Off-Campus
Below is a list of programs and organizations that offer a wide variety of scholarships. For additional information, click on the hyperlinks.
Blind &Visually Impaired
Missouri Council of the Blind (http://moblind.org/)
The Missouri Council of the Blind will offer scholarships to blind students who will be entering college during the school year of September 2009-2010. Scholarships are also available for blind students who are presently enrolled in college and are working toward a degree. Deadline: May 1, 2009
The Fred Scheigert Scholarship Program
The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International offers the Fred Scheigert Scholarship Program. This competitive scholarship is available to full-time college students with low vision, chosen from among those who meet the visual acuity and academic guidelines. For 2008, 3 awards of $3000 dollars were awarded.
American Council of the Blind (http://acb.org)
The American Council of the Blind presents more than two dozen scholarships and awards to outstanding blind students each year. All legally blind, full-time students admitted to academic and vocational training programs at the post-secondary level are encouraged to apply for one of these scholarships. Part-time students who are working full-time are also invited to apply for the John Hebner Memorial Scholarship. A cumulative grade point average of 3.3 is generally required, but extenuating circumstances may be considered for certain scholarships. Applicants must be legally blind in both eyes. Applications may be completed on line, but supporting documentation must be submitted in hard copy print.
RFB&D (Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic) Award Programs
The Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Awards are presented to RFB&D members who are high school seniors with learning disabilities, in recognition of extraordinary leadership, scholarship, enterprise and service to others. Offered since 1991, the awards are given to six students who are chosen by a selection committee. RFB&D presents the three top winners $6,000 each and three special honors winners $2,000 each.
The Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards are presented to RFB&D members who are college seniors and blind or visually impaired, in recognition of extraordinary leadership, scholarship, enterprise and service to others. Offered since 1959, the awards are given to a total of nine students who are chosen by a selection committee. RFB&D gives three top winners $6,000 each; three special honors winners $3,000 each; and three honors winners $1,000 each.
National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Scholarship Program
Each year at its national convention in July, the NFB gives a broad array of thirty scholarships ranging in value from $3,000 up to $12,000 to recognize achievement by blind scholars. All applicants for these scholarships must be legally blind in both eyes, be residing in the United States, be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, postsecondary course of study in a degree program at a United States' institution, and participate in the NFB national convention and in all scheduled scholarship program activities.
Christian Record Services Scholarship
Partial scholarships are offered to legally blind young people striving to obtain a college education. Scholarships are given on a limited basis to those who qualify. The amount Christian Record Services gives for scholarships varies from year to year. The actual amount given to each student is in proportion to the funds available.
Association of Blind Citizens Scholarship Program
The Association of Blind Citizens (ABC) will offer ten thousand dollars in college scholarships to legally blind individuals seeking a college degree. The Reggie Johnson Memorial Scholarship will be valued at $2000 and eight $1000 scholarships will be available. The scholarship may be applied to tuition, living expenses or related expenses resulting from blindness. Go to http://www.blindcitizens.org/abc_scholarship.htm to download the application form.
American Federation for the Blind (AFB) scholarships
The AFB offers 7 different scholarships for legally blind students entering or attending a college or university. The scholarships range in value from $500 to $2500. They can all be applied for using a single simple application form online at their website.
Guildscholar Award
The Jewish Guild for the Blind has created an annual scholarship program for college bound high school students who are legally blind. Applications will be accepted from students at the end of their junior year, with recipients selected and scholarships awarded the following academic year. The GuildScholar Program will award 12 to 15 scholarships of up to $15,000 each. The scholarship is open to people of all religious backgrounds.
