Scholarship Opportunity

Greetings Members and Friends!

The American Council of the Blind’s annual Legislative and Leadership conference will take place from Friday, March 6, through Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (More details will be communicated about the conference as they become available). The Des Moines Chapter of the Iowa Council of the United Blind is pleased to offer five $1,000 scholarships to those who meet eligibility requirements and wish to attend the conference in person.

We strongly encourage all eligible individuals to apply for this valuable opportunity to connect, learn, and grow within the broader national community.

Requirements

1. Eligibility: Applicants must be active members of the Iowa Council of the United Blind, or blind nonmembers who are high school students or clients of the Iowa Department for the Blind and have also never attended the ACB legislative conference.*

2. Application Deadline: Apply for the scholarship by January 10, 2026.

3. Conference Participation: Attend all or the majority of the conference sessions.

4. Post-Conference Report: Provide a verbal or written report about the experience to the chapter and/or in the ICUB bulletin. This report should include information about the issues discussed at key sessions, the reactions of legislators to suggestions made by attendees, and an indication of the overall attitude of legislators regarding the issues facing blind individuals in the United States. The report is not limited to these points, but it should demonstrate that scholarship recipients attended sessions and benefited from their participation.

All those interested in attending and who meet the above requirements are invited to apply.

Priority will be given to:

1. Des Moines chapter and state ICUB members.

2. Members and blind nonmembers who have never attended the ACB legislative conference.

Note: Only one scholarship per household.

Application Process:

For more information or to submit your scholarship application, please send an email to dolinsekcody@gmail.com or call 515-418-1143. Please include your name, whether this is your first time participating in the conference, and your reason for wanting to attend.

We look forward to supporting you in this enriching experience!

Sincerely,

Cody Dolinsek

Des Moines Chapter President

Iowa Council of the United Blind