Disabled college students can achieve academic excellence.
In 1975, Congress enacted the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, currently referred to as the Individuals with Disabilities Act. The intention of the Act is to secure equal rights for people with disabilities, to give them access to public accommodations, for example. Consequently, government, private and public organizations began awarding grants to people with disabilities, grants that assist them with college tuition and help them earn college degrees.
Student Support Services Programs
One federal program that helps students with disabilities pay for tuition is the Student Support Services Program. Students who are eligible for Pell Grants, as determined by the U.S. Department of Education's Free Application for Federal Student Aid, can apply for support services. Since the program is campus-based, the amount colleges award is left to institutions' discretion. The program helps low-income students who are the first to attend college in the family and students with disabilities.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)
The Supplemental Security Income pays a monthly income to students with disabilities who face financial hardships, and the amount varies from state to state. Eligible students may also qualify for Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS), a program that allows disabled students to use their incomes or assets toward college tuition. Funds received through PASS are not considered when applying for SSI, so students could apply for increases in SSI payments.
Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
Vocational rehabilitation agencies are federally funded programs, and one of their functions is to help disabled students attend college. There is an agency in every state, and counselors work with colleges to provide financial aid packages to disabled students. In addition, some colleges offer campus-based services. The University of Minnesota Morris, for example, works with Minnesota's vocational rehabilitation agency and also offers eligible students who are visually or hearing impaired with tuition waivers or assistance.
The National Federation for the Blind
Through its National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program, the National Federation for the Blind serves people in the U.S. who are vision-impaired. To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens, blind and enrolled in post-secondary institutions. The scholarships are awarded based on financial needs, academic excellence and public service and pay up to $12,000 with no other restrictions.
Conclusion
Organizations like The National Federation for the Blind are changing the way people perceive the physically and mentally challenged. Students with disabilities hold professional positions in all walks of life because of scholarship programs that help them pay college tuition and participate fully in college experiences. Most important, students with disabilities are proving that they can compete on a level playing field.
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