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 .
This scholarship is available for U.S. students who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
This award is available to Texas resident students who are blind and/or deaf who attend public colleges or universities in the state of Texas. The student must provide certification from the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services of status as a blind person or a deaf person.
This award is available to Arkansas resident undergraduate students who are attending an Arkansas state-supported college or university. Students must be the natural child, adopted child, or spouse of an Arkansas resident who is/was one of the following: a prisoner of war, missing in action, killed in action, killed on ordnance delivery, or disabled during the course or result of active military duty after Jan. 1, 1960.
Applications are available from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) website. Accessing the application requires students to register for an account using the electronic Arkansas Universal Financial Aid System.
As part of the application, students must also submit the following eligibility documentations: a death certificate or Report of Casualty from the appropriate branch of the U.S. military; a Statement of Award for Special Monthly Compensation by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs for service-connected, 100 percent total and permanent disability (VA Form 20-5455); a copy of the veteran’s DD214 form showing service dates; a copy of his/her birth certificate or a copy of legal adoption or guardianship appointed certificate (if apply as an eligible dependent child) or a copy of his/her marriage license (if applying as an eligible spouse).
The application deadline is July 1 annually.
This award is available to Ohio residents who are children of deceased or severely disabled veterans that served during a time of declared war or conflict. Students must be under the age of 25 and be enrolled full-time at an eligible postsecondary institution in Ohio.
This award is available to U.S. undergraduate students who are families and financial dependents of innocent victims who died or were severely and permanently disabled as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States of America and the resulting rescue and recovery efforts. Students must be attending or planning to attend an eligible postsecondary institution in New York.
U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring in rehabilitation and/or education of persons who are blind or visually impaired are eligible to apply for this award. Students must be legally blind (i.e., have best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees in the better eye).
This award is available for students in California who have been diagnosed or personally affected by a family member’s diagnosis of cancer. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate financial need.
The 180 Medical Scholarship Program is for students under a physician’s care for spinal cord injury, spina bifida, transverse myelitis, neurogenic bladder, or ostomy (ileostomy, colostomy, or urostomy). This opportunity is offered to legal U.S. Citizens seeking a two-year, four-year, or graduate school program full-time in the fall.
We recognize the value and advantages of diverse ideas within our communities. We are committed to providing a platform to support the next generation of leaders and champions in our industry, and we are focused on growing diversity within the science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) fields.
The Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship will contribute to the creation of a critical mass of talented students that will fully represent our industry—it will provide an environment in which all can thrive academically and professionally. Through this scholarship, Stantec will award $200,000 annually. We believe everyone has a right to education, and we are committed to providing people in historically underrepresented and Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) groups with financial aid.
Here at Stantec, we value an inclusive and diverse workplace culture where we seek a broad range of perspectives and contributions to our industry—and the communities where we live and work.
The number of scholarships awarded will be based on the specific needs articulated by applicants, and the award values will be a variable range between $1,500 and $10,000. Additionally, there will be 10 paid internships (locations to be confirmed annually) available to applicants.
The Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship is part of a broader commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in our organization. We know that we must increase our focus on building the future talent pipeline and find more ways to support underrepresented populations in our industry. This scholarship program is just one example of our commitment to break through barriers to have an impact.
This award is available for paraplegic or quadriplegic students who are residents of Texas and pursuing a degree at an accredited college or university.
