Scholarship money is available to students with physical disabilities.
Having a physical disability can make many aspects of life more challenging, including attending college. For the families of many physically disabled students, paying for college can be an equally daunting task. Fortunately, there are a handful of scholarship resources available to help physically disabled children achieve their educational and professional goals.
Bank of America ADA Abilities Scholarship
Bank of America sponsors the ADA Abilities Scholarship for physically disabled high school seniors, high school graduates and currently enrolled undergraduate students. All applicants must reside in a state where Bank of America has a retail banking institution and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA. At the time of publication, the program provided multiple scholarships annually of up to $5,000 for students pursuing a degree in banking, finance or computer science.
1800Wheelchair.com Scholarship
1800Wheelchair, a national wheelchair retailer, sponsors a scholarship program for physically disabled students aged 16 or older. To qualify for an award, applicants must be enrolled in an accredited high school, college or university, be a U.S. citizen and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Recipients are selected based on their response to an essay topic related to coping with disabilities in educational settings. As of July 2011, the program offered two $500 to deserving students annually.
Horatio Alger Association Scholarships
The Horatio Alger Association sponsors both national and state scholarships for students who have faced and overcome some type of obstacle to complete their education, including physical disability. All applicants must be enrolled in their senior year of high school and be planning to pursue an undergraduate degree at an accredited college or university in the U.S. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need. At the time of publication, national scholarships were valued at $20,000 while state scholarship awards were valued at $5,000.
Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation Scholarships
The Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation sponsors scholarships for students who are dealing with the challenges of physical disability. The program provides funding for students at a select number of schools, including Penn State University, Temple University, New York University, Gallaudet University and Brooklyn College. The amount and number of awards granted each year varies. In the 2010-11 academic year, scholarship funding totaled approximately $245,000.
Marianjoy Scholarship Program
Illinois students may apply for the Marianjoy Scholarship Program, administered by Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital. Applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited undergraduate program and have a permanent physical disability. Applicants must also be permanent residents of Cook, Will, Kane, DuPage, McHenry, Lake, DeKalb or Kendall counties. At the time of publication, the program provided multiple awards annually of up to $5,000 each.
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