Passed in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act has required schools to accommodate the needs of their disabled students, breaking down many barriers that prevented students from accessing educational resources, and enabling more people to enjoy the full benefits of a college education. Recruitment efforts and financial aid opportunities aimed at disabled students now exist at a number of schools. Additionally, many private organizations award scholarship money to ensure that students with disabilities are able to achieve their college goals, despite potential setbacks such as learning issues, environmental challenges, or medical conflicts.
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Who Qualifies?
Disability scholarships exist to provide college funding for students who possess numerous cognitive, behavioral, and emotional impediments that would make it difficult to attain a college degree. These scholarship opportunities help deserving students stay in school and out of debt, allowing them to more easily achieve their educational and career goals.
Disability scholarships are funded by a variety of scholarship providers with different requirements. They can be intended to help students with a specific disability pay for school, or they can be aimed at a wider range of students who have physical or mental issues. Disability scholarship providers may choose to narrow their awards towards students who have completed a specific program or who will attend a particular college or university. Some scholarship awards are aimed at groups that face multiple barriers to education; such as low-income, minority, or females with disabilities. Certain local scholarships might also be earmarked for disabled students.
Disability Scholarship Opportunities
With many disability scholarships out there, regardless of their requirements, all you have to know is where to begin searching. Below are some examples of disability scholarships from our database of over 2.7 million college scholarships. To find out if you qualify for these and other awards, simply fill out a profile on Scholarships.com, and conduct a free scholarship search. You’ll receive a list of disability scholarships and other relevant scholarship awards. From there, just read the information provided and begin to apply for scholarships. Below are a few examples of scholarships available to those with various physical challenges and/or other disabilities.
The AbbVie CF Scholarship recognizes exceptional students with Cystic Fibrosis who demonstrate academic excellence, community involvement, creativity, and the ability to serve as a positive role model for the Cystic Fibrosis community. Each year, AbbVie awards 40 scholars with $3,000 each. Two of these students (an undergraduate and a graduate) are then selected to receive a Thriving Student [...] More
Ensuring that people with disabilities have opportunities to achieve higher education and the accompanying rewards is important to The Ability Center. Therefore, the Center provides college scholarships to area students with disabilities. Applicants must be an individual with a disability, have a permanent address in Lucas, Wood, Fulton, Henry, Ottawa, Defiance, Williams counties in Ohio or have [...] More
The Robby Baker Scholarship Fund awards one scholarship annually to a graduating senior at La Cueva High School who has a language learning, reading disability, learning barrier or related disability. Applicants must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and plan to attend a nonprofit or public education institute, or a non profit technical school, part- or full-time. For more information or to apply, please [...] More
The VRS Blind and Deaf Program provides specialized assistance to Alabamians statewide through its four major programs: Blind and Low-Vision Services, Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services, OASIS (Older Alabamians System of Information and Services), and the Business Enterprise Program. Services are delivered by a team of specialized professionals who are trained in the unique communication issues, [...] More
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) and the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) have now partnered together to offer educational scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $7,500 for those attending a technical college or as an entering freshman, undergraduate or a graduate student. This program awards students with scholarships to help with post-secondary education financial needs such as [...] More
The Armando J. de Moya Scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil Engineering at the University of Florida, Gainesville, who shows financial need, has completed a minimum of 59 credit hours, and needs financial support to complete their studies. Applicants must maintain a 3.0 GPA at the University of Florida (UF), be a Florida resident, be [...] More
The ATSS Foundation provides scholarships for loved ones of fallen or permanently disabled roadway workers until we can reduce the number of work zone deaths. It is our hope to eventually give out zero scholarships as a result of zero fatalities. The Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program provides financial assistance for post-high school education to dependents (children and spouses) of [...] More
The Beatrice F. Kroesche Memorial Scholarship is awarded to single parents who are enrolled in either the College of Education or the Department of English at the University of Utah. The selected student shall be in good standing within their area of study, carry a minimum of 12 hours of study and maintain a 3.0 GPA or better. The scholarship may be awarded to an incoming freshman; provided they [...] More
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. To be eligible for the Gilman Program, applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be [...] More
Any undergraduate student with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, or a related inherited bleeding disorder is eligible to apply for the Beth Carew Memorial Scholarship as long as all of the below criteria are also met: applicants must be diagnosed with an inherited bleeding disorder (students who do not have an inherited bleeding disorder but whose parent(s) or sibling(s) have an inherited [...] More
BioMatrix offers six (6) $1,000 scholarships assisting individuals in the bleeding disorders community seeking higher education. Each opportunity is offered exclusively to several demographics within the bleeding disorder community including women, men, inhibitor patients and immediate family members. Our streamlined application process allows interested parties to complete one simple application [...] More
Ms. Cheryl Conkling loved education and music. She excelled in them despite the physical hardships she suffered from gamma globulin anemia and hearing loss. Ms. Conkling was a brilliant student and graduated Summa Cum Laude from college. This scholarship fund supports students with hearing or other physical hardships who have demonstrated a love for education.
The Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program provides need-based educational grants to dependents and spouses of: California peace officers (highway patrol, marshals, sheriffs, police officers), Department of Corrections and California Youth Authority employees, and permanent/full-time firefighters employed by public entities who have been killed in the performance of duty or 100% [...] More
The mission of the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) is to promote and enhance access to higher education by delivering quality student financial aid information and services to residents of the Commonwealth, and thus ensuring that they have an opportunity to enrich their lives and contribute to the economic development and social progress of the state. OSFA has a [...] More
The Christopher Mark Pitkin Memorial Scholarship is for all members of the hemophilia and bleeding disorders community, including spouses, siblings, and children. In particular, persons living with hemophilia and HIV and their family members are encouraged to apply.
Applicants must be pursuing a post-high school or college or technical/trade school education. This scholarship is limited to [...] More
The Dale M. Schoettler Scholarship for Visually Impaired Students was established in 1991 by Mr. Schoettler, who was a successful businessman from MountainView, California and blind the last eight years of his life. To be eligible for the CSU Dale M. Schoettler Scholarship for Visually Impaired Students, applicants must: be attending California State University Bakersfield; have a visual [...] More
To be eligible for the Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program, you must enroll at a two-year or four-year Maryland college or university, as a full-time or part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate, graduate, or professional student; or be enrolled in a 2-year terminal certificate program in which the coursework is acceptable for transfer credit for an accredited baccalaureate program in an [...] More
Emergency Educational Grants provide undergraduate college financial assistance to children of deceased or totally disabled Elks in the form of renewable, one-year grants of up to $5,000. The grant is for educational assistance only and is not intended to cover the entire cost of a college education. Grant amounts are based on the information submitted in the application and can range up to [...] More
Faith Hope and Love Jesus, Inc. is excited to offer an annual college scholarship. This will be the easiest 500 words or more essay to write in the world. It can be on any topic or subject. Please submit a letter from your doctor documenting a history of a blood disorder or cancer diagnosed before the age of 18 along with your essay. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship [...] More
The First Responders Children’s Foundation awards scholarships to children of first responders annually. Awards are based on financial need as well as academic merit and other achievements, such as demonstrated leadership, outstanding performance in the arts or sports, and/or volunteer activities benefiting the community. This scholarship may be renewed annually (for up to a maximum of four [...] More
The Victoria Ovis Memorial scholarship is awarded annually to a child of a law enforcement officer who was killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. Awards are based on financial need, academic merit, and achievements such as leadership, outstanding performance in the arts or sports, and/or volunteer activities benefiting the community. The recipient must be a student from or reside and [...] More
Scholarships are offered to individuals and families living with a bleeding disorder. It is our goal that those living with bleeding disorders have access to educational opportunities that will enhance their lives and prepare them to become self-sufficient and productive members of the workforce. The scholarship program goals are as follows: improved patient and family access to insurance; [...] More
Scholarships are offered to individuals and families living with a bleeding disorder. It is our goal that those living with bleeding disorders have access to educational opportunities that will enhance their lives and prepare them to become self-sufficient and productive members of the workforce. The scholarship program goals are as follows: improved patient and family access to insurance; [...] More
INCIGHT has awarded scholarships to students with disabilities pursuing higher education. These scholars are enrolled in community college, university, vocational school and graduate programs. Students who demonstrate outstanding service to their community and overcome personal obstacles are awarded scholarships from INCIGHT. Applicants must be residents of Washington state, Oregon or California, [...] More
JCS offers several scholarships for Jewish high school seniors from the Baltimore Metro Area planning to attend an accredited U.S. college or university. There is a scholarship available for a student with a documented diagnosed learning disability and several scholarships available for students from single-parent homes. The scholarships are competitive. Recipients are chosen based on several [...] More
The Jennifer Leigh Soper Scholarship was established by Lee Soper, in memory of his daughter. This scholarship provides a non-renewable scholarship to a college-bound student with cystic fibrosis. Past recipients are eligible to reapply. The award amount varies each year. Other than the aforementioned, specified criteria, this award is open to many applicants and doesn't have many [...] More
Kids' Chance of Virginia (KCVA) is proud to provide scholarships to the children of Virginia workers who have been severely or fatally injured in a workplace accident. Eligible applicants must be 16-25, be a child of a parent whose work related injury caused a significant decline in family income and circumstances, and plan to pursue a post-secondary or trade school. For more information or to [...] More
