All USA USA Territories: American Samoa (USA); Guam (USA); Puerto Rico (USA); Virgin Islands (USA); Northern Mariana Islands (USA); Canada:Alberta; British Columbia; Manitoba; New Brunswick; Newfoundland and Labrador; Northwest Territories; Nova Scotia; Nunavut; Ontario; Prince Edward Island; Quebec; Saskatchewan; Yukon;
Grants to USA, territories, and Canada children and youth with hearing loss for extracurricular activities. Funding is intended to provide students in grades 1-12 with the opportunity to participate in organized summer, weekend, or after-school programs focused on the sciences or arts.
The activities that are eligible for Arts & Sciences awards are after-school, weekend or summer programs focused on the sciences or arts. A program must be organized - that means it is held by a specific organization like a YMCA or a nature center - or by someone offering private lessons in music or voice.
The review committee especially looks for applications for programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) like space camp, math camp, marine science camps, “Science for Girls” programs, etc. Many museums and local children’s organizations offer wonderful programming in these areas. Some colleges offer programs or not-for-credit classes that give middle or high school students the opportunity to learn more about the sciences. The committee also accepts applications for programs or activities in the performing arts like acting, dance or music lessons.
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)
Additional Eligibility Criteria
Your child must meet all of the following criteria:
- Bilateral hearing loss or Auditory Neuropathy must have been diagnosed before your child’s fourth birthday (pre-lingual). Note: Children with unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss or unilateral auditory neuropathy do not qualify.
- Your child’s hearing loss must be in the moderately-severe to profound range. Children with cochlear implants already meet this eligibility requirement. If your child uses hearing aids, your child must have an unaided Pure Tone Average (PTA) of 55 dB or greater in the better-hearing ear, in the frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz. For more information, https://www.agbell.org/Portals/26/PDFs/Financial%20Aid/Guidelines%20AS%202023.pdf?ver=D2QFw9rLP0MOL9F1HZPotw%3d%3d#page=1.
- Listening and Spoken Language must be your child’s primary mode of communication.
- Your child must be in grades 1 through 12 at the time you apply.
- Your child must be enrolled in or registered for the science or art program selected.
Note: All eligible applicants will receive a free AG Bell membership.
Ineligible
Applications are not accepted for programs that offer academic credit, travel or study abroad, recreational summer camps, sports camps or team sports.
Pre-Application Information
The deadline for applications is February 27, 2023. All materials MUST ARRIVE together in one package at AG Bell before 5:00pm EST on February 27, 2023.
There are two ways to submit your application – in paper form by regular mail or in pdf form by email. AG Bell prefers that you submit by email.
You must submit two separate letters of recommendation from different individuals. Letters of Recommendation must be signed. An email message from one of your recommenders is not acceptable.
Please do not wait until the deadline to submit your application. If received early enough, this will give staff time to let you know if anything is missing from your application.
If you would like to know whether or not your application was received, you may choose to request a Delivery Receipt when sending e-mail or send your application using a service that can confirm delivery (like certified USPS mail, UPS, FedEx, etc). Please do not request a delivery signature as this may delay delivery of your application. AG Bell does not accept responsibility nor make exceptions for any delays or delivery errors on the part of delivery services including delays due to the requirement of a signature.
Faxed applications are not accepted under any circumstances. Late and incomplete applications are not considered under any circumstances. Applications are not returned for any reason.
Please do not contact AG Bell seeking an exception to these policies.
Administrative Processes Staff reviews all applications for eligibility and completeness. If they cannot move forward with your application, they will let you know by e-mail. Eligible applications are then sent to the committee. Once the selection committee has conducted its review, AG Bell will send you an e-mail to let you know of the committee’s decision. Award checks usually take eight to ten weeks to be processed after the award notice has been sent. All communications are via e-mail; if you do not provide an e-mail address, you will not receive notifications from AG Bell.
Response time may be up to three business days for questions, so please ask them well in advance of the deadline.
