Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (IL-OIB) grants to States under Title VII, Chapter II of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, supports services for individuals age 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult to obtain but for whom independent living goals are feasible.
Types of Projects
Funds are used to provide independent living services to older individuals who are blind, to conduct activities that will improve or expand services for these individuals, and to conduct activities to improve public understanding of the problems facing these individuals. For example, services are provided to help persons served under this program adjust to their blindness by increasing their ability to care for their independent living needs (e.g., meal preparation, housekeeping, grooming, orientation and mobility), and to use assistive technology.
Funding
Formula grants for the IL-OIB program are current-funded. However, the Rehabilitation Act contains a provision allowing all Title VII grantees to carry over unobligated funds for an additional fiscal year. States participating in the IL-OIB program must match every $9 of federal funds with $1 in nonfederal cash or in-kind resources in the year for which the federal funds are appropriated. Grantees must obtain approval from the Secretary of an application that meets the requirements of section 752(h) of the Rehabilitation Act and 34 C.F.R. §§ 367.30 and 367.31 of the implementing regulations.
Reallotment
Each Federal fiscal year (FFY), RSA completes reallotment in the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind program if funds are relinquished.
- FY 2025 Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind - Reallotment
- FY 2024 Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind - Reallotment
Legislation
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended by title IV of WIOA
CHAPTER 2—INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND
Regulations
Sub-Regulatory Guidance
DCL-20-01: Revised Instructions for Completing SF-425 for CAP, IL-OIB, and PAIR
Eligibility
State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies for persons who are blind and visually impaired or, in States that do not have a separate agency for persons who are blind, grantees are State VR agencies that serve all individuals with disabilities.
State VR agencies are required to submit the IL-OIB Annual Performance Report (RSA-7-OB) annually no later than December 31 following the Federal fiscal year (October 1 – September 30). The RSA-7-OB collects data on five program measures that assists RSA with assessing the performance of the IL-OIB program.
RSA provides these Reporting Instructions.
View RSA's approval to collect the RSA-7-OB at the Office of Management and Budget. (OMB Control No: 1820-0608).
Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (IL-OIB) grants to States under Title VII, Chapter II of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, supports services for individuals age 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult to obtain but for whom independent living goals are feasible.
Types of Projects
Funds are used to provide independent living services to older individuals who are blind, to conduct activities that will improve or expand services for these individuals, and to conduct activities to improve public understanding of the problems facing these individuals. For example, services are provided to help persons served under this program adjust to their blindness by increasing their ability to care for their independent living needs (e.g., meal preparation, housekeeping, grooming, orientation and mobility), and to use assistive technology.
Funding
Formula grants for the IL-OIB program are current-funded. However, the Rehabilitation Act contains a provision allowing all Title VII grantees to carry over unobligated funds for an additional fiscal year. States participating in the IL-OIB program must match every $9 of federal funds with $1 in nonfederal cash or in-kind resources in the year for which the federal funds are appropriated. Grantees must obtain approval from the Secretary of an application that meets the requirements of section 752(h) of the Rehabilitation Act and 34 C.F.R. §§ 367.30 and 367.31 of the implementing regulations.
Reallotment
Each Federal fiscal year (FFY), RSA completes reallotment in the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind program if funds are relinquished.
- FY 2025 Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind - Reallotment
- FY 2024 Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind - Reallotment
Legislation
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended by title IV of WIOA
CHAPTER 2—INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND
Regulations
Sub-Regulatory Guidance
DCL-20-01: Revised Instructions for Completing SF-425 for CAP, IL-OIB, and PAIR
Eligibility
State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies for persons who are blind and visually impaired or, in States that do not have a separate agency for persons who are blind, grantees are State VR agencies that serve all individuals with disabilities.
State VR agencies are required to submit the IL-OIB Annual Performance Report (RSA-7-OB) annually no later than December 31 following the Federal fiscal year (October 1 – September 30). The RSA-7-OB collects data on five program measures that assists RSA with assessing the performance of the IL-OIB program.
RSA provides these Reporting Instructions.
View RSA's approval to collect the RSA-7-OB at the Office of Management and Budget. (OMB Control No: 1820-0608).