Top Scholarships For Students With A Disability

Students with a disability were often disregarded or not paid enough attention in the past. However, nowadays, people are beginning to grasp that a person’s disability is not confined to a single disease or ailment and is now generally seen as any physical or mental inability that decreases the chances of leading an everyday life with ease. This has led to a number of institutions coming forward to support by offering various scholarships for students with a disability. These scholarships aim to help students lead a more stable academic life.

There are a number of different scholarships for students with a disability that are either general ones or categorised by the nature of the physical or mental ailment the student may have. Below, Casita has compiled a detailed list of the currently available disability scholarships.

Table of Content 

1. General Disability Scholarships

2. ADHD Scholarships

3. Mental Health Scholarship

4. Autism Scholarships

5. Learning Disability scholarships

6. Hearing Impairment Scholarships

8. Physical Disability Scholarships

General Disability Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded generally to students with any kind of disability, the type of which is not specific. 

1. BRAF Cheryl D. Conkling Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is dedicated to Ms. Cheryl Conkling, who loved education and music and excelled in them despite the physical hardships she suffered from gamma globulin anaemia as well as hearing loss. 

Eligibility: 

• Students must live or attend school in either Windsor, Colorado/ Conroe, Texas/ Wilkinson County, Mississippi/ Baton Rouge, Louisiana, or West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.
• Students must be enrolling full-time into an accredited university or college.
• Preference may be given to students with hearing or other physical impairments, students not receiving other substantial aid, and/or students in Louisiana.

Deadline: Variable

Awarded Amount: $12,000

2. Christopher Mark Pitkin Memorial Scholarship

The Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California created this scholarship in honour of their former president, Chris Pitkin, who was a health policy consultant, an advocate, and a leader in the hemophilia community.

Eligibility: 

• The student must have a bleeding disorder or have an immediate family member with a bleeding disorder; however, priority will be given to those with bleeding disorders.
• Students must be accepted into an educational/vocational institution and able to provide proof of enrollment.
• Students must be residents of, or have a permanent address in, one of the following Southern California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Kern, Inyo, and Santa Barbara.
• Priority will be given to first-time applicants.
• Priority will be given to applicants who are actively involved with HFSC.

Deadline: August 2022

Awarded Amount: $1,000

3. CSU Dale M. Shooter Scholarship for Visually Impaired Students

CSU Dale scholarship was launched in the memory of Mr. Dale M. Schoettler, who became a famous and successful businessman in California with a visual impairment. 

Eligibility:

• Applicants must have and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale during the academic year in which the award is received.
• Applicants must currently be and remain enrolled in 6.1 units or more as a CSU undergraduate or graduate student in any major field and during the academic year in which the award is received.
• Applicants must have a visual disability and provide verification from a medical health professional, which includes the best-corrected visual acuity notations.

Deadline: Applications are accepted on a year-round basis. Contacting the campus’s financial department is advised. 

Awarded Amount: $10,000

4. Incight Scholarship

Established in 2004, Incight has awarded more than 940 scholarships to students with a disability pursuing higher education. 

Eligibility: 

• Students must be current Washington, Oregon or California residents. 

• Students must have a disability. This can be any type of disability as it is defined by the ADA, DSM-V, IDEA, or other governing bodies. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Autism

  • Deaf-blindness

  • Deafness

  • Development delay

  • Emotional disturbance

  • Hearing impairment

  • Intellectual disability

  • Multiple disabilities

  • Orthopedic impairment

  • Other health impairment

  • Specific learning disability

  • Speech or language impairment

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Visual impairment, including blindness
     

• Students must be attending a higher education institute during the funding cycle following their application (2022-2023 School Year.) This includes college, university, community college, or vocational school. Students may be pursuing any type of degree within these institutions (Associates Degree, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate, etc.). 

• Students must be enrolled and provide enrollment verification to Incight.

Deadline: April 2022

Awarded Amount: $2,500

5. Alabama Scholarships for Dependents of Blind Parents

Alabama Scholarship for Dependents of Blind Parents is awarded to cover instructional fees and tuition at an Alabama state institution of higher education. It’s specific to children from families in which the head of the family is blind and whose family income is insufficient to provide educational benefits.

Eligibility: 

• Students must be Alamaba residents

• Students must come from a family whose head is blind and whose income is not sufficient enough to cover educational expenses.

• Students must attend an Alabama state higher education institution.

• Students must apply within two years of their high school graduation.

Deadline: Variable

Awarded Amount: Variable

6. Caroline Kark Award

This award is specifically for students with a hearing impairment who are applying for higher education. It’s also awarded to students planning to work in a career with deaf/hearing-impaired individuals.

Eligibility: 

• Must be an undergraduate student.

• Must attend a university, a four-year college, a two-year college, or a vocational-tech school.

• Must currently be a high school student.

• Both full-time and part-time students.

• Restricted to residents of New York.

