How to Get Scholarships for Disabled Students

Scholarships exist for many minority groups, enabling students to excel beyond their station in life and become productive in society. Being disabled is no different. Many institutions and private organizations offer financial help for students with disabilities, clearing the way for better educational opportunities.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Look for scholarships for your specific disability. Assistance for physically handicapped students is separate from hearing- and learning-disabled scholarships.

2. Call the institution of your choice and ask to speak with the financial aid office. Request that they mail you information on college-based assistance for your disability. Also, ask about the college's compliance with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).

3. Register with an online scholarship search program. Fastweb features one of the most extensive searches of scholarships on the Internet (see Resources below). You must fill out an in-depth questionnaire so they can match the best choices for you, but it's free.

4. Contact local organizations to ask if they offer awards to disabled students. Each community has different clubs dedicated to funding for various scholarships. Optimist International has chapters in many communities that offer assistance for different needs. They consider requests.

5. Research private foundations in your state. Unpublicized scholarship opportunities exist and if you request an application, you can fill it out and detail that you are handicapped and looking for assistance.

Resources

• Free, extensive scholarship matching program
• Optimists International
• Private foundations in the United States

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Thinking about getting your degree? Find financial aid from top online colleges and find the perfect program that meets your needs.
• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.