For a number of years, Arlington County, VA has been awarding grants to non-profit organizations in the community who help residents with disabilities. The grants are administered by Arlington’s Disability Advisory Commission, which has released the grant application packet for the 2015-2016 Regional Grants to Disability Groups.

Grants are awarded to non-profit groups providing services to Arlington residents with physical and sensory disabilities. Successful projects increase or maintain independence and community integration through empowerment focused services.

Previous grants have included:

• Case management services for residents with hearing impairments.
• Dance and movement workshops to Arlington County residents with mobility and sensory-based disabilities to increase their physical and psychosocial health and recreational opportunities.
• Case management for Arlington residents with brain injuries, including assistance in achieving autonomy and self-sufficiency through cognitive rehabilitation, life skills training, mental health counseling, assistive technology information and training, medical specialist evaluations and job coaching/services for people who are blind or visually impaired, including independent living skills, assistive technology, volunteer readers and shoppers, promoting independence and providing tools to assist in maintaining independence with vision loss.

These grant awards are for two fiscal years, FY2015 and FY2016. Average grants are approximately $20,000, but vary depending on the project. Grant proposals are due no later than Monday September 30, 2013. The Disability Advisory Commission will review proposals and make funding recommendations to the County Board in early 2014.

The Grant Proposal Application Packet may be downloaded on the Disability Advisory Commission’s webpage. Contact Anna Maynard at 703-228-7096 (v/tty) or amaynard@arlingtonva.us for further information.