Braille Training Program

Overview

The [2026] Braille Training program offers financial assistance to projects that will (1) provide training in the use of braille for personnel providing vocational rehabilitation (VR) services or educational services to youth and adults who are blind; (2) develop braille training materials; (3) develop methods used to teach braille; and (4) develop activities used to promote the knowledge and use of braille and nonvisual access technology for youth and adults who are blind. The Braille Training program partners with States and public nonprofit agencies and organizations, including institutions of higher education, to provide information, material, equipment, and training in braille instruction. The support provided by the program will increase the knowledge and skills of personnel providing VR services or educational services to youth and adults who are blind. 

Priorities 
This notice includes one absolute priority. For FY 2026, and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications for this competition, the absolute priority is a priority as reflected in this document.  

Absolute Priority: We consider only applications that meet the absolute priority.  
Under this priority, we provide grants for the establishment or continuation of projects that provide— (1) Development of braille training materials; (2) In-service or pre-service training in the use of braille, the importance of braille literacy, and methods of teaching braille to youth and adults who are blind; and (3) Activities to promote knowledge and use of braille and nonvisual access technology for blind youth and adults through a program of training, demonstration, and evaluation conducted with leadership of experienced blind individuals, including the use of comprehensive, state-of-the art technology.

See full funding opportunity announcement for Selection Criteria and Performance Measures.