Click here to view a summary of each scholarship/grant. All Applications are Due May 1st or December 1st.
Click on each scholarship or grant below to complete form.
Student Merit Scholarship
The Arizona chapter of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of Individuals with a Visual Impairment (AZAER) offers a $500 Student Merit Award recognizing an outstanding student between the ages of 4-22 enrolled in a primary, secondary or post-secondary educational program. The student must have a documented visual impairment. The application must be accompanied by the signature of the student’s Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI), who must be a member of AER in good standing.
This is a one-time only scholarship. Recipients may use the funds to attend educational programs outside of the current educational setting or for college education expenses such as tuition, books, and supplies. Recipient must provide receipts related to the program attended in equal amount of the award. The recipient must also submit a letter with a description of the benefits of the program to be read to the general membership of the AZAER at a conference and published in the AZAER Newsletter (AERizona View).
Professional Grant
The Arizona chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AZAER) offers a Professional Mini Grant of up to $500 for an AER member in good standing. The grant may be used by an AZAER Division to host a workshop or conference, send a division member to a conference, publish a newsletter, or purchase books or equipment that will benefit division members. Requirements for the grant vary, depending upon the purpose for which funds are to be used, but may include contributing an article to the AZAER newsletter or presenting at an AZAER conference.
Consumer Grant
The Arizona chapter of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of Individuals with a Visual Impairment (AZAER) offers a Consumer Grant for an individual with a visual impairment. AZAER will award up to $200 for an activity or event that will enhance the individual’s quality of life. This could include activities such as participating in a workshop or conference, taking a class, traveling, purchasing technological equipment or products. To qualify for this grant, the applicant does not have to be a member of AZAER, but does need to be nominated by a member in good standing. Upon completion of the activity or use of the funds, the recipient must submit a description of the activity along with a photo for the AZAER Newsletter (The AERizona View). An applicant can apply once every two years, and funding for all awards is based on the organization’s annual budget.
AZ AER Member Grant
The purpose of AZ AER Member Grants is to assist individuals who work in specific professional support capacities, or who are enrolled in full-time university programs dedicated to preparation for providing services to children or adults with visual impairments, to become members of the AER international organization.
AZ AER Family Fund
Susan Greer worked with families of children birth to age 3 years for over 40 years in Arizona. Her gentle way of meeting each family where they were and guiding them through the first years of their child’s life with a visual impairment was recognized and respected by families and colleagues alike. Susan died in May 2021. Her colleagues wish to carry on her legacy through the AZ AER Family Fund. This fund is administered through the Arizona Chapter of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of Individuals with a Visual Impairment (AZAER). Arizona families of children with visual impairment, including those with complex disabilities and deafblindness, may apply to AZAER which will award up to $200.00 to each recipient. Funds may be used in a way that enhances the child’s and family’s quality of life. Examples of ways funds may be used include:
• glasses or contacts for the child
• low vision aids (magnifier, monocular, video magnifier) for the child to better access visual materials
• braille books to build the child’s love of reading
• a specialized toy to enhance early learning
• costs to attend a conference that will increase the family member’s knowledge and skills to support their child’s development
• membership costs to join an organization that will allow family members to connect with others who have a child with a visual impairment
To qualify for this grant, the applicant does not have to be a member of AZAER, but does need to be nominated by a member in good standing. Following the use of the funds, AZAER would appreciate a written description of how the funds were used and/or a photograph. The written description and/or photograph may be shared with membership through the AZAER newsletter or at a meeting of the membership. An applicant can apply once a year, and funding for all awards is based on donations received for the AZ AER Family Fund.