Deadline: April 2022

Awarded Amount: Variable

7. Matrix Health Group Memorial Scholarship Programs

Matrix Health Group companies offer nine educational scholarship opportunities to students diagnosed with bleeding disorders, including hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease, or others. Three of the offered scholarships allow for immediate family members to apply as well.

Eligibility: 

• Students must be United States residents

• Students must have applied and been accepted to an accredited college, university, or technical school in the United States on a full-time basis (12 credit hours or more).

• Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA.

• Students must submit a copy of their transcripts and ACT or SAT test scores

• Students must submit two letters of recommendation (copies acceptable); one from a teacher, instructor, professor, or school administrator and one from an employer, church leader, volunteer coordinator, or any other professional person.

Deadline: August 2022

Awarded Amount: Variable

8. Millie Brothers CODA International Scholarship

The Millie Brother Scholarship is a scholarship awarded to hearing children of deaf adults help them pursue higher education. The scholarship can be awarded to both undergraduate and graduate students. These are one-time scholarships, but students may apply for as long as they remain in school.

Eligibility: 

• Applicants must be high school graduates.

• Applicants must be hearing children of deaf parents.

• Each applicant must submit an official transcript from their high school, two letters of recommendation, and a typed two-page essay.

• Essays must be submitted describing the applicant's CODA (Children of Deaf Adult) experience and how it has shaped the CODA as an individual; the essay should include a description of future career aspirations and each essay will be judged on organization, content, creativity, and a sense of purpose.

• All application packages must be completed and postmarked by the first Friday in April.

Deadline: April 2022

Awarded Amount: $3,000

9. The John Lepping Memorial Scholarship

The John Lepping Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students with a disability, physical or mental, who are pursuing higher education.

Eligibility: 

• Applicants must be undergraduate students, graduate students, or postgraduate students.

• Applicants must attend a university, a four-year college, a two-year college, or a vocational-tech school

• Citizenship requirements: US

• Both full-time and part-time students can apply. 

• The scholarship is restricted to residents of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Deadline: May 2022

Awarded Amount: $5,000

ADHD Scholarships

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is considered a form of disability as individuals who have ADHD go through hyperactive and low attention phases that may hinder their academic performance. Thus, institutions offering scholarships for students with a disability offer scholarships to ADHD students as well to aid in their pursuit of higher education.

1. Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship

 The Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship is awarded over two years to students with ADHD.

Eligibility: 

• Students must be enrolling in a two-year community college, a vocational or technical training program, or a specialised program for students with LD and/or ADHD in the fall.
• Students must have a documented learning disability (LD) and/or ADHD.

Deadline: April 2022

Awarded Amount: $5,000 (Over two years)

2. Anne Ford Scholarship

The Anne Ford Scholarship is awarded over four years to a graduating high school senior with ADHD/LD who will be enrolled in a full-time bachelor’s degree program in the fall.

Eligibility: 

• Students must be enrolling in a full-time (four years) community college, a vocational or technical training program, or a specialised program for students with LD and/or ADHD in the fall.
• Students must have a documented learning disability (LD) and/or ADHD.

Deadline: April 10th, 2022

Awarded Amount: $10,000 (Over four years)

Mental Health Scholarship

These scholarships are offered to students that suffer from any form of mental illness that may hinder their pursuit of higher education.

1. The Buckfire Law Scholarship

Established in 2014, this scholarship is a part of the law firm’s commitment to helping students with disabilities or injuries who are in need of financial assistance for educational purposes.

The scholarship is awarded to students of any age, with any type of disability, including but not limited to: physical disabilities, medical conditions, mental or psychiatric conditions, speech and language, learning disabilities, and behavioural conditions among others.

Eligibility: 

• Recipients must be U.S. citizens enrolled at an accredited college or university within the United States.

• Recipients must have a disability diagnosis from a qualified diagnostician in the field.

• Recipients must have completed at least one semester of classes at an accredited college or university.

Deadline: October 2022

Awarded Amount: Variable

2. The Jared Monroe Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship is collected from donations to the school and awarded to students with a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder who are currently in treatment. The students could either be graduating high school seniors, or freshmen, sophomores, or juniors attending college. The scholarships cover tuition, fees, books, and accommodation.

Eligibility: 

• Students must be attending a college or university on a full-time basis by August of 2022.
• Students must have a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder and are currently receiving treatment.
• Students must currently be in their last year of high school or are freshmen, sophomores, or juniors in college/university.

Deadline: May 2022

Awarded Amount: $500 - $2,300

Autism Scholarships

These scholarships are generally awarded to students who are diagnosed with Autism and may need assistance pursuing an education. 

1. ASD Ascend College Autism Scholarships

The ASD Ascend College Autism Scholarships are awarded to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are enrolled in a college in the United States and have autism. 

Eligibility: 

• Students must have a documented diagnosis of Autism.

• Students must be pursuing either an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree.