Arthur E. and Helen Copeland Scholarships
The Arthur E. and Helen Copeland Scholarships are awarded annually to one male and one female member of the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) who is legally blind and enrolling/enrolled at a two-year or four-year or technical institution or university as a full-time student. Applicants must have participated in USABA sports programs. Consideration will be given to students with good academic records, involvement in civic/extracurricular activities, academic goals/objectives and USABA involvement at various levels. Applicants must be United States citizens. Scholarship amount awarded is $500. For more information, see the USABA website or email: mlucas@usaba.org.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Annual Scholarship Trust for the Hearing Impaired
In 1975 the Travelers Protective Association of America (TPA) established a scholarship trust for the deaf and near deaf. The intent and purposes of the trust are the giving of financial aid or assistance to US Residents who are deaf and hearing impaired who may benefit from medical, mechanical or specialized treatment or special education. Candidates must also demonstrate financial need. The patient pays for hearing aid(s) and applies for grant; awarded once a year (April); eligibility based on amount of hearing loss and need and dollars available for the trust for the year; usually is a partial grant; also covers for education, interpreters, cochlear implants, assistive devices. You can download the application, or contact 3755 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108, (314) 371-0533.
Physical Disabilities (All)
Spina Bifida Association Scholarships
With the assistance of donors who recognize the value of education, the SBA Scholarship Program offers two different programs for people living with Spina Bifida. SBA is very proud of our efforts in this area. All students living with Spina Bifida are encouraged to apply.
Yellow Ribbon Scholarship
This $5,000 scholarship is available to students who have a physical or sensory disability. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada who are attending an accredited undergraduate or graduate school in the United States or Canada. Applicants must be pursuing a degree in travel and tourism. Applicants must have a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Independence Foundation Scholarship
The Independence Foundation Scholarship was created to help individuals with physical disabilities pay for the ever growing expense of college. The Scholarship of $500 will be awarded to three (3) individuals with a noteworthy physical disability. Download the application form from our website.
ELA Scholarship
The ELA Scholarship program provides financial assistance from $500-$2000 for women with physical disabilities who are in graduate school allowing them to pursue their degree, and develop their leadership role within the disability community. The scholarship awards are based on merit. Each applicant will be required to submit an application that includes the following: an application form, college transcript, two letters of academic recommendation, a disability verification form, and an essay. For further information, please contact Deborah Lewis at deborah@ela.org or call 626-398-8840.
Paralyzed Veterans of America Scholarship
The Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) was created to provide some financial reprieve for Paralyzed Veterans members and their families so that they may achieve their goals in the academic arena. Applicants must be either Paralyzed Veterans members, the spouse of a Paralyzed Veterans member, or an unmarried child under 24 years of age who is dependent on the member for principal support. Applicants must also be citizens of the United States, accepted or enrolled as a full-time or part-time students in a degree program at an accredited US college or university, and able to demonstrate academic achievement. PVA will award scholarships in the amount of $1,000 to full-time students and $500 to part-time students.
1800Wheelchair.com Scholarship
1800Wheelchair.com is proud to announce our annual scholarship award. Established in 2006, the scholarship fund will award one $500 scholarship to an undergraduate student. The scholarship is open to students of any major or concentration. The winner's name, essay and photo will be posted on 1800wheelchair.com. Although not a requirement, preference will be given to students with mobility disabilities. To read more about the requirements and to see the essay question, visit our website.
Mays Mission Scholarships
Mays Mission offers scholarships to deserving individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities. Our current program supports 7 college students. To qualify for a Mission scholarship one must be able to document a significant disability, score of 18 or better on the A.C.T or 870 on S.A.T., be enrolled in a four-year study program (under-graduate only) working toward a baccalaureate degree and provide proof of enrollment. Upon acceptance to our program, recipients agree to provide proof of full-time enrollment each semester, submit grades, maintain a GPA of 2.3 and write an "update letter" providing the Mission with information pertaining to grades, struggles, triumphs, campus life and a general "how are you doing" letter. Recipients get $500 dollars each year for their 4 years of college.
