Disability Based Scholarships

Blindness

The American Council of the Blind administers more than two dozen scholarships and grants for outstanding, legally blind, full-time students. A minimum GPA of 3.3 is generally required, but made be adjusted under extenuating circumstances. The application deadline is March 1.
www.afb.org

The American Foundation for the Blind maintains a number of scholarship and grant opportunities based on financial need. For example, the Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship awards one $500 scholarship to a full-time graduate student. The Ferdinand Torres Scholarship awards one $2,500 grant to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student, with a strong preference for new immigrants in the New York City area. The application may be completed on-line. The deadline is March 31.

The Association of Blind Citizens awards seven $1,000 general education grants for blind students. The Association’s Assistive Technology Fund provides grants to cover up to 50 percent of the cost of adaptive devices and software for blind and visually impaired students. For more information about application deadlines and eligibility requirements, please see the website at: http://www.blindcitizens.org/abc_scholarship.htm

The Fred Scheigert Scholarship Program awards three (3) students an individual prize of $3000 annually, 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.

Guidelines, Application and Certification of Low Vision forms and the on-line application are available at http://www.cclvi.org/scholarship.htm from January 1st to 11:55 pm EST March 1st each year. The application must be completed online. Completed applications and supporting documents must be received by March 1st. If you have any questions about the scholarship application guidelines, please call CCLVI at (800)733-2258.

The Carl Foley Graduate Scholarship Program (Please note: We are currently revising the requirements of this program. For current information check http://www.cclvi.org/scholarship.htm. This program is for graduate students attending one of several colleges and universities which offer a degree in the field of low vision. Applicants need not be visually impaired. Application is made through the school directly.

Lucent Pioneer Organization Scholarship
The Lucent Pioneer Organization offers scholarships to assist with tuition for physically and mentally challenged students in pursuit of education. (As defined in The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992).
Students may apply each January and applications should be mailed to the nearest Lucent Technologies Pioneer office.
The Lucent Pioneer hotline number is (888) 999-5877.

The Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards (SAA) are presented to Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic 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.
http://www.rfbd.org/applications_awards.htm/

Applicants must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

Be legally blind
Have been registered as an RFB&D member for at least one year (individually or through a school)
Have received, or will receive, a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States or its territories in coming academic year.
Have an overall grade point average for undergraduate years of 3.0 or more on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent if an alternative grading system is used).

The National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program provides need-based assistance in varying amounts to legally blind students enrolled in a full-time degree program. The application deadline is March 31.
www.nfb.org

Cancer

Patient Advocate Foundation Scholarships for Survivors program. The purpose is 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. Applicant must apply via postal mail and submit all required information in its entirety when returning your application.
http://www.patientadvocate.org/

There are ten awards in the amount is $3,000 each, payable in equal amounts (per semester/trimester/quarter) directly to the college, university or vocational-technical school for the purpose of defraying tuition and other fee costs (books are not to be included). Deadline is usually in April.
If you should have any additional questions, please contact Ruth Anne Reed at scholarship@patientadvocate.org.

Ulman Cancer Fund’s National College Scholarship Program was established to support the financial needs of young adults whose lives have been impacted by cancer and are seeking a higher education. Several scholarships are available and most have a localized geographic focus.

There are seven competitive scholarship awards and the eligibility requirements for each scholarship may vary. Applicants may submit only one application.
Young Adults who have been impacted by the cancer diagnosis of, or loss of, their parent may apply for six (6) different scholarships.
Young adults who have been impacted by the cancer diagnosis of, or loss of, their sibling may apply for the Satola Family Scholarship Award at the University of Virginia
For more information http://www.ulmanfund.org/Services/Scholarship/

American Cancer Society offers programs that help cancer patients, family members and friends cope with the emotional challenges they face. For more information contact them at:
250 Williams Street
Atlanta, GA 30303
1-800-227-2345
http://www.cancer.org

Tim and Tom Gullikson Foundation awards college scholarships to individuals affected by a brain tumor diagnosis.
Contact: 1-888-Gullikson
www.gulliksonfoundation.org

Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education offers scholarships for collegebound and college students between the ages of 17-24. For more information contact:
Office of Scholarship Programs
16 Archbold North
Syracuse, NY 13244
315-443-1513
http://www.life-line.org/scholarship

National Collegiate Cancer Foundation provides scholarships to young adults affected by cancer. For more information, contact:
P.O. Box 14521
Silver Spring, MD 20911
www.collegiatecancer.org

SAMfund offers scholarships to young adults between 17-35 years of age. For more information, contact:
617-938-3484
www.thesamfund.org

Working Against Cancer’s Survival Scholarship Program awards to young adult cancer survivors (30 and under). For more information contact:
619-269-6767
www.workingagainstcancer.org/survivor_scholarship.html

Special Love, Inc. awards college scholarships to students diagnosed with cancer. For more information, contact:
117 Youth Development Court
Winchester
VA 22602
1-540-667-3774 or 1-888-930-2707
www.speciallove.org

Cancer Survivors Fund Scholarships awarded to cancer survivors and based on academic qualifications of candidates and hardship. For further information, please contact:
PO Box 792
Missouri, TX 77456
1-281-437-7142
info@cancersurvivorsfund.org

