Many students are faced with the question of how to fund their college education. This dilemma may be even greater for students with disabilities who may have greater expenses depending on any auxiliary services they may need (i.e. personal assistants, tutors, equipment, medical treatment, etc.).
There are several resources for financial aid for students with disabilities.
- Texas A&M University Scholarships
- State Agencies: Texas Workforce Commission and Health & Human Services Commission
- Federal Financial Aid
- General Information about potential funding sources (DO-IT)
- Web Resources
Texas A&M University Scholarships
All students at Texas A&M are encouraged to apply for scholarships that are administered by the university. The deadline for most of the scholarships is March 1st. Information and online applications for the following TAMU scholarships are available on the Student Financial Aid web page (https://aggie.tamu.edu/financial-aid):
- Academic Excellence Award
- Academic Incentive Award
- Opportunity Award
- Two Year College Transfer Scholarship
- TAMU Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
State Agencies: Texas Workforce Commission and Health & Human Services Commission
Students with disabilities should contact their local Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) or the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) office to determine if they are eligible for services and/or financial assistance. The primary goal of these agencies is to help people become employed. Services that may be provided include: help with tuition expenses, books and supplies, tutoring expenses, technology aids, etc.
Tuition and Fee Exemptions
If you are a Texas state resident who is legally blind or legally deaf attending a public university in the State of Texas, you may be eligible for a tuition and fee exemption. If you qualify, your exemption can be used at any Texas state institution. For more information read more details at the College for All Texans web page on exemptions.
Certificates of Blindness and Certificates of Deafness should be sent directly to the Student Business Services office via their exemption and waiver guidelines in order for the exemption to be applied to the student’s account (by mail, fax, email or in person):
Student Business Services
6001 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-6001
FAX to 979-845-9406
Email to [email protected]
In person to General Services Complex, Suite 2801
Be sure to include full name and UIN #
Federal Financial Aid
Applications for the following financial aid programs are available at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
- Stafford Loans
- PLUS Loans
- Direct Loans
- Pell Grants
- Perkins Loans
- Work-Study
The above programs are federally administered loans and grants, many of which require repayment.
Web Resources
The following websites may be helpful in finding information about scholarships for students with disabilities:
Scholarship Searches
- TAMU Scholarships – https://scholarships.tamu.edu
- http://www.scholarships.com
- https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
- http://www.scholarshipsandgrants.us
- https://www.fastweb.com
- http://www.college-scholarships.com
- http://www.smartscholar.com/
- https://www.nitrocollege.com/scholarships/disabilities
- https://scholarships360.org
- https://globalscholarships.com (includes options for international students)
Autism
- ASD Ascend Autism College Scholarships
https://asdascend.com/scholarships - Living With Autism Scholarship
https://hammacklawfirm.com/about/living-with-autism-scholarship/ - Organization for Autism Research Scholarships
https://researchautism.org/how-we-help/scholarships
Cancer
- Ambient Edge Scholarship for Students Affected by Cancer
https://www.ambientedge.com/students-affected-by-cancer-scholarship - Chalik & Chalik Cancer Survivors Scholarship
https://www.chaliklaw.com/cancer-survivors-scholarship - Fighting Cancer Scholarship
https://pilzerlaw.com/about/scholarships/fighting-cancer-scholarship - John Foy & Associates Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship
https://www.johnfoy.com/about/scholarship/strong-arm-leukemia-scholarship - Mesothelioma.com Scholarship
https://www.mesothelioma.com/scholarship/ - Mesothelioma Cancer Victims Memorial Scholarship