SpinLife Innovation in Motion Scholarship Program
As the country's largest internet retailer of mobility equipment, we are excited about the development of the SpinLife Innovation in Motion Scholarship program designed to aid college students in their academic endeavors. The annual program will provide up to two $500 scholarships and is open to students who are manual or power wheelchair users enrolled at an accredited 4-year institution.
Scholarship Program for Amputee College Students
The National Amputation Foundation is proud to offer six (6) $500.00 scholarships to college students with a major limb amputation, who will be attending an accredited university as a full time student. A major limb amputation is described as loss of limb beginning at or above the wrist or ankle.
Health Related
Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship Foundation
The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship Foundation (CFSF) is to provide an opportunity for young adults with CF to further their education at a college or vocational school. This possibility is often out of reach for families with CF children because of the high cost of medical care from the time these students were babies. However we at CFSF believe in the future of these young adults, their ability to achieve personal and educational goals, and their importance in making a long-term contribution to society on all levels. Scholarships are awarded based on educational achievement, leadership, and financial need as submitted by the student in the scholarship application form. In the first four years of the program scholarships were awarded to 250 young people from 40 states across the country. Most of the awards given were for a sum of $1,000.
Eric Marder Scholarship Program
The Immune Deficiency Foundation is honored to award scholarships to undergraduate students living with primary immunodeficiency diseases. The Eric Marder Scholarship Program is open to patients with a primary immunodeficiency as classified by the World Health Organization and is intended for undergraduate students attending or entering college or a technical training school. If you have questions, call IDF at 800.296.4433 or email dgill@primaryimmune.org.
Hydrocephalus Association Scholarships
The Hydrocephalus Association is pleased to offer eleven scholarships to young adults with hydrocephalus in 2009. The scholarships are $500 each, and will be awarded in June. If you would like to apply for our scholarships, please call our office: (415) 732-7040; toll free (888) 598-3789.
Soozie Courter "Sharing a Brighter Tomorrow" Hemophilia Scholarship Program
For the 2008–2009 academic year, Wyeth will award up to $100,000 in scholarships to students in the hemophilia community, including two $7,500 graduate scholarships, sixteen $5,000 college scholarships, and two $2,500 vocational scholarships. To be eligible for the scholarships, students must have either hemophilia A or hemophilia B and be a high school senior, have a graduate equivalency diploma (GED), or be currently enrolled in an accredited junior college, college (undergraduate or graduate), or vocational school.
Patient Advocate Foundation’s Scholarships for Survivors
The purpose of these scholarships are to provide support to individuals, under the age of 25, that are or have been diagnosed with cancer or a critical or life threatening disease. The foundation awards ten $3000 awards each year that can be used for college, university or vocational-technical school tuition fees.
Elizabeth Nash Foundation Scholarship Program
The Elizabeth Nash Foundation (ENF) awards scholarships to assists persons with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees. Grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 are awarded annually. Since the program's inception in 2005, twenty-three individuals have received grants. The Elizabeth Nash Foundation Scholarship program is open to individuals with CF who are in-going or current undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited US-based college or university. Given limited resources, the program is currently only open to US citizens. Funds to support Associate Degrees are not currently available.
Hemophilia Federation of America
The Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA) is proud to offer ten educational scholarships of $1,500 each to members of the bleeding disorders community. Applications can be downloaded from our website. Previous scholarship recipients are encouraged to reapply. To qualify, an applicant must have Hemophilia or von Willebrand (VWD) and must be seeking a post-secondary education from a college, university, or trade school. The applicant must also be able to demonstrate a commitment to improving quality of life by pursuing his/her goals with determination.
Factor Support Network Pharmacy Scholarships
Factor Support Network is pleased to offer two scholarship programs this year. The Mike Hylton & Ron Niederman Memorial Scholarship provides five $1000 scholarships for men with Hemophilia or von Willebrand Disease and their immediate family members. The Millie Gonzalez Memorial Scholarship provides two $1000 scholarships for women with Hemophilia or von Willebrand Disease.
