Hello Christa,
You can try getting a grant from the NFB, the US Department of
Labor, or you can solicit help from your student counselors.
However, below is a list by state of aid and or grants you can
ask for. I'm sending the complete list because I don't know your
state. I hope you can get some help from one of these sources.
Sammie Clay
Phone numbers for agencies are listed at the
bottom of this message.
Loans for Assistive Equipment. Advances in technology can
open up new opportunities for blind and visually
impaired people, but the cost is often prohibitive.
Thanks to the so-called "Tech Act" of 1988,
most states now have programs that offer Americans with
disabilities low-interest, long-term loans
to purchase assistive equipment. Amounts and repayment terms
vary from state
to state.
It is not hard to qualify--even people with a poor
credit history may get a loan. A 2002 survey found that 70
percent of
loan recipients were unemployed; 48 percent were over 60 years
old; 40 percent lived in rural areas; and the
median monthly income was $1,742. Commonly purchased items
included computers
with adaptive hardware and software, mobility equipment,
hearing aids and low-vision aids.
Almost 80 percent of loan applications were
approved, for amounts ranging from $79 to $90,000; the
median was $4,200.
To apply: (1) Determine the specific device you need (make,
model, manufacturer), where it will be purchased, and the
price.
Ask your medical or rehabilitation professional for a
prescription. (2) Get together basic data about yourself: your
disability, when it began, and cause;
employment history; family gross income;
monthly expenses--rent, utilities, loan payments, health
insurance, medical costs; names and
ages of dependents.
For readers without access to the Internet, here are
contact phone numbers for each state. Those with
computers may visit
wwwddresnaddorg
and
wwwdda41taddcom.
Agencies by state:
Alabama, 800-782-7656.
Alaska, 800-770-0138.
Arizona, 800-477-9921.
Arkansas, 800-828-2799.
California, 800-390-2699.
Colorado, 800-255-3477.
Connecticut, 800-537-2549.
Delaware, 800-870-3284.
District of Columbia, 202-547-0198.
Florida, 888-788-9216.
Georgia, 800-497-8665.
Hawaii, 800-645-3007.
Idaho, 800-432-8324.
Illinois, 800-852-5110.
Indiana, 800-528-8246.
Iowa, 800-331-3027.
Kansas, 800-526-3648.
Kentucky, 877-675-0195 ext. 25.
Louisiana, 800-270-6185.
Maine, 207-621-3195.
Maryland, 800-832-4827.
Massachusetts, 800-848-8867.
Michigan, 800-760-4600.
Minnesota, 800-657-3862.
Mississippi, 800-852-8328.
Missouri, 800-647-8557.
Montana, 800-732-0323.
Nebraska, 888-806-6287.
Nevada, 775-687-4452.
New Hampshire, 800-238-2048.
New Jersey, 800-342-5832.
New Mexico, 800-866-2253.
New York, 800-522-4369.
North Carolina, 919-850-2787.
North Dakota, 800-265-4728.
Ohio, 800-784-3425.
Oklahoma, 800-257-1705.
Oregon, 800-677-7512.
Pennsylvania, 800-204-7428.
Puerto Rico, 800-981-6033.
Rhode Island, 800-916-8324.
South Carolina, 800-922-1107.
South Dakota, 800-645-0673.
Tennessee, 800-732-5059.
Texas, 800-828-7839.
Utah, 435-797-3824.
Vermont, 800-639-1522.
Virginia, 800-435-8490.
Virgin Islands, 340-693-1323.
Washington, 800-841-8345.
West Virginia, 800-841-8436.
Wisconsin, 414-225-2910.
Wyoming, 800-735-8322.
___
Replies to this message will go directly to the sender.
If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a
copy to the list as well.
To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit
http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
