What Kind of Scholarships for Students with Disabilities are There?
There are a wide range of scholarships for students with disabilities. These awards aim to lessen the costs of pursuing a two year or four year degree or vocational program.
Some awards are for people with any disability by the ADA, DSM-V, IDEA, or other governing body.
There are several other awards that help students with a specific disability. For example, students with autism, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, blindness or diabetes could apply.
There are other criteria to qualify for disability scholarships. Eligible applicants with disabilities should be motivated. Also, giving back to the community is helpful to qualify for a scholarship.
In addition, grades and a high level of commitment to your goals are important for your application. You will also need to write a short essay as well as submit references.
The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) awards four athletes $500 each. The USABA Scholarship applicants must be legally blind, have a 2.5 GPA or higher and enrolled full time in college.
Why Disability Scholarships Are Important to Help Pay for College?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 19% of undergrads report having a disability. Of this total, 26% were veterans reported having a disability.
NCES defines disability as a physical or mental condition. One that limits one or more major life activities. The disability also affects how we move, communicate, and learn.
If you are a college student with a disability, a scholarship could be useful. Unlike taking out a student loan, it is financial aid you typically do not pay back. As a result, it may help finance your college degree.
List of Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
Check out our list of disability scholarships scholarships worth .
The Microsoft Disability Scholarship will be awarded to promising high school seniors with disabilities who plan to attend a vocational or academic college and target a career in the technology industry.
Rent A Knee Walker wishes to support students with financial needs who must continue their education during one of the most challenging times we have faced collectively as a whole. All students are welcomed to apply but students with disabilities will be given priority.
This award is available for self-identified gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and queer students attending or planning to attend San Francisco State University, Stanford University, or University of California at Berkeley. Applicants must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher, enroll full time, and demonstrate potential to become positive role models for LGBTQ people.
This award is available for U.S. high school seniors who are residents of and plan to attend college in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Vermont or Washington, D.C. Students must be legally blind and registered with the State Commission for the Blind.
This award is available for U.S. college seniors or graduate students who are residents of, and attend college in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Vermont or Washington, D.C. Students must be legally blind and registered with the State Commission for the Blind.
The Hydrocephalus Association’s Scholarship Program was established in 1994 to provide financial assistance to capable and promising young adults who live with the ongoing challenges and complexities of hydrocephalus. They offer a total of eleven scholarships annually in the amount of $1000 each.
The INCIGHT Scholarships help eligible students with disabilities from Washington, Oregon and California to attend post-secondary studies at colleges or trade/professional schools
These military dependent scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit through an application process that is evaluated by a committee. Gruber and Miller scholarships for veterans’ dependents are for one year only. But recipients can re-apply and receive the award up to four times. Click to learn more and apply today!
The Jason Kulpa Special Needs Scholarship was created to assist parents or siblings of special needs children or adults. Parents and siblings of special needs children or adults are encouraged to apply.
Current undergraduate U.S. or Canadian citizens who have disabilities are eligible for this award. Students must pursue a master’s degree in library science at an ALA-accredited institution. The ALA provides more than $300,000 annually for study in a master’s degree in library and information studies from an ALA accredited program.
