The AG Bell Arts and Sciences Award Program is now open for applications. The Arts & Sciences Award Program is available to students who are deaf and hard of hearing who are in grades one through twelve. Awards allow students to participate in after-school, weekend or summer programs focused on developing skills in the arts or sciences. Programs may be offered through museums, nature centers, art or music centers, zoological parks, space and science camps, dance and theater studios, martial arts studios or any other program with a focus on the arts or sciences. Awards cannot be used for programs that offer academic credit, travel or study abroad, recreational summer camps, sports camps or sports including figure skating or gymnastics.
The 2016 program opens on March 3 and has a deadline of April 15, 2016. Applicants are encouraged to apply early!
2016 Arts & Sciences Award Program Eligibility Criteria
In order to be eligible for this program, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Bilateral hearing loss or Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) must have been diagnosed prior to the child’s fourth birthday (pre-lingual). Note: children with unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss or unilateral ANSD do not qualify.
- The child’s hearing loss must be in the moderately-severe to profound range. This means that the child must have an unaided Pure-Tone Average (PTA) of 55 dB or greater in the better-hearing ear in the speech frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz. Children with cochlear implants meet this eligibility requirement. NOTE: this may not apply for children who have been diagnosed with AN. For information on required documentation for AN, please see the “documentation” section on the Application Submission Instructions page of the application packet.
- Listening and Spoken Language must be the child’s primary mode of communication.
- The child must be at least six (6) years of age and not older than 19 years of age as of December 31, 2015 and currently attending elementary or secondary school (grades 1 through 12).
- The child must be enrolled in or registered for the science or art program selected.
- The child (and primary contact) must reside in the United States, including territories, or in Canada.
Note: AG Bell membership is not required; however, the committee gives preference to AG Bell members.
[PDF] 2016 Arts & Sciences Award Application (print and fill out by hand)
[PDF form] 2016 Arts & Sciences Award Application (fill out on your computer)
Applications may be submitted via e-mail to financialaid@agbell.org or on paper to AG Bell –
AG Bell - Arts & Sciences Financial Aid Program
3417 Volta Place NW
Washington, DC 20007
See more at: https://www.agbell.org/