The Margaret Howard Hamilton Scholarship is awarded to a graduating high school senior who has been accepted into the Harvey and Bernice Jones Learning Center, housing the Ben Caudle Learning Program at the University of the Ozarks, Clarksville, Arkansas. Applications must be requested directly through the Learning Center upon acceptance into this program for learning disabled students. This [...] More
The Massachusetts Public Service Grant was established for students who have experienced the loss of a parent and/or spouse who is killed or missing in the line of public service duty in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Applicants must be permanent legal residents of Massachusetts for one year prior to the start of the academic year for which the scholarship is granted, be United States [...] More
The Francis P. Matthews and John E. Swift Educational Trust Scholarships are available to children of members in good standing who are killed or permanently disabled, by hostile action, while serving in the U.S. armed forces in a combat zone designated as such by the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors; as well as the children of fulltime firefighters and law enforcement officers, who while in [...] More
The Millie Brother Scholarship is an annual scholarship awarded to hearing children of deaf adult(s) to help them pursue their post-secondary education. The scholarship can be used for undergraduate studies at any accredited institution of higher education in the world. On average, two $3,000 scholarship are offered annually. These are one-time scholarships. You may only win an award once, but [...] More
The Public Service Officer or Employee's Child Survivor Grant Program provides tuition assistance to dependent children and spouses of public safety officers or Missouri Department of Transportation employees engaged in the construction or maintenance of the state's highways, roads, and bridges who were killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty. If you are a dependent child, [...] More
Jackson-Stricks Scholarship provides financial aid that enables students with physical challenges to pursue academic study or vocational training which leads to independent living. Scholarships are available to students with physical challenges that affect mobility, vision or hearing who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in the New York Metropolitan Area. For more [...] More
The EdChoice mission is to advance educational freedom and choice for all as a pathway to successful lives and a stronger society. The Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship program offers individuals and businesses a 50 percent tax credit tax credits for donations to scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs), nonprofits that provide private school scholarships to students who meet the [...] More
We know that when a parent is seriously injured in an accident, life suddenly becomes a lot harder for the whole family. That's why we created our scholarship program — to ensure that despite things beyond your control, you still have an opportunity to pursue your academic goals. Pinnacol Foundation scholarships may be used for four-year, two-year or trade programs at accredited colleges, [...] More
The Powering Education Scholarship was established by Alpha One to assist people with disabilities who wish to pursue post-secondary education. The scholarship will provide up to $2000 per candidate who is accepted into post-secondary school education (after high school), including undergraduate college education as well as graduate programs. Applicants must have a documented disability, be [...] More
The Rheumatoid Patient Foundation provides financial support to students whose lives have been affected by rheumatoid disease (RD), as they advance their education. Applicants must be U.S. residents applying to a post-secondary/vocational institution or already enrolled at a college or vocational school. Applicant has a confirmed diagnosis of RA or JRA/JIA, or has a parent with such a diagnosis [...] More
The Mansfield Noon Lions Club Scholarship Fund provides scholarships and or educational assistance for the visually handicapped pursuing their education either part or full-time, giving priority to those students graduating from the visually impaired program at Mansfield City Schools, and whose visual handicap, which means an impairment which, even with correction, adversely affects a child's [...] More
To be eligible for the The Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation Scholarships, applicants must: be a high school senior; have Type 1 diabetes and are properly managing in; have participated in athletics; and, have a 3.0 GPA. Candidates are notified in June. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More
Young adults with SCD who are high school seniors or current undergraduates matriculated at an accredited college are qualified to apply for the SCTPN Scholarship. For scholarship consideration, all of the following criteria must be met: complete scholarship application clearly and accurately; provide a letter of certification from your physician verifying that you are an individual with Sickle [...] More
Sertoma's Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or d/Deaf, is the leading funder of scholarships for Hard of Hearing or d/Deaf students since the program's inception in 1994. Students with a clinically-significant bilateral hearing loss, graduating from high school, or undergraduate students pursuing four-year college degrees in any discipline are eligible for the scholarship. Applicants must [...] More
To be eligible for an SFM Foundation Scholarship, you must: be the natural, adopted, step-child or full dependent of a worker injured or killed in a work-related accident during the course and scope of employment with an employer based in Minnesota or Iowa and entitled to receive benefits under the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act, Iowa Workers’ Compensation Act or other comparable benefit [...] More
Scholarships will be awarded to applicants with hemophilia A or hemophilia B who present the best combination of a creative and persuasive essay, excellent recommendations, and superior academic standing.
