University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate Brittany Rose has written a successful $16,270 grant on behalf of World Services for the Blind to fund a life-changing program for blind and visually impaired students.
The grant, awarded by The Schmieding Foundation, will fund a year of the Techniques of Daily Living Program at the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Little Rock. The program will provide customized instruction to help students gain the independent living skills they need to thrive as adults.
Rose, who graduated with her master’s degree in education from UA Little Rock in December 2024 and lives in Alexander, completed the grant proposal as part of a grant writing course she took at UA Little Rock in fall 2024 with Dr. Barbara L’Eplattenier, a professor of rhetoric and writing.
“The class was phenomenal,” Rose said. “It taught me everything from how to find the right grant opportunity to how to tailor a proposal for a specific foundation. I underestimated just how much strategy and detail goes into crafting a successful grant. Writing this for World Services for the Blind was a hands-on, meaningful way to apply those skills.”
Rose, an instructor and director of recruiting and admissions in the Department of Dental Hygiene at UAMS, chose to work with WSB after her department partnered with the organization to train dental hygiene students to better serve patients who are blind or visually impaired.
“We’ve had two student cohorts visit WSB in the past year, and I saw firsthand how important their work is,” Rose said. “So, when it came time to find a client for the class, I reached out, and they welcomed the partnership.”
The grant will fund classroom renovations and the purchase of adaptive equipment, including tactile kitchen tools, braille labels, and smart devices, as well as the salary of an instructor to teach the course for 36 weeks. Topics will emphasize independent living skills like cooking, laundry, budgeting, hygiene, clothing care, cleaning, and using assistive technology in daily life.
The class will provide instruction to 12 students during the 2025-26 academic year. Each group of six students will receive four hours of instruction per week during the semester-long class. The program will conclude with a “Test Out Meal,” where each student will independently plan, budget, shop for, prepare, and host a complete meal for guests, showcasing their new skills in a practical and celebratory setting.
We see a lot of students who come out of high school with strong academics but need more focus on life skills.
“We see a lot of students who come to us with strong academic backgrounds but who need more focus on life skills,” said Eric Yarberry, WSB president and CEO and a UA Little Rock alumnus. “This program bridges that gap, giving students confidence and practical tools for adulthood. Brittany’s work was critical in securing the funds to launch this initiative, and we’re excited to bring it to life.”
Yarberry, who earned his master’s degree in professional and technical writing from UA Little Rock in 2018, said the partnership with Rose was a full-circle moment.
“Taking the same grant writing course during my undergrad changed how I understood nonprofit funding,” he said. “Brittany was a fantastic partner and has been a huge help for our team. When it comes to writing grants and finding funding for nonprofits, I would encourage anyone to take this grant writing class.”
The classroom, which will accommodate 12 students annually, will include fully accessible kitchen, bedroom, laundry, and technology areas. Even simple adaptations like puff paint or tactile markers on appliances can make everyday tasks manageable for students who are blind.
“Accessibility doesn’t always mean expensive technology,” said Nicole Walsh, superintendent of the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Arkansas School for the Deaf. “People often think of high-tech devices when it comes to accessibility, but sometimes the best options are the simplest ones. We have formed a great partnership with World Services for the Blind. This program will give students confidence in real-life situations and help families see what their kids are truly capable of.”
Rose credits both her client and UA Little Rock for a valuable learning experience.
“WSB’s team was incredibly supportive,” she said. “They guided me while also giving me room to lead. This was a real-world project with a real impact.”
READ ALSO: America’s Sweetheart, Kelli Finglass, Sells Out LRTDC
