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2010 NFB Scholarship Program FAQ

The scholarship program of the National Federation of the Blind regularly receives between 400 and 500 applications per year, from which our NFB Scholarship Committee chooses thirty winners--only thirty out of all who apply. All scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, community service, and financial need.

The updated application form for each year’s new scholarship program for college students is posted in November on www.nfb.org/scholarships with a deadline for submission of all documents on March 31 of the following year. Scholarships are given to the top blind applicants each year during the NFB’s annual convention banquet in July. The funds are made available for the fall semester following the banquet.

How can you stand out as one of the top thirty applicants? In addition to reading the questions and answers below, we recommend students who are new to the process of applying for college scholarships talk with their school counselors or financial aid officers for tips on how to stand out in a crowd of other applicants. If your question is not answered below, please e-mail us at: scholarships@nfb.org.

The NFB has two award programs with similar names. What is the difference between the $12,000 Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship and the NFB Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund?

ANSWER: The $12,000 Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship is funded by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults (AAF) in memory of the man who changed perceptions regarding the capabilities of the blind in this country and the world. It is the most prestigious scholarship of the 30 national-level awards in the NFB Scholarship Program.

The NFB’s Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund assists individuals who need some financial assistance to attend our national convention, especially first-time convention attendees. The Braille Monitor, January issue, announces the application procedure each year. Applicants are not eligible to win any of the 30 college scholarships and the convention scholarship in the same year.
Do I have to be an NFB member to be eligible for an NFB college scholarship? Do nonmembers ever win?

ANSWER: You do not have to be a member to apply or to win. Some of our winners, including those who won the $12,000 Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship, had never heard of the National Federation of the Blind before they discovered this scholarship program targeted specifically to those who are legally blind.
What is meant by “legally blind” and “blind?”

ANSWER: If one is legally blind, then one can accurately be considered blind. The words are interchangeable. Legally blind persons are eligible for many programs, including our NFB Scholarship Program. Confirmation of legal blindness by an authority on eye conditions is required for special consideration and disability services from the IRS, Social Security, and other federal, state, and private organizations. The United States Code defines blindness in federal law as follows:

[T]he term "blindness" means central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens. An eye which is accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees shall be considered for purposes in this paragraph as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less.
Social Security Act: 42 U.S.C. § 416(i)(1)(B) (Supp. IV 1986).^[1]

Translation: A person is considered legally blind if the vision in the right eye and the left eye (both eyes) is 20/200 or less when wearing glasses or contacts or both, or if the field of vision for both eyes together is 20 degrees or less.

Beyond the legal definition, if you are interested in the philosophical thoughts of the National Federation of the Blind concerning a definition of “blindness,” go to our literature list.
I am legally blind in one eye. Am I eligible?

ANSWER: No. Only individuals who are legally blind in both eyes qualify for our scholarships. See answer 3.

We are not aware of any scholarship based on having one eye blind. We suggest you consult a high school counselor or the staff in a financial aid office at a community college or university. They know the ins and outs for finding compatible scholarships.
I am visually impaired because I can see some. Am I eligible?

ANSWER: Eligibility depends on your most recent eye test. (See answer 3.) Among those who are legally blind, only 20 percent are totally blind; the rest have 10 percent or less of normal vision. For example, blind persons with only central vision may read ordinary print books without difficulty but cannot see someone walking toward them who is outside their narrow cone of vision. There are many other variations.

If you are not legally blind but you are running into problems in college because of a visual impairment, we can often help you find workable solutions. We suggest you join our listserv for blind college students and ask their advice as problems come up. (Go to www.nfbnet.org.)
How do I prove I’m blind?

ANSWER: You must obtain and send proof of blindness with your application form. This may be a completed print copy of our Adobe PDF form, Confirmation of Legal Blindness (which we prefer) or a statement on letterhead, and either one must be signed by a certifying authority. The certifying authority may be a professional in eye care, a medical doctor, a professional in the education or rehabilitation of persons who are legally blind, or a president of an NFB chapter or affiliate. If we cannot tell from the document you send to us whether you are blind according to the legal definition, you will not be considered eligible for our scholarships. As other services offered to blind Americans also require such proof, it will be to your benefit to obtain and hold a master copy of such documentation.
Am I eligible if I live outside the United States of America and do I have to be a citizen?

ANSWER: You do not have to be a citizen of the USA. However, our national scholarships are restricted to blind persons who live and attend school where we have an affiliate of our organization. The National Federation of the Blind has 52 affiliates in the USA, including all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. If you live anywhere else, you are not eligible.
Am I eligible if I am an American but the college I attend is located outside the United States of America? What if my college is located in America but the course I will attend in the fall takes place in another country?

ANSWER: To be eligible, during the fall semester following the award program in July, you must be enrolled in an accredited university located in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia. You are still eligible if you attend a program or course this college offers outside the United States.
Am I eligible for these scholarships if I am participating in correspondence courses, such as those offered by the Hadley School for the Blind?

ANSWER: No. Students must be attending an accredited university. See answer 8.
How much of the convention do I have to attend? What if I have an internship that prevents me from coming the first day or staying on the last day? What if I am best man at a wedding or am ill the week of convention?

ANSWER: In order to be eligible for any of the 30 scholarships, you must attend the entire convention, no exceptions. If an internship or similar obligation comes up, we may be able to help you negotiate time off with your employer or the school. The NFB assists winners to attend the convention as one of the valuable gifts we give each winner in addition to the award. Winners in the past discovered the benefits they received from attending the largest convention of the blind in America endured well beyond the one-time check for a scholarship.
Several of the scholarships apply to me, so should I send several applications?

