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THE 2024 AEBC AND ALLYANT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

  • The application deadline for the 2024 AEBC and Allyant Scholarship Program is Friday, May 17, 2024. All applications and supporting materials must be received by noon Pacific Daylight Time on that date in order to be considered.

  • The scholarship winners will be announced on July 1, 2024, or at the Annual General Meeting in September of 2024.

  • The successful applicants will receive a confirmation email during the first week of June 2024.

  • In September, following confirmation of enrollment for the 2024-25 academic year, recipients will receive their awards.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) is a grassroots organization that works to improve the lives of blind, deafblind and partially sighted Canadians through education, empowerment, and advocacy. Each year, we offer scholarships to recognize outstanding blind, deafblind and partially sighted post-secondary students. This year, scholarships are provided by Allyant and an anonymous donor. In addition, we are honoured to offer special scholarships in memory of Tom Teranishi (donated by the BC Affiliate), Paul and Cheryl Thiele (jointly donated by the BC Affiliate and AEBC National), and John Rae (donated by the AEBC Toronto Chapter). All applicants will be considered for all scholarships; a separate application for each is not required. Previous applicants or past recipients are eligible to reapply if qualified. The AEBC Scholarship Committee reviews all applications and selects all scholarship recipients.

 

Applicant Qualifications

 

Applicants must meet all of the following qualifications:

 

1.  Applicants must be:

A. Blind (no vision or light perception in the better eye, visual acuity of 20/200 or less);

B. Deafblind (combined sight and hearing impairment causes difficulties with communication, access to information and mobility [inability to travel independently due to lack of vision/hearing]); or

C. Partially Sighted (visual acuity of 20/80 or less in the better eye with best correction or a visual field less than 20 degrees [Snellan eye chart.])

2. Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

3. Enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary institution at a college or university, a vocational, educational upgrading, or performing arts program.

4. Exchange students studying abroad, students enrolled in programs not available in Canada, students not accepted into a Canadian program, where the program abroad is clearly superior to those available in Canada, or paying fees to a Canadian educational institution.

5. Enrolled in a minimum of two courses in the 2024-25 academic year in their chosen program.

 

Canada Revenue Agency Requirements:

 

Every payer (AEBC) of a scholarship must issue an information return in prescribed form (T4A Slip) to report the payment. AEBC must report scholarship payments to CRA, even if the recipient may be entitled to exclude all or part of these payments from their income. It is the responsibility of the recipient to determine the amount of any exemption available. Therefore, if the applicant is awarded an AEBC Scholarship, they will be asked to provide their Social Insurance Number to the National Bookkeeper.

 

Membership in AEBC

 

Because we in AEBC believe that membership benefits those who are blind, deafblind and partially sighted both collectively and individually, an annual membership in AEBC will be granted to all non-member first-time applicants. This affords these applicants an opportunity to learn about and participate in our organization beyond the scholarship process.

 

Completing and Submitting the Application

 

Previous recipients or new applicants must:

 

1.    Submit an application in either English or french;

2.    Ensure that the application is complete, including all of the following:

a)   The application form: complete online or download Word version here;

b)   A copy of your most recent transcript;

c)   A personal essay about yourself, approximately 2000 words in length; (NOTE: We can only know applicants through the information you provide.) The essay should include:

  • A description of your visual condition and any additional medical or disability information that may be relevant;

  • The challenges you have faced as a result of your disability and how you have conquered them;

  • Your personal interests;

  • Your academic goals;

  • School activities;

  • Work/volunteer experience;

  • Your views about the meaning of accessible education, discussing preferred formats for accessing information (digital and internet access), and the role self-advocacy plays in your success as a student;

  • The role of self-advocacy throughout your daily life;

  • Explain the importance of your community involvement including an accomplishment or unexpected outcome of this activity that has made you feel proud of yourself.

d)   A letter of reference written within the past twelve months;

e)   A short autobiography (less than 200 words in length) to be used on social media should you be chosen as a successful applicant.

 

Should there be any questions about the application process, please contact the Scholarship Committee at scholarship@blindcanadians.ca.

 

Application Deadline: May 17, 2024 by noon Pacific Time.

 

Send all required documents as separate attachments emailed to: scholarship@blindcanadians.ca. Pdf's or other image filetypes will not be accepted unless they are transcripts or letters of reference.

 

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.


IMAGE ALT TEXT: Students in graduation gowns throwing caps into the air.

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