BRIEF Fund: What Is It?

The Arizona Council of the Blind (AzCB) has established the Blindness Related Intervention Expense Fund (BRIEF), which will enable people who are legally blind to become more independent or productive members of the community with an improved quality of life.  The BRIEF program is designed to provide a one-time grant not to exceed $1,000.00 for Assistive Technology (AT) to residents of Arizona who are legally blind. 

Assistive technology is defined as any device or piece of equipment that enables people to maintain or improve their functioning at home, school, work or play. This includes both devices and services.   

Assistive technology includes mechanical, electronic, and computer-based equipment, non-mechanical or non-electric aid, or specialized instructional materials. The types of AT devices and services covered under this grant program include but are not limited to: 

• Daily Living Aids - devices for use in daily activities such as eating, dressing, bathing, cooking, and cleaning, etc.
• Computer Applications - devices, which assist a person in using a computer, such as, keyboard adaptations and special software to assist in learning.
• Vision Aids - devices such as large print computer screens, eyeglasses and other low-tech aids, text magnifiers and other reading devices.
• Communication Aids - devices such as scanners with speech synthesizers.  

The BRIEF grant applications are accepted and disbursed three (3) times per year.  Applications are due by January 1, May 1, and September 1 for disbursements paid to the vendor or provider of services in February, June, and October.  

Grant applications will only be considered for the grant period for which they are received. Notification of grant awards will be made within the published grant period. All award recipients are selected at the sole discretion of the Arizona Council of the Blind board of directors. 

The Arizona Council of the Blind holds no right or title to the supplies provided and is not responsible for any cost beyond the granted amount. If the actual costs of goods provided to the grant recipient are less than the grant amount, the Arizona Council of the Blind shall retain any unused portion. 

How to Apply to the BRIEF Fund?

To be considered for the BRIEF fund, applications must be received by the due dates specified above by their respective quarterly dates. Your completed packet must include the following:

1. A completed grant contact application form
2. Statement of what is the expected outcome (goal) from the purchase of the device or service
3. Detailed description of the device or services needed to achieve the stated goal and how these will be used to achieve the goal
4. Documentation regarding the cost of goods and/or services. (Documentation should include such information as price quotes, price lists, invoices, etc.)
5. Point of Contact to verify legal blindness as defined by the following: Legally blind means central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens or a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees.

The grant-contact form portion of the application packet is available in Word format. Once it has been completed, use the save as command to save your file and attach it along with the rest of the required documentation and either email it to us, or print it out and mail it to the contact information provided below.

Submit completed applications to arizonaacb@gmail.com include "BRIEF fund" in the subject line. You may also submit your application by mail to the following address:

For further assistance, or to request an application by phone, call (602) 273-1510. All information submited is kept confidential between the applicant and the BRIEF fund trustees.

Support the efforts of the BRIEF fund

If you'd like to help support the BRIEF fund and keep it's mission continuing, consider making a tax-deductible donation to future efforts.