Deadline: December 2022

Awarded Amount: $10,000

2. Schwallie Family Scholarship

This scholarship supports students attending two or four-year undergraduate colleges. Students attending two-year colleges with the intention of completing a four-year degree are also supported by the Schwallie Scholarship.

Eligibility: 

• Applicants must have an established autism diagnosis.

• Applicants must be attending an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education in the United States for the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters.

• Eligible individuals need to be accepted for enrollment or enrolled on a full-time basis (minimum 6 credits) or be working toward certification or accreditation in a particular field (e.g., studying to be a paralegal, chef, etc.). 

Deadline: May 2022

Awarded Amount: $3,000

3. Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to students diagnosed with autism and are attending two-year undergraduate colleges, life skills or postsecondary programs, or vocational, technical, or trade schools. 

Eligibility: 

• Applicants must have an established autism diagnosis.

• Applicants must be attending an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education in the United States for the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters.

Deadline: May 2022

Awarded Amount: $3,000

4. Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of Color

This scholarship is awarded to students of colour who are diagnosed with autism and are attending any type of undergraduate postsecondary education: two or four-year colleges, life skills or postsecondary programs, or vocational, technical, or trade schools. 

Eligibility: 

• Applicants must be students of colour and have an established autism diagnosis.

• Applicants must be attending an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education in the United States for the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters.

• Eligible individuals need to be accepted for enrollment or enrolled on a full-time basis (minimum 6 credits) or be working toward certification or accreditation in a particular field (e.g., studying to be a paralegal, chef, etc.). 

Deadline: May 2022

Awarded Amount: $3,000

5. Making a Difference for Autism Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to students with Autism who are planning to enrol in a post-secondary program regardless of their location; this scholarship is available to both U.S and international students.

Eligibility: 

• Students must be diagnosed with Autism. 

• Students must be applying to a post-secondary program or be current college students.

Deadline: April 2022

Awarded Amount: $500

Learning Disability Scholarships

Students with a learning disability like Dyslexia can also benefit from scholarships. Institutions offer Dyslexia scholarships to help students navigate their way and pursue their educational goals. 

1. Pine Cone Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to students with a learning disability who are attending a higher education institution.

Eligibility: 

• Students must have a documented learning disability.

• Students must be residents of the state of California.

• Students must have an average GPA of 2.5

• Students must be planning on attending Sierra College or a Los Rios Community College District institution.

• Students must qualify for a Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOGW).

Deadline: April 2022

Awarded Amount: $3,500

2. Ralph G. Norman Scholarship

This scholarship is offered to students with a learning disability who are planning to attend a higher education institution and are in need of financial aid.

Eligibility: 

• Applicants must have a documented learning disability.

• Applicants must be current Arkansas residents.

• Applicants must be attending a university, a two-year community college, or a vocational or technical training program.

Deadline: April 2022

Awarded Amount: $2,500

Hearing Impairment Scholarships

Scholarships are available for students with a hearing disability to help them with the financial burden of pursuing any form of higher education.

1. Graeme Clark Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to students who received a Cochlear Nucleus implant and would like to pursue further education.

Eligibility:

• Scholarship applicants must be recipients of the Cochlear Nucleus implant.

• Applicants must be citizens of the United States or Canada.

• Available to graduated high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students that have applied to or will be enrolled in an accredited technical school, college, or university.

• Scholarship applicants must receive a 3.0 GPA (unweighted) or above, from their current academic institution to apply for and maintain the scholarship.

Deadline: September 2022

Awarded Amount: $1,000 - 10,000

Physical Disability Scholarships

These scholarships are available for students with a physical disability and require financial aid to pursue their educational goals. 

1. AmeriGlide Achiever Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to students with a physical disability who use either a manual wheelchair, a power wheelchair, or a mobility scooter.

Eligibility: 

• Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited two or four year college within the United States as undergraduate or graduate students.

• Applicants must have at least one year of college experience.

• Applicants must be using a manual or electric wheelchair, or a mobility scooter. (Exceptions on a case-by-case basis).

• Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

• Applicants must be legal residents of the United States or hold valid student visas.

Deadline: May 2022

Awarded Amount: $2,500

2. Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to women graduate students with a physical disability and are applying to a U.S. college or university for higher education.

Eligibility: 

• The student must be a woman with a physical disability.

• The student must be currently accepted to a graduate program working towards a Masters degree or above in an accredited college or university in the United States.

• The student must be active in a local, state, or national disability organisation - either in person or electronically - which provides services and/or advocacy for people with disabilities.

• The student must be willing, as an ELA Scholar, to network with the ELA Board of Directors and previous ELA Scholarship recipients.

• The student must be willing, as an ELA Scholar, to update the ELA Foundation with an annual letter on September 1st of each year on her progress in her academic and/or working career.

Deadline: June 2022

Awarded Amount: $500 - $2,000

As a student with a disability, this list should help you make a decision when it comes to your higher education. Once you’ve figured out your scholarship situation, Casita has got you covered with possible colleges you can apply to, study abroad preparations, and different accessible accommodation options.