Jonathan Jackson Cancer Survivor Scholarship awarded to cancer survivors and current cancer patients from North Carolina.
1-888-375-8117
http://www.nccommunityfoundation.org/

The Ryan Mullaly Second Chance Fund awards $1,000 to cancer survivors diagnosed between the ages of 13-20 and are currently age 35 or younger.
26 Meadow Lane
Pennington, NJ 08534
1-609-737-1800
http://www.ryans2dchancefund.org/

Pacific West Cancer Fund Scholarships provides $1,500 for cancer survivors through 70 colleges and universities. For further information contact:
Pacific West Cancer Fund
757 St. Charles Avenue, Suite 204
New Orleans LA 70130
1-504-301-1464

Patient Advocate Foundation Scholarships for Survivors provides scholarships for cancer patients/survivors under the age of 25. Please contact:
1-800-532-5274
www.patientadvocate.org

The Susan Fund, Inc., awards scholarships awarded to Fairfield, Connecticut, county residents diagnosed with cancer. For more information, contact:
The Susan Fund, Inc.
8 Hilly Field Lane
Westport, CT 06880
1-203-226-4145
http://www.thesusanfund.org/

Cancer For College awards scholarships to young adult cancer survivors and patients. For more information, please contact:
1-760-510-9571
www.cancerforcollege.org

Coalition Against Breast Cancer Scholarship Program awards families and children who have lost a parent to breast cancer. For more information, please contact:
C.A.B.C Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 483
St. James, NY 11780-0483
http://www.cabcli.com/

Mary Ellen Locher Foundation/Children of Breast Cancer Scholarships for students who have lost a mother to either breast cancer or complication resulting from breast cancer or a mother who has survived breast cancer. Contact:
Children of Breast Cancer Scholarship Fund
PO Box 4032
Chattanooga, TN 37405
www.childrenofbreastcancer.org/scholarships.html

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation awards five scholarships up to $10,000 per year to graduating high school seniors and current college students who are 25 years old or younger and who have lost a parent to breast cancer.
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Attn: Grants Dept. College Scholarship
5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite #250
Dallas, TX 75244
1-972-855-1616
ccombs@komen.org

LIFE Lessons Essay Contest for Students for college bound high school seniors and current college students between ages 17-24 who have suffered the death of a parent or guardian. Enter online or call 1-202-465-5000 x 106 or write for more information to:
Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education
2175 K Street, NW, Suite 250
Washington, DC 20037
Scholarship@lifefdn.org

Pink Rose Foundation provides $1, 00 scholarships for college students who have lost a parent or legal guardian to breast cancer. Must be at least 18 years old and under the age of 25. Application available at:
The PinkRose Foundation Inc.
PO Box 4025
Dedham, MA 02027
1-781-710-6268
www.pinkrose.org/scholarship
info@pinkrose.org

Cystic Fibrosis

The Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship Foundation (CFSF) awards $1,000 grants to young adults living with CF who are pursuing higher education. Award decisions are based on academic promise, leadership, and financial need. The application deadline is March 21.

The Elizabeth Nash Foundation (ENF) awards scholarships to assists persons with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees. Grants ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 are awarded annually.
Eligibility Criteria: 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.
Questions? Contact scholarships@elizabethnashfoundation.org.

Solvay Cares Scholarship: Recognizing the financial burdens that exist for many CF families, we developed the SolvayCARESSM Scholarship to honor young adults with CF as they pursue goals of post-high school education. Scholarships will continue to be awarded based on applicants' creativity, academic excellence, community involvement and ability to serve as a positive role model for the CF community.
For more information visit http://www.solvaycaresscholarship.com/scholarshipoverview.php

Dwarfism

The Billy Barty Foundation provides $2,000 grants to promising college students with medical dwarfism. For more information, contact the foundation at (818) 953-5410.

Epilepsy

Pfizer’s 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
• Shown a desire to make the most out of college or graduate school.

You may apply for Pfizer's Epilepsy Scholarship Award if you are under a doctor’s care for epilepsy and in school as a high school senior who has applied to college, a current college student, or a college senior who has applied to graduate school. For more information http://www.epilepsy-scholarship.com.

Hearing Impairment and Deafness

The Alexander Graham Bell Association’s George H. Nofer Scholarship for Law and Public Policy provides $5,000 awards each year to three full-time graduate students. Grantees must be attending law school or be enrolled in a masters or doctoral program in public policy or public administration. For more information visit http://www.agbell.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?p=GNofer

National Fraternal Society of the Deaf Scholarships: Financial assistance to members of the society. The Society presents 10 $1,000 scholarships each year. Deaf, hard of hearing or hearing persons who are enrolled in or accepted to a postsecondary educational institution are eligible to apply, if they have been members of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf for at least one year prior to application. For more information contact:

National Fraternal Society of the Deaf
1118 S. 6th St.
Springfield, IL 62703
(217) 789-7429 (Voice)
(217) 789-7438 (TTY)
(217) 789-7489 (Fax)
http://www.nfsd.com/scholarships.htm

Wisconsin Handicapped Student Grant for students with a hearing impairment and resident of Wisconsin. Contact:
Higher Educational Aids Board, Attn: Sandy Thomas
131 West Wilson, Madison, WI 53707-7885
608-266-0888
http://heab.state.wi.us/handicap.doc

Hemophilia

The Wyeth Scholarship Program will award $50,000 in scholarships to students in the hemophilia community, including five (5) $4,000 graduate scholarships. To be eligible for the scholarships, students must have either hemophilia A or hemophilia B and be a high school senior, have a high school diploma or graduate equivalency diploma (GED), or be currently enrolled in an accredited junior college, college (undergraduate or graduate), or vocational school.

