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Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (IL-OIB)

Federal formula grant program funding state agencies to deliver independent living services to individuals age 55 or older with severe visual impairment. Services help older blind individuals maintain daily functioning and community independence, reducing family caregiving burden. Administered by RSA at the U.S. Department of Education through grants to Designated State Agencies (DSAs) serving individuals who are blind.

IL-OIB is a federal formula grant program for state VR agencies serving older individuals who are blind. RSA says the program supports services for individuals age 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult but for whom independent living goals are feasible. Funds support independent living services, service expansion, and public understanding; examples include adjustment to blindness, meal preparation, housekeeping, grooming, orientation and mobility, and assistive technology. Grantees are state VR agencies for people who are blind or combined VR agencies, and states must match every $9 of federal funds with $1 nonfederal cash or in-kind resources. ED publishes state and territory award/contact histories; specific local service availability and annual performance metrics belong in the resource/performance inventory.

Eligibility

  • Care recipient must have a qualifying disability
  • Care recipient age: at least 55

Services

IL-OIB is a federal formula grant program for state VR agencies serving older individuals who are blind. RSA says the program supports services for individuals age 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult but for whom independent living goals are feasible. Funds support independent living services, service expansion, and public understanding; examples include adjustment to blindness, meal preparation, housekeeping, grooming, orientation and mobility, and assistive technology. Grantees are state VR agencies for people who are blind or combined VR agencies, and states must match every $9 of federal funds with $1 nonfederal cash or in-kind resources. ED publishes state and territory award/contact histories; specific local service availability and annual performance metrics belong in the resource/performance inventory.

How to apply

Use the official program page for application details: official program page.

  • rehab-title7-cil (companion): Title VII Chapter 1 CILs also serve individuals with disabilities but are transferred to ACL/HHS; OIB targets 55+ with severe visual impairment under separate ED authority
  • nfcsp (companion): NFCSP provides caregiver support for adults 60+; OIB provides direct services to the older blind individual reducing caregiving burden