ANSWER: No. Submit one application form with the required attachments in order to be considered by the NFB Scholarship Committee for all 30 awards. There is no benefit from submitting additional applications. The committee will decide which of the 30 winners will receive which award after meeting and talking with the winners at convention. Their decisions are final.
What if I want to write more than 1,000 words in my essay?

ANSWER: Our committee members must read and judge about 500 applications. They do not admire long essays. They prefer and request essays no longer than 1,000 words (about two typed pages with the font set at 12 points.)

The committee members want to know what sets you apart from other applicants. The best essays tell them about your most notable qualities, give examples of your demonstrated leadership ability and community involvement, explain how you handle your blindness, and mention your plans for the future. The best essays use correct English grammar and spelling, are not boring, and never, ever ramble on. We recommend you first write your essay with word processing software, edit it, proofread it, then cut and paste the finished essay into the online form or add the essay pages to a print application form. Committee members give it a great deal of attention.
Should I send my photograph?

ANSWER: No. Photographs are irrelevant.
Should I send the original or a copy of my ACT and SAT scores, certificates of achievement, or any other proofs of my awards and grades?

ANSWER: Proof of college entrance exam scores is a requirement only for high school students entering their freshman year of college. When sending test scores or proof of other achievements, never send the original; send a clear copy. To send a transcript of your grades and grade point average (GPA), in most cases, not you but your school will send a copy of your transcript directly to our office in Baltimore.
How many letters of reference do I really need? Is it better if I get more letters? Who should write these letters? Who sends them in?

ANSWER: Two letters are required, more letters are acceptable, but remember the committee is sorting through about 500 entries so, to make the best impression, do not go overboard. Any letter of reference should come from an authoritative source and should provide verification of your excellence with examples of your level of scholarship, ability as a leader, community involvement, or fineness of character, or all of these points. Some letters are sent to our office by the person writing the letter; some letters are sent by the student. We accept letters via mail and via e-mail to scholarships@nfb.org.
What if my state’s agency for the blind (our vocational rehabilitation agency) tries to count my merit-based NFB scholarship as income in order to reduce their funding of my education?

ANSWER: The NFB obtained a ruling from the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration that specifies that any merit-based scholarships you win may not be considered when state agencies are deciding how much college funding to give to you. Contact us immediately if your agency is unaware of this ruling and we will help you educate them.
Beyond the scholarships, does the National Federation of the Blind have any other services which might benefit me as a blind college student?
ANSWER: Yes, many. Here are just a few of the many useful benefits.
- Free listservs on many subjects, such as the Reader-Users listserv for those using or interested in the knfbReader Mobile, the JOBS listserv for blind job seekers, and “BlindLaw,” a listserv for blind persons in the legal professions. Go to www.nfbnet.org to see the entire list of discussion groups.
- Seminars for blind college students on the national level twice a year, and from time to time on the state and local level. Contact the National Association of Blind Students (NABS) for dates and topics.
- National divisions for blind college students and for persons networking with each other in many employment fields--lawyers, teachers, scientists and engineers, journalists, rehabilitation professionals, and many more. Visit our Divisions and Committees page.
- Nationwide networking with blind professionals in many fields.
- The NFB annual convention: See the August-September issues of the Braille Monitor to discover what has happened at previous national-level conventions. The 2010 annual convention will be held in Dallas, Texas, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel from July 3 to July 8.
- Two national periodicals for blind Americans: Braille Monitor (monthly: cassette, large print, Braille, online, via e-mail), and Future Reflections (six times per year for parents and teachers of blind children: cassette, large print, online). To learn more, read a sample issue, or subscribe, visit our Publications page.
- The International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind: This is the world’s largest laboratory for accessible technology for blind persons. E-mail technology questions to access@nfb.org or call its Tech Answer Line at (410) 659-9314, extension 5. Free tours by appointment (Baltimore, Maryland).
- NFB-NEWSLINE^®: This service offers access to 300 newspapers and magazines, all free by phone to eligible persons in most states or download from the Internet to your portable device for reading on the go. For subscription information, please call toll free 1-866-504-7300 or go to the NEWSLINE page.
- Free long white canes: Complete a free white cane application online, or call (410) 549-9314, extension 2287, and ask for a print copy.
- Free literature is available on many aspects of blindness (go to the Literature page).
- Aids and appliances designed for blind persons sold at cost from our Independence Market. Call (410) 659-9314, extension 4, or go to the Independence Market online.
- Information on laws and regulations affecting blind Americans (Go to the Laws and Legislation page).
How can I learn more about the NFB?

ANSWER: We suggest you begin by exploring www.nfb.org and www.nfbnet.org. For NFB’s projects, both current and in the past, read our national magazine, the Braille Monitor. Local chapters of the National Federation of the Blind meet once a month; state conventions and the national convention are held once a year. To locate your nearest local chapter, contact the president of your state affiliate. NFB meetings are open to the public and visitors are welcome.
Who do I contact if I have further questions about the NFB Scholarship Program?

ANSWER: If you have a particular question not covered here, please contact the chairperson of the NFB Scholarship Committee. E-mail is preferred: scholarships@nfb.org. Here is his contact information:

Mr. Anil Lewis, Chairman, NFB Scholarship Program
Mentoring The Blind Leaders Of Tomorrow

Mailing address:
Scholarship Committee
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
at Jernigan Place
200 East Wells Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230

E-mail: scholarships@nfb.org
Office (8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Eastern time): (410) 659-9314, extension 2415

Return to www.nfb.org/scholarships