Financial Aid For Disabled Students

If you are a disabled student, you have already faced many challenges throughout your academic career. But if you have decided to pursue a higher education it means that you have succeeded and intend to continue to do so. There are many barriers to be overcome in the days ahead since college and university campuses and classrooms present an entirely new set of challenges. While your disability may prove an interference in some aspects of your life, when it comes to scholarships and grants it actually becomes an advantage.

Your disability does not disqualify you from applying to any scholarship or school grants in existence, but it does allow you to apply for more than the average student. Both the National Federation for the Blind and the Jewish Guild for the Blind provide a variety of scholarships and grants for blind undergrad students to choose from, while the National Association for the Deaf provides college funding for deaf students.

In an attempt to encourage student body diversity, certain universities and colleges now provide disability scholarships as well. Among them are George Mason University, George Washington University, Western Michigan University (with scholarships available for disabled students pursuing degrees in rehabilitation), and Gallaudet University. These schools are technologically equipped to serve disabled students, making their educational career there as comfortable and natural as possible.

As you continue looking for and applying to scholarships, do not neglect to look into the Federal Government’s Disabilities Information Website. Students and their parents will find a wealth of information on a variety of financial aid available to disabled students.

Scholarships are available to those with learning disabilities as well. The Anne Ford Scholarship awards a sizeable $10,000 to a qualifying high school senior who proves to be a good role model to other students with learning disabilities. The P. Buckley Moss Society Habison Scholarship is available to high school seniors with language related disabilities. The Ralph G. Norman Scholarship is another that provides learning-disabled students a chance at college funding.

If you have a specific disease or condition such as autism, cystic fibrosis, lupus, cancer, or lower limb paralysis there are scholarships available for you as well. Many of these awards are funded by foundations, organizations, and schools. A comprehensive list of these scholarships is available here.

When searching for scholarships, be specific to your disability. Check with the school you have applied to and see if they provide any assistance for your disability. Search for unpublicized scholarships and ask for applications. You may be surprised to find that Optimist International considers requests, so write to them about your disability and ask for financial assistance as you seek to pursue a higher education.