American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Winter 2025 WHAT�S HAPPENING
NFB National Scholarships
https://nfb.org/scholarships
Every year the NFB awards thirty merit-based scholarships of $8,000 to postsecondary students who are legally blind in both eyes; who reside in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico; and who will be at least eighteen years of age by July 8, 2025. Applicants must be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time postsecondary course of study in a degree-granting program at a US institution in the fall; and must participate in person in the entire NFB National Convention and in all of its scheduled scholarship program activities. Some exceptions may be made for part-time students.
In addition to the NFB National Scholarships, academic scholarships also are available through many NFB state affiliates. Check your affiliate webpage to learn about scholarship opportunities.
Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/affordable-colleges-for-students-with-disabilities
This site offers a compendium of resources for students with a full range of disabilities, including blindness, deafness, cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, autism, and traumatic brain injury.
No Limits to Learning
Colorado Center for the Blind
http://cocenter.org
Contact: Chaz Davis, [email protected]
Dates: June 4-July 2, 2025
Ages: 15 and older
Application Deadline: April 18, 2025
The Colorado Center for the Blind is excited to offer again its No Limits to Learning program for blind teens and young adults. The program encourages and challenges students every day and helps them come to understand their potential as they build the skills and confidence to live the lives they want. Students connect with a positive community of thriving blind people who teach nonvisual skills and foster confidence.
Summer EDGE Program for Blind and Low-Vision High School Students: Exploration, Determination, Growth, Empowerment
Louisiana Center for the Blind, Ruston, LA
https://www.louisianacenter.org/edge
Contact: Rosy Carranza: 410-493-9584
[email protected]
Dates: June 15-July 5, 2025
Application Deadline: March 14, 2025
EDGE is an independence-building program and career-focused residential training program for blind and low-vision students in grades 9-12. Throughout the program students will explore career paths and participate in work-based learning opportunities; cultivate the motivation, self advocacy, and motivation and perspective to achieve their goals; boost their blindness skills, increase their independence, and gain confidence; and obtain the tools and mentorship to shape their future. Staff include experienced teachers of blind students and blind mentors who will provide support and guidance. Students will participate in fun evening and weekend activities to make their time extra memorable.
Funding for these programs is typically available through state vocational programs under the Pre-ETS or transition programs.
NFB STEM2U
https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/nfb-stem2u
NFB is excited that program dates for the 2025 youth STEM program are now available. Blind youth are invited to embark on a transformative day of discovery and innovation as they dive into the world of the scientific method. Participants will engage in hands-on, accessible experiments that harness the power of observation, prediction, and testing to solve real-world challenges. From physics and technology to chemistry and engineering, this year’s activities are designed to inspire curiosity and ignite a love of STEM. Families are encouraged to register their children (K-12) and seize this unforgettable opportunity to fuel their passion for exploration.
Early Connections
http://perkins.org/earlyconnections
Date: May 3, 2025
Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, MA
This conference is designed for families and professionals who have children in their lives ages birth through seven who are blind, deafblind, or low vision, including those who have complex multiple disabilities. The conference offers parents an opportunity to connect with other professionals, access valuable tools and resources to support your child’s growth and development, and join presentations led by experts in the field. This year’s theme, “Expression,” is a celebration of the many ways children and families communicate, connect, and share their unique journeys.
Erica C. Vaughn’s NLS Aspiring Leaders Internship Program
[email protected]
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
The Erica C. Vaughn NLS Aspiring Leaders Internship was established in 2020 to provide legally blind individuals opportunities to work at NLS in areas of study or interest. Assignments may include data input and migration of information for the Braille certification learning management system, development and scanning of Braille music material, writing and editing content for NLS-Produced material, translating written content into various international languages, and more. NLS is a national program that requires staff with diverse skills and educational backgrounds. Applicants must be legally blind, must be US citizens, and must be able to work remotely.
Textbooks in eBRAILLE Format
https://www.aph.org/meet-monarch/mspp/#main
[email protected]
American Printing House for the Blind (APH) will convert textbooks into eBraille format for students using its new Braille and tactile graphics product, the Monarch. The converted file will be sent via email in two to three business days.
Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards
https://nfb.org/form/bolotin.main-content
Contact: Everette Bacon, 801-631-8108
[email protected]
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025
The Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards honor individuals and organizations that make a positive impact on the lives of blind people by raising the expectations of blind people and encouraging blind people to achieve new heights. Winners receive a cash award. Past winners include entrepreneurs, volunteers, filmmakers, authors, and more. The awards are presented annually at the NFB National Convention in July. The Jacob Bolotin Awards are funded by the National Federation of the Blind with assistance from the Alfred and Rosalind Perlman Trust.
Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award
https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award/application
Contact: Carla McQuillan, 541-653-9153
[email protected]
Application Deadline: May 1, 2025
Every year the Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award recognizes an outstanding teacher of blind students. The education of blind children is one of the NFB’s highest priorities. Please help us recognize dedicated and innovative teachers who provide quality education and meaningful experiences and opportunities for their blind students. Anyone who is currently a teacher, counselor, or the administrator of programs for blind students is eligible. Applicants do not have to be members of the National Federation of the Blind, but attending the NFB National Convention is required. Applicants can be nominated by colleagues, parents, supervisors, or friends who have first-hand knowledge of the individual’s work with blind students.
2025 Schneider Family Book Awards
On January 27, 2025, the American Library Association (ALA) announced the recipients of the 2025 Schneider Family Book Awards. These awards honor an author or illustrator for the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Recipients are selected in three categories: young children (birth through age 8), middle grade (age 9 through 13), and teens (age 14-18). Winners receive $5,000 and a framed plaque. The 2025 winners are as follows:
Best Young Children’s Title:
A Little Like Magic, written and illustrated by Sarah Kurpiel (Rocky Pond Books/Penguin Random House)
Honor Titles:
Monster Hands, by Karen Kane and Jonaz McMillan, illustrated by Dion MBD (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Random House)
You’re So Amazing! by James and Lucy Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George (Little, Brown and Company/Hatchette Book Group, Inc.)
Best Middle Grade Title:
Popcorn, by Rob Harrell (Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House)
Honor Titles:
Louder Than Hunger, by John Schu (Candlewick Press)
Shark Teeth, by Sherri Winston (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
Best Teen Title:
Chronically Dolores, by Maya Van Wagenen (Dutton/Penguin Random House)
Honor Titles:
Light Enough to Float, by Lauren Seal (Rocky Pond Books/Penguin Random House)
On the Bright Side, by Anna Sortino (G.P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin Random House)
Bricks for the Blind
https://bricksfortheblind.org
Bricks for the Blind is a nonprofit organization that brings the joy of building LEGO® sets to blind people. By following free text-based instructions, blind and low-vision LEGO enthusiasts can build LEGO sets and enjoy hours of relaxation, independence, and empowerment. Each set of instructions includes information on how a sighted assistant can sort the colored pieces so the blind builder can build independently. The website includes downloadable instructions for 265 LEGO builds, including movie characters, vintage automobiles, forest animals, cityscapes, and more.
Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon 2025
https://www.birdability.org/blind-birder-birdathon
Date: May 18, 2025, 12:01 AM to 11:59 PM
Location: Anywhere
The Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon is a 24-hour birding event designed for participation by birders who are legally blind. This inaugural event encourages participants to identify as many bird species as possible by sound (or sight, as able), celebrating accessibility and the joy of birding. Any legally blind individual in the United States of any age and any level of experience is welcome to participate. Participants can bird solo, with a team, or alongside a sighted assistant. Back-yard birding, traveling teams, an outing on a trail—it’s all welcome. Registration is free.
Educational Technology Survey
https://nfb.org/legal/surveys
The NFB is gathering information regarding the accessibility of educational technology used in our nation’s schools (kindergarten through graduate level). If you are a student, parent, teacher, or administrator who uses screen access software or other accommodations to participate nonvisually in educational programs or services, or if you are the parent, teacher, or administrator of someone who does, please complete the Education Technology Survey once a semester and contribute to this important research.