SolvayCARES Scholarship Award
In the United States, Solvay Pharmaceuticals has been helping people with cystic fibrosis (CF) manage their health for more than 20 years. Our SolvayCARES program expands this tradition, offering comprehensive support to CF families through nutritional, educational, and financial resources.
Pfizer Epilepsy Scholarship
The Epilepsy Scholarship Award is a 1-year, $3000 scholarship honoring 25 outstanding students who have overcome the challenges of epilepsy, been successful in school, done well in activities outside the classroom or in the community, and shown a desire to make the most out of college or graduate school. You may apply for this award if you are under a doctor’s care for epilepsy and in school as a high school senior who has applied to college, as a freshman, sophomore, or junior in college, or as a college senior who has applied to graduate school.
Ulman Cancer Fund
The Ulman Cancer Fund established the Matt Stauffer Memorial Scholarship to support the financial needs of college students who are battling, or have overcome cancer and who display financial need. These awards of $1000 each seek to honor the spirit and courage that Matt displayed in both his life and his battle with cancer.
National Hemophilia Foundation’s Kevin Child Scholarship
Each year the Kevin Child Scholarship is awarded to a qualified individual in memory of Kevin Child. As a child born with hemophilia, Kevin's lived a life with a challenge from the beginning. He died in 1989 of AIDS just a few days from when he should have graduated from college. Since living with a bleeding disorder provides challenges of its own, an opportunity to obtain a higher education should never be an obstacle for anyone with a bleeding disorder. In honor of Kevin's legacy, the Child family hopes this scholarship will provide some assistance in acquiring a higher education. Go to the National Hemophilia Foundation website for more information.
Lupus Inspiration Foundation for Excellence (L.I.F.E.)
The L.I.F.E. Scholarship will be awarded to one or more students in the month of August and/or January every year. Award recipients will receive a minimum award of $500.00 made payable to the educational institution at which they are enrolled for tuition, fees, and other educational-related expenses. Each applicant must be diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and be working towards a degree with a minimum of six credits per semester at an accredited United States college or university. The applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be involved in at least one extracurricular activity (e.g., performance group, athletics, clubs/organizations, community service, employment, etc.).
The Andre Sobel Essay Award
Young people who are diagnosed with a life threatening illness experience an agonizing and extraordinary journey, and one common consequence is isolation from their peers.
In recognition of Andre’s struggle with this challenge, and realizing that this happens all too often for others, the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation offers an annual Essay Award to young survivors of a catastrophic illness. This year, several cash awards will be granted; with the first place winner receiving a $5,000 cash prize. Applicants must be between the ages of 12 and 21 as of June 30 and consider themselves cancer survivors or the survivors of a critical or life-threatening illness. The cash award can be used in any way the recipient chooses.
Psychological
Mays Mission Scholarships
Mays Mission offers scholarships to deserving individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities. Our current program supports 7 college students. To qualify for a Mission scholarship one must be able to document a significant disability, score of 18 or better on the A.C.T or 870 on S.A.T., be enrolled in a four-year study program (under-graduate only) working toward a baccalaureate degree and provide proof of enrollment. Upon acceptance to our program, recipients agree to provide proof of full-time enrollment each semester, submit grades, maintain a GPA of 2.3 and write an "update letter" providing the Mission with information pertaining to grades, struggles, triumphs, campus life and a general "how are you doing" letter. Recipients get $500 dollars each year for their 4 years of college.
Autism Spectrum
Autism Society of America Scholarships
The ASA offers various awards and scholarships. Among them is the CVS/All Kids Can Scholars Program, providing a scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to a qualified individual with autism to be applied toward the completion of an accredited, postsecondary educational or vocational program of study (e.g., college, trade school, etc.). Eligibility: See ASA’s Award and Scholarship Eligibility Guidelines for details on nominator and nominee eligibility and the awards selection process.
