Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
If you have a child with a disability, there are a variety of scholarships they can apply for when it comes time to go to college. These scholarships are available to parents of service members and non-military. Some may be for children with any disability while others may be restricted to those for a specific disability.
College Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
Here is a list of scholarships for students with disabilities to help pay for their education.
Scholarships for Amputees
The Christina Skoski, M.D. Scholarship
Amputee, multiple recipients, past awards between $1000 and $1200
Details: Awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student who has “limb loss” and/or “limb difference”.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, click here.
Ye Notorious Krewe of the Peg Leg Pirate Scholarships
Amputee, multiple recipients, past awards between $1000 and $1200
Details: Applicants must have lost one or more limbs and be planning to further their education at an accredited university, community college, or technical school. Must have a GPA of 3.5, documented financial need, two letters of recommendation, provide medical verification, and write a short 300-word statement on their future aspirations.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, click here.
Scholarships for Students with Autism
Schwallie Family Scholarship Program
Autism, multiple recipients, past awards up to $3,000
Details: This scholarship is for students who attend a 2 or 4-year university. They need to have an established autism diagnosis and be attending an accredited post-secondary institution. They would need to be attending on a full-time basis or working toward certification or accreditation in a particular field. They would need to prove a medical diagnosis of autism.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, please visit the Research Autism site.
Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship
Autism, multiple recipients, past awards up to $3,000
Details: This scholarship is for students who attend a two-year university, life skills, post-secondary programs, or vocational or trade schools. Applicants must have an established autism diagnosis and must attend on a full-time basis or work toward certification or accreditation in a particular field.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, please visit the Research Autism site.
Scholarships for Students with Cystic Fibrosis
The Sacks for CF
Cystic Fibrosis, 30 recipients, past awards up to $10,000
The Details: This award is for undergraduate and graduate students with Cystic Fibrosis who strive for therapy adherence and academic success. “Sacks” for CF refers to the quarterback sacks made during the NFL season. For every sack recorded during NFL Monday Night Football games, the Sacks for CF Scholarship Program receives a donation from a Boomer Esiason Foundation corporate partner.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, please visit the Esiason website.
Scholarships for Students with Cleft Palate
Randall/LaRossa College Scholarship Fund
Cleft Palate, award amounts and number of applicants varies
The Details: For this award, students must be diagnosed with cleft lip, cleft palate or other congenital craniofacial difference. They also must be enrolled full-time in an accredited post-secondary institution or program in the US.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, please visit website.
Scholarships for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Sertoma Scholarship for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Deaf or Hard of Hearing, multiple recipients, award amounts vary
The Details: This scholarship is for those with a minimum of 40dB bilateral hearing loss, as evidenced on an audiogram by an SRT and PTA of 40dB or greater in both ears. They also must be US citizens pursuing a BA on a full-time basis at a college or university in the US. Other types of degrees do not qualify.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, please visit the website.
Scholarships for Students with Down Syndrome
Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship Award
Down Syndrome, multiple recipients, past awards ranged between $1,000-$10,000
The Details: This scholarship program is for between $1,000-$10,000 to be utilized in full within one academic year. Applicants must be diagnosed with Down Syndrome, be at least 18 years of age or be 18 by July 1st.
The applicant must have the desire and intent to enroll or to continue enrollment in a post-secondary class or program that will enhance their lives through employment, independent living, or life skills as well as interests in other areas.
The funds must be applied towards tuition at a university, community college, or post-secondary institution in the US. They can also be used for housing, food, or transportation only if the costs are already included in the tuition fee.
An approved percentage of the scholarship may be used for textbooks and other course work-related supplies. Enrichment classes in the arts also qualify if they are certified programs.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, please visit the Ruby’s Rainbow website.
Scholarships for Students with Learning Disabilities
The Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship
Learning disabilities, one recipient, Past awards up to $5,000 over two years
The Details: This scholarship is for $5,000 awarded over two years, $2,500 each year. It will go to a graduating high school senior with a documented learning disability and/or ADHD who will enroll in a 2-year Community College, a vocational or technical training program, or a specialized program for students with a learning disorder and/or ADHD.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, please visit their website.
Scholarships for Students with Vision Loss, Have Low Vision, or Are Visually Impaired or Blind
AER William and Dorothy Ferrell Scholarship
Blind and visually impaired, two recipients, past awards up to $2,000
The Details: This scholarship is for those who are legally blind and studying a career in the field of services to a person who is blind or visually impaired.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, please visit the AERBVI.org site.
Lighthouse Guild Scholarship Program
Vision loss, multiple recipients, up to $10,000
The Details: This scholarship is for students with vision loss who are undergraduate or graduate students. It is a merit-based scholarship program and may be applied to tuition, room and board, and books.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, please visit the Lighthouse Guild website.
Scheigert Scholarship
Low vision, past awards up to $3,000
Details: Available to full-time college students with low vision, chosen from among those who meet the visual acuity and academic guidelines.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, please click here.
Scholarships for Students with Visible or Invisible Disabilities
Google Lime Scholarship
Those with a visible or invisible disability, multiple recipients, past awards up to $10,000
Details: Winners of this scholarship will receive an award and are invited to attend the annual Google Scholars’ Retreat at the Googleplex in California. Candidates will also be considered for software engineering internship opportunities with Google. Scholarships are awarded based on the strength of the candidate’s academic background and demonstrated passion for computer science.
This scholarship is for undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. students in the US or Canada. The students must pursue a computer science or computer engineering degree or a degree in a closely related technical field with strong academic performance. The student must also have a visible or invisible disability. The students must be in college already, not in high school.
Website: For more information and to apply for this scholarship, please visit the website.
More Scholarships:
- Scholarships for Military Children
- Military Spouse Scholarships
- Scholarships for Veterans
- Scholarships for Graduate Students
Find Scholarships for Military, Veterans and Their Families
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About the author
Julie Provost is a freelance writer, and blogger. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.