants Committee serves at the pleasure of the MCB President. The Chair is named by the President.
B. The Committee reviews and makes decisions on all applications.
C. It shall notify the applicant in writing of its decision within thirty days of the date the application is received by the Chair of this committee.
D. The Committee Chair may ask the applicant to provide a written or oral report to be given at the Convention, telling how the piece of equipment has enhanced their life.
E. The Committee Chair will prepare a report annually for the Convention.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO ACCOMPANY APPLICATION
*Applicant is to fill in the name, address and phone number of the appropriate agency,
organization, business or physician; sign and date the Release Form and enclose
it with the application.
This is to authorize: