Student-centric advice and objective recommendations
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Top Scholarships for Disabled Students in 2022
If you are a student with “disAbilities,” as we like to say, you landed in the right place! As the list below demonstrates, there are many scholarships for disabled students, both physical and mental in nature. Our list also includes scholarships for certain inflammatory diseases and cancer. Some of these scholarships for disabled students require documentation, so give yourself ample time to complete the applications!
- Top Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
- Resources for Students with Disabilities
- Summary of Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
Top scholarships for disabled students in 2022
L.I.F.E. Scholarships
- Eligibility: Students diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, attending/planning to attend college in Fall 2021, and have a 3.) or higher GPA
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: July 1, 2022
Academy of Special Dreams Scholarship
- Eligibility: Special needs applicants who applied to and/or have been accepted or are currently enrolled in a college or university, trade school, art school, or other recognized degree-awarding program. Student must express a desire to study or major in art
- Amount: $250 to $1,000
- Deadline: Rolling
See also: Top Mental Health Scholarships
Resources for students with disabilities
American Psychological Association: Reasonable Accommodations Explained
This article is an excellent place to start if wondering exactly what accommodations you are legally entitled to in college. Knowledge is power, so empower yourself by learning your rights!
National Center for College Students with Disabilities Clearinghouse
This database offers an amazing number of quality resources about disabilities and higher education all in one place.
National Resources for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education
This is a great website to find a variety of resources for college-bound or current college students with disabilities.
See also: Top ADHD Scholarships
Upcoming scholarships for students with disabilities
$4,300 Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students at every level of education who write a short essay about mental health
- Amount: $4,300 (two scholarships are awarded!)
$500 Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students at every level of education who have had challenges with mental health or who have had loved ones who have struggled with mental health
- Amount: $500
AbbVie Immunology Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students with one of the listed inflammatory diseased enrolling in full-time undergraduate or graduate study at an accredited United States (US) two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school
- Amount: $15,000
- Opens: October 22, 2022
American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: Full-time undergraduates who completed one full year of college and have a disability as defined by the American with Disabilities Act
- Amount: $1,000
- Opens: September 1, 2022
American Council of the Blind’s (ACB) Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: Applicants must be legally blind, maintain a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for most scholarships, be a full-time student (or a student who works 32 or more hours per week and attends college part time), and be involved in their school/local community
- Amount: $2,000 to $7,500, depending on whether applicant is attending a technical college or as an entering freshman, undergraduate, or a graduate student
- Opens: November 1, 2022
Baer Reintegration Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students eighteen years or older diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder who plan/are enrolled in high school equivalency programs, trade or vocational schools, certificate programs, or associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate degree college/university programs
- Amount: Varies based on each winner’s financial needs and educational goals
- Opens: October 2022
Fred Scheigert Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students with low vision enrolled as full-time students. Must have a minimum cumulative 3.2 Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Amount: $3,000 (three scholarships awarded)
John Lepping Memorial Scholarship: Disabled Students
- Eligibility: Permanent residents of New York, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania who have physical conditions (spinal cord injury, loss of limb, birth defects, etc.) and/or psychological conditions (autism, post- traumatic stress etc.). Scholarship recipients must be able to provide proof of disability with letter of confirmation by a physician
- Amount: $5,000
Lighthouse Guild College Bound Scholarship
- Eligibility: Visually impaired/blind high school students who will be incoming freshmen and graduate education (Master’s degree, PhD, MD, JD, or other post-baccalaureate degree) students, already attending or planning to attend graduate school
- Amount: Varies
Lime Connect Pathways Scholarship for High School Seniors
- Eligibility: High school seniors with all all types of disabilities. While financial need is considered, the awards are merit-based
- Amount: $1,000 (multiple scholarships awarded)
Matthew C. Graziadei Achievement Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to North Carolina high school seniors with any type of disability
- Amount: Worth up to $1,500
Microsoft Disability Scholarship
- Eligibility: College-bound current high school seniors living with disabilities (as defined by WHO). This includes visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive, speech, or other disabilities. Applicants must have 3.0 or above GPAs, passion for technology, and require financial assistance to attend college
- Amount: $20,000 ($5,000 per year for four years)
NBCUniversal Tony Coehlo Media Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to incoming and current university students with disabilities majoring in the media, communications, or entertainment fields.
- Amount: $5,625
Rent-a-Knee Walker Scholarship
- Eligibility: Current high school seniors or college students with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Students with physical disabilities are prioritized
- Amount: $500
Thomas J. Seefred Trust Scholarship
- Eligibility: Ohio residents ages 18-25 who have been diagnosed with Juvenile diabetes and are currently enrolled full-time on course to receive a 4-year bachelor’s degree
- Amount: Up to $3,000
Verplank Foundation Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors with a childhood Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and who participate on a sports team
- Amount: Up to $10,000, renewable
Wells Fargo Scholarship Program for People with Disabilities
- Eligibility: High school seniors or graduates with 3.0 GPAs or above planning to enroll (or already enrolled) full or half-time at an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the US
- Amount: $2,500 for full-time students, and $1,250 for half-time students (renewable scholarships!)