https://baronandbudd.com/mesothelioma/scholarships - NetPEO Lung Cancer Awareness Scholarship
https://www.netpeo.com/lung-cancer-awareness-scholarship
Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- AG Bell College Scholarship Program:
https://www.agbell.org/Connect/AG-Bell-College-Scholarship-Program - Cochlear Graeme Clark Scholarship
https://www.cochlear.com/us/en/home/ongoing-care-and-support/connect-with-us/scholarships - George H. Nofer Scholarship for Law and Public Policy
https://www.agbell.org/Connect/NoferScholarship - Sertoma Scholarship for Students Who Are Hard of Hearing or Deaf
http://sertoma.org/what-we-do/scholarships/
Epilepsy
- Epilepsy Foundation
https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/age-groups/youth/work-and-college/scholarships
Health Related Disabilities
- 180 Medical Scholarship Program
https://www.180medical.com/scholarships - American Association on Health and Disability Frederick J. Krause Scholarship
https://www.aahd.us/initiatives/scholarship-program/ - Berger and Green Heart Disease Scholarship
https://www.bergerandgreen.com/about/scholarships/heart-disease-scholarship - Birth Injury Survivor Scholarship
https://distasiofirm.com/about/scholarship/birth-injury-survivor-scholarship - Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship Foundation
https://cfscholarship.org/scholarships/ - Eric Dostie Memorial College Scholarship (bleeding disorder)
https://www.hemophilia.org/Eric-Dostie-Memorial-College-Scholarship - Eric Marder Scholarship Program of The Immune Deficiency Foundation
https://primaryimmune.org/services/idf-academic-scholarship-programs - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Scholarship
https://www.boginmunns.com/fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder-scholarship - John Foy & Associates Survivor of a Car Accident Scholarship
https://www.johnfoy.com/about/scholarship/survivor-of-a-car-accident-scholarship - Matt Stauffer Memorial Scholarship
http://ulmanfund.org/scholarships/ - National Hemophilia Foundation Scholarships
http://www.hemophilia.org/NHFWeb/MainPgs/MainNHF.aspx?menuid=53&contentid=36 - National MS Society’s scholarship program
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Living-Well-With-MS/Work-and-Home/Insurance-and-Financial-Information/Financial-Planning/Financial-Resources/Scholarship-Resources - Texas Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society Memorial Foundation Asthma Scholarship Award
https://taais.org/scholarship/ - Traumatic Brain Injury Scholarship
https://www.bressmanlaw.com/scholarship - Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Survivor Scholarship
https://www.morellilaw.com/about/scholarships - Verplank Foundation Scholarship (Diabetes)
http://verplankfoundation.com/scholarships/
Internships
- Entrypoint
https://www.aaas.org/programs/entry-point - The Washington Center
http://www.twc.edu - American Association of People with Disabilities
http://www.aapd.com/
Learning Disabilities
- Joseph James Morelli Legacy Foundation Scholarship
https://morelli.foundation/scholarship-applications.htm - P. Buckley Moss Society Scholarship & Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarships
https://www.ncld.org/what-we-do/scholarships - Preply Cognitive Disabilities Scholarship
https://preply.com/en/scholarships/cognitive-disabilities-scholarship - RiSE Scholarship Foundation
https://risescholarshipfoundation.org/
Physical Disabilities
- 1800Wheelchair Scholarship
https://www.1800wheelchair.com/scholarship/ - Amputee Coalition
https://www.amputee-coalition.org/resources/college-funding-resources-for-individuals-with-disabilities/ - Avacare Medical Scholarship
https://www.avacaremedical.com/scholarship - Cerebral Palsy Scholarship
https://www.abclawcenters.com/cerebral-palsy-scholarship/ - Cerebral Palsy Scholarship
https://birthinjurylawyer.com/cerebral-palsy-lawyer/scholarship - Karman Healthcare Scholarship Fund
http://www.karmanhealthcare.com/scholarships/ - Medical Scrubs Collection Scholarship
https://medicalscrubscollection.com/scholarship-program - Murse World Scholarship
https://www.murseworld.com/scholarship - Rent A Knee Walker Scholarship
https://www.rentakneewalker.com/scholarship - SpinLife Scholarship
https://www.spinlife.com/scholarship - Workers Compensation Scholarship
