AFB Research Scholarship Application

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is proud to support the educational and career aspirations of blind students.

Through the generosity of the Lulu J. Alonso Scholarship Fund, the AFB Scholars Program is designed to provide financial assistance, celebrate academic and personal achievements, and empower recipients to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the broader blindness community.

AFB aims to elevate students with exceptional potential, foster future leaders, and build a network of individuals dedicated to creating a more inclusive world. We believe in your ability to make a difference.

The AFB Research Scholarship aims to increase and support the number of blind and low vision students entering the field of applied research. This scholarship is designed to:

  • Support blind students’ long-term career development in the research field during the scholarship period and beyond.
  • Offer mentorship to address the unique barriers blind researchers face.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for an AFB Research Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Legal Blindness: All applicants must be legally blind. Legal blindness is defined as an individual who cannot see better than 20/200 with correction or whose visual field in the best eye is 20 degrees or less at the widest diameter with correction. Applicants must provide official documentation verifying their legal blindness status, including but not limited to medical records, vocational rehabilitation documentation (on letterhead), NLS registration, etc.
  • Age: Must be 18 years or older by the start of the upcoming Fall semester.
  • Academic Enrollment: Applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll as full-time students in a degree-seeking program at an accredited institution for the upcoming Fall semester and conducting research during the academic year under the supervision of a university advisor.
  • Academic Level:
    • Graduate students (Masters or Doctoral)
      • Graduate Award - $28,000 per academic year
    • Advanced undergraduate students who have completed at least one year of research coursework at the university level (e.g. statistics or research methods).
      • Undergraduate Award - $20,000 per academic year
  • U.S. Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of the United States.
  • Minimum GPA: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA (unweighted).

Upon receipt of the scholarship, awardees must maintain the following activities:

  • Mentorship Activities: Scholarship recipients must engage in mentorship activities with a blind or low vision AFB researcher, completing one activity per quarter (or two activities per semester) during the academic year.
  • Conference Participation: Scholarship recipients must attend one pre-approved conference with an AFB leader during the scholarship year, gaining professional and networking experience aligned with their career goals.
  • Annual Progress Report: Scholars will conduct research throughout the year as a part of their academic program under the supervision of their university advisor. At the end of the academic year, scholars must submit a written narrative outlining project milestones and status presented in the scholar’s accepted application as well as their academic and professional growth.

Scholars are eligible to renew the scholarship for the next academic year as long as they continue to meet all eligibility requirements and effectively met all required expectations during the previous year.

Application Requirements

Applications for the 2026 AFB Scholars Program are now closed. Thank you to all who applied!

Selection Process

The selection committee will evaluate applications based on academic achievement, leadership potential, personal growth, and alignment with AFB’s mission. Shortlisted applications will be invited for a 1-hour interview with the committee to further discuss their aspirations and qualifications.

Selection Timeline

  • Applications Open: Tuesday, January 6, 2026
  • Application Deadline: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
  • Interviews Scheduled & Conducted: April 2026
  • Selected Winners Notified: Late May 2026
  • New & Returning Scholar Orientation: July 2026

Need Assistance

If you have any questions about the application process, you may contact us at inclusivefuture@afb.org or by sending a message via our web contact form.