The Hemophilia Federation of America awards ten (10) scholarships of $1,500 annually to promising students in the bleeding disorders community. In order to be eligible for a scholarship, prospective students must submit a completed application in one of the four scholarship categories:

• Educational Scholarship
• Sibling Continuing Educational Scholarship
• Parent Continuing Educational Scholarship
• Artistic Encouragement Grant.

Applications and accompanying materials must be postmarked by April 30th, as the Scholarship Committee anticipates announcing scholarship recipients by July 15th. For more information on HFA Scholarship policies, requirements, and eligibility criteria, visit http://hemophiliafed.org/programs-andservices/educational-scholarships

The Factor Support Network Scholarships

The Mike Hylton & Ron Niederman Memorial Scholarship offered by the Factor Support Network has ten (10) $1000 scholarships to men with Hemophilia or von Willebrand Disease and their immediate family members.
The Millie Gonzalez Memorial Scholarship offered by the Factor Support Network has five (5) $1000 scholarships to women with Hemophilia or von Willebrand Disease.

For more information, visit http://www.factorsupport.com/scholarships.htm

Mental Disorders

The Lilly Reintegration Scholarship supports students who receive medical treatment with bipolar disease, schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. Awards range from $1,500 – $6,500. Grantees may apply their awards to the cost of their tuition, books, lab supplies and fees.

Biunno Scholarship awarded by the Essex County Bar Association, this program is open to current law students with a disability limited to a permanent physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of the individual. Must be a NJ resident and have a 3.0 GPA. Preference will be given to applicants seeking to pursue a career in the field of advocacy for persons with disabilities.

Contact: 973.622.6207 or lruckstuhl@essexbar.com or visit http://www.essexbar.com

Physical Impairment

The Gore Family Memorial Foundation Trust provides tuition assistance to full-time, physically impaired students with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Award amounts vary, but may only be applied to the cost of tuition. Applications must be requested in writing between April 15th and June 15th. For more information contact:
The Gore Family Memorial Foundation Trust
4747 North Ocean Drive, Suite #204
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308.

The Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation (ELA) awards $2,000 each year to two female graduate students with physical disabilities. For more information on eligibility requirements and application guidelines, please see the ELA website. The application deadline is June 1.

The Lucent Pioneer Organization offers scholarships to assist physically and mentally challenged students in the pursuit of their college education. The application deadline is in January. For more information, call 1-888-999-5877.

The United Student Aid Funds’ Access to Education Scholarship provides $1,500 to students with a physical disability whose annual family income is less than $35,000 per year. The application deadline is March 15.

Scholarships for Students with Learning Disabilities

Open Scholarships

Ralph G. Norman Scholarship is offered by the Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas. The deadline is in early July. For more information write to:
Ralph G. Norman Scholarship
LDAA, 7509 Cantrell Road #103 C
Little Rock, AR 72207.

Canadian Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (LDAC). LDAC offers three scholarships for students with disabilities: The Donald Cummings Scholarship, the Carol Thomson Memorial Fund Scholarship, and the Doreen Kronick Scholarship. The application deadline is May 15. For more information, write to:
Learning Disabilities Association of Canada
323 Chapel Street, Suite 200
Ottawa,Ontario, K1N 7Z2
Fax 1-613-235-5391
Call 1-613-238-5721
information@ldac-taac.ca.

Learning Disabilities Association of Ottawa-Carleton (LDAO-C). LDAO-C offers information about several scholarships for Canadian students with disabilities, including the Roy Cooper Scholarship, the Mattinson Endowment Fund Scholarship, and the Imperial Tobacco Canada Scholarship Fund.

Gloria Landis Memorial Bursary. The Gloria Landis Memorial Bursary is a $1,000 scholarship awarded by the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario to a mature individual with learning disabilities to pursue a postsecondary of vocational program. Candidates must be at least 25 years old and have been absent from full-time education for at least three years. The application deadline is June 15. For more information, write to:
Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario
360 Bloor St. E., Suite 1004
PO Box 39
Toronto, Ontario M4W 3L4
Fax 1-416-929-3905
Call 1-416-929-4311

Justin Eves Foundation Scholarship. The Justin Eves Foundation Scholarship provides a $3,000 scholarship for students with a learning disability. For more information contact:
The Justin Eves Foundation
595 Bay St., Suite 1202
Toronto, ON M5G 2C2
Fax 1-416-586-1480
Call 1-416-586-0085