Applicants must be a U.S. resident attending a school in the U.S. and be a high school senior or graduate, have completed high school or an equivalent (GED), or be currently accepted to (or [...] More
The Team Type 1 Global Ambassador Scholarship Program funds college scholarships of up to $10,000 to help young, talented athletes with type 1 diabetes off-set the cost of diabetes care so they can focus on what matters…their health and their college education. Awards recognize athletes who demonstrate an ability to balance both academic and sporting commitments, promote healthy living with [...] More
Scholarships are open to any college-age young person with PKU who is on diet treatment and is not in graduate school (the scholarship is now open only to undergraduates, a change from previous years due to financial reasons). Residents of any country are eligible to apply, but the application must be in English or translated into readable English. Applicants must be accepted to an accredited [...] More
The Tommy Tranchin Award was established at The Dallas Foundation to support students with physical, emotional or intellectual disabilities who have shown promise or passion in a chosen field of interest. Tommy’s family wants to recognize his creativity and adventurous spirit by helping other young people with disabilities develop their own talents and explore new opportunities. Please note that [...] More
The William and Cordula Freese Scholarship was created to assist students with visual or physical handicaps. Applicants must be Saginaw County residents, have a visual or physical difference, and be high school seniors or undergraduates enrolled full-time. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's [...] More
The purpose of VMSDEP is to provide undergraduate or other postsecondary education to eligible participants by providing a waiver of tuition and all required fees associated with tuition at any public institution of higher education or other public accredited postsecondary institution granting a degree, diploma, or certificate in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Benefits are available for up to 36 [...] More
When founded in 1974, the organization was named the National Committee - Arts for the Handicapped. In 1985 the name changed to Very Special Arts and in 2010 it became VSA. In 2011, VSA merged with the Kennedy Center's Office on Accessibility to become the Office of Access and VSA at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The VSA Emerging Young Artists Program, a Jean Kennedy Smith [...] More
Each year outstanding young musicians from around the world receive the VSA International Young Musicians Award, $2,000, and the opportunity to participate in professional development and performance opportunities provided by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
This program is open to U.S. and international musicians and ensembles of any genre or instrument, [...] More
The Wings Over America Scholarship Foundation annually sponsors scholarships to further the postsecondary education of Navy dependents from the aviation community. Most scholarships are for $5,000, and some are renewable. Scholarships may be used for trade school certification, community college or four-year university/college undergraduate study and cover tuition only at an accredited [...] More
High school students planning to work in a STEM-based field can rest assured about their career prospects. Research shows that STEM jobs will grow more than twice as rapidly as non-STEM jobs over the next 8 years. [...]
Did you know that there are more scholarships with deadlines in March than any other month? Now is the time to put in a little bit of your time to apply for as many scholarships as you possibly can. Of course, you are going to want to prioritize wisely, with just over a week left in the month. [...]
Most major tech companies offer scholarships for prospective or current college students. While some of those are geared toward all students, other scholarships are designed to fix the racial disparity within the tech industry. According to research from 2021, fewer than 10% of STEM employees in the workforce are African-American. The Blacks at Microsoft Scholarship aims to close the gap and encourage more Black students to major in STEM-related fields. [...]
