College education is expensive. For the disabled, it is not only expensive but also more difficult than the normal ones. The silver lining is that financial aid is available for the disabled students in plenty to pursue their studies in the forms of scholarships to overcome the obstacles. What you have to do is only to find out the right scholarship, most suitable to you. Some of the scholarships available for the disabled students are described below.
Many universities and colleges have their services to help students with disabilities. Those who do not have such facilities do guide the students in need about the help available for them outside their campuses. Most of aids are in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work for study programs. Several federal and state financial aids are also available for the disabled students.
Those who wish to avail of the state or federal aid must make a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application can be submitted online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The deadline to submit the application is the last day of June. The application will be scrutinized and redirected for the consideration for state financial aid, automatically. The state and federal aids are in the forms of grants, scholarships, work for study programs and loans.
There are many private agencies and organizations providing aids for disabled students. Their definition for disabled also includes hearing impairment, allergies, acute depression and chronic illness. Most of the colleges and universities provide the list of such aid agencies to the disabled students. Some of the private organizations who provide aid for disabled students are listed below.
Minnie Pearl Scholarship has a value of $2,000. This scholarship is awarded to students who have severe bilateral hearing loss. The Minnie Pearl Scholarship is renewable annually.
The Google Lime Scholarship for Students with Disabilities has a value of $10,000. This award is meant for students with disabilities studying computer science.
Scholarship for Students Hard of Hearing or who are Deaf is awarded to students who have bilateral hearing loss. This scholarship which can be used for paying for tuition, books and school supplies has a value of $1,000.
Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Scholarship has a value of $10,000 each. It is awarded to two high school students who have learning disabilities.
Matt Stauffer Memorial Scholarship is awarded to college students who have survived cancer. The students must be permanent residents of Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia or attending colleges or schools in these places. The amount of the scholarship differs according to the needs of each recipient.
TPA Scholarship Trust. This is awarded to those who are deaf or their hearing is impaired. This scholarship was instituted by the Travelers Protective Association of America. The amount of award varies depending on the needs of the recipients.
There are many more scholarships and grants available in the United States for the disabled students. The needy must take advantage of them.
