Assistive Technology Acquisition Grant

What is it?

The Assistive Technology Acquisition Grant (ATAG) is an NCBI initiative which exists to help reduce the cost of assistive technology for people who are blind or vision impaired. The scheme is monitored for NCBI and advised on by the Visually Impaired Computer Society of Ireland (VICS). The ATAG is intended to help meet up to 25% of the cost of assistive technology which is not fully or partly funded by any existing grant arrangements and whose cost is being borne by an individual.

The scheme aims to assist those individuals who for a variety of reasons find themselves having to purchase Screen readers, reading machines (including CCTVs), Braille printers or Braille displays.

How does it work?

• The ATAG can be used to fund up to 25 percent of the cost of a single AT product, provided the item’s price does not exceed €3000.00.
• If a single AT product costs greater than €3000, the ATAG will only cover up to €750 of the purchase price before the application of Value Added Tax (VAT).
• All AT products purchased on or after 1st October 2009 are eligible for funding.
• Only one AT product can be included on each application to ATAG.
• Successful applicants are prohibited from submitting further applications for funding until 12 months have elapsed from the date of their previous successful application.
• Access to the ATAG is limited to people who are blind or vision impaired and who are resident in the Republic Of Ireland.
• Recipients of funding from the ATAG are responsible for any maintenance and upgrades concerned with the AT product purchased under the scheme.

How to apply?

Anyone wishing to avail of the ATAG must submit a completed application form [WORD 36KB] to NCBI. Forms are available from NCBI in print, large print, Braille upon request.

All applications are considered on a case by case basis. NCBI reserves the right to exclude from funding any item of assistive technology which it deems does not conform to what it believes to be appropriate for this scheme.

When does funding come through?

Successful applicants are awarded funds from the ATAG, on submission of a purchase receipt for the product.

If the AT product is to be purchased through NCBI, and if the item has been approved for funding from the ATAG scheme, the cost of the item to the individual will be reduced accordingly.

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