Scholarships for Individuals with Disabilities

Regardless of ability level, post-secondary education remains a pricey endeavor for students and their families. Individuals with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cerebral palsy (CP), learning disabilities, developmental delays, or other disabilities may worry that their disability will make college even more expensive for them and may start to believe that these steep expenses will make a college education an impossible achievement. While this is a fear many have, it is important to keep in mind that there are financial options available for people of all ability types; in fact, there are scholarship designed to specifically help individuals with disabilities finance their college education and other related expenses.

Scholarships help many college students pay for their education, and they are an excellent financial option since most can be used to assist in paying for tuition, books, supplies, and housing. Scholarships for people with disabilities may also extend to cover amenities an individual may need to help accommodate their disability in the college setting. Some scholarships are specific to certain disabilities, while others take more general applicants. Included below is a list of scholarships for individuals with disabilities.

Scholarships for Students with Learning Disabilities or Developmental Delays

The Michael Yasick ADHD Scholarship: This scholarship includes a $2000 tuition award, and a year of paid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder coaching to help with the transition to postsecondary education.
The Rise Scholarship: A scholarship awarded to college-bound, high school seniors with a diagnosed learning disability.
Allegra Ford and Anne Ford Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to high school seniors with learning disabilities, in varying monetary amounts, who are committed to their academic goals.
P. Buckley Moss Endowed Scholarship: Up to $1000 is given to someone with a language-related learning disability that has artistic talent and plans to pursue a career in the arts.

Scholarships for Students with Physical Disabilities

AmeriGlide Achiever Scholarship: A scholarship given to a single full-time college student that uses a manual wheelchair, power wheelchair, or mobility scooter.
John Lepping Memorial Scholarship: An award of up to $5000, individuals with physical and psychological disabilities are eligible to apply.
Marianjoy Scholarship Program: Recipients have a permanent physical disability or functional impairment. Monetary awards vary.
Michigan Cerebral Palsy Attorneys Scholarship: This is a $1000 scholarship awarded to a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student influenced by cerebral palsy.
Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation Scholarship: This award ranges from $500 to $2000 and is given to female students, enrolled in college, who have physical disabilities.

Scholarships for General Disabilities

Bella Soul Scholarships: Various scholarships of differing amounts are awarded yearly to college students with chronic illnesses or physical disabilities.
Google Lime Scholarship for Students with Disabilities: This one time award of $10,000 for undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral students is given to people with disabilities that require persistent support and impact daily function.
Microsoft disAbility Scholarship: This scholarship grants $5000 to high school students planning to attend a vocational or academic college and majoring in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, law, business, or a related major.
Newcombe Scholarships for Students with Disabilities: These awards – for students with disabilities and documented financial need – are paid directly to an academic institution and come in varying monetary amounts.
Science Graduate Student Grant Fund: A grant of $1000 provided to graduate students with disabilities that study science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or the medical sciences.

If you or a loved one suffers from a disability and are worried about the financial burden that higher education may place on your family, these scholarships are an excellent opportunity to relieve some of this stress. In addition to scholarships, many colleges, universities, vocational schools, and technical schools offer financial aid packages that can assist you in paying for your education.

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