General
disABLEdperson National College Scholarship Competition
We are proud to help the disabled community. To participate is simple, you need to do the following; its a two step process. The first step is to go to www.disABLEDperson.com/articles/spring09scholarship.asp. Once there, you need to completely fill out the form and submit it. The next step is to write an essay that answers the question and email the essay to us.
Through the Looking Glass for Students of Parents with Disabilities
Through the Looking Glass will award students of parents with disabilities two separate scholarship awards: one for graduating high school seniors who will be attending college, and one for currently enrolled college students. The application packet will be somewhat different than in previous years, and applicants will need to apply online.
Incight Scholarship
Incight is providing scholarships for disabled students. The only two requirements for application is that the applicant have a documented disability (of any type, be it physical, learning, cognitive, etc.) and that s/he be a full time student at any college, university, trade school, etc. To apply, go to www.insight.org.
Exceptionalnurse.com College Scholarship Awards
ExceptionalNurse.com awards scholarships of $250.00-$500.00 to qualified students with disabilities to continue their education in a nursing education program. Preference is given to undergraduate students. Applicants must demonstrate a serious commitment to the academic study of nursing and career excellence. This scholarship is not renewable and will only be awarded once.
Central Intelligence Agency Undergraduate Scholarship Program
The Undergraduate Scholar Program was developed, in part, to assist minority and disabled students, but application is open to all students who meet the requirements. The program offers unmatched experience. You'll complete work sessions during each summer break, increasing your knowledge and job responsibilities while assisting intelligence professionals and applying your academic skills. Once selected, recipients will be given an annual salary; a benefits package that includes health insurance, life insurance, and retirement; and up to $18,000 per calendar year for tuition, mandatory fees, books and supplies. They will be required to work at an Agency facility during summer breaks and to maintain full-time college status during the school year with a minimum cumulative 3.0/4.0 GPA.We will pay the cost of transportation between school and the Washington, DC area each summer and provide a housing allowance.
Others
American Library Association (ALA) Century Scholarship
The American Library Association's annual $2,500 Century Scholarship will fund services or accommodation for a library school student or students with disabilities admitted to an ALA-accredited library school. The scholarship will fund services or accommodations that are either not provided by law or otherwise by the university that will enable the student or students to successfully complete the course of study for a Master's or Doctorate in Library Science and become a library or information studies professional.
Communicative Disorders Scholarship Program Application
This $1000 scholarship is for students who have been accepted into a graduate level program in speech language pathology and/or audiology at a college or university in the United States, accredited by ASHA’s Council on Academic Accreditation. It covers tuition, books and supplies. The funds may be used for any term, including the summer term, during the awarded academic school year. Support from Sertoma provides the funding for the scholarships.
Anne & Matt Harbison Scholarship
In keeping with the goals of P. Buckley Moss, who struggled with dyslexia during her school years, this grant represents the artist’s dedication to the field of special education. Students with a learning disability often graduate from high school with no recognition of their hard work and perseverance toward achieving their academic, technical, or artistic goals. When a student does attain and surpass expectations, there is often no extrinsic reward or incentive. The Harbison Scholarship is intended to help fill that void. This $1,500 scholarship is awarded to one high school senior with a certified language-related learning difference who is pursuing post-secondary education. It is renewable for up to three additional, consecutive years.
Little People of America Scholarships
As part of our service to people with dwarfism and the community at large, LPA offers educational scholarships to prospective and current students attending college or vocational school in the United States. Awards can range from $250 to $1000 (sometimes more). A scholarship committee, headed by LPA's Vice President of Programs, will selectively review all scholarship application packets. Scholarships are given in order of preference to:
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members of LPA who have a medically diagnosed form of dwarfism
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immediate family members of dwarfs who are also paid members of LPA
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people with dwarfism who are not members of LPA
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disabled students in general
- non-disabled students who can demonstrate a need for financial educational assistance
See our website (lpaonline.org) for more information and to download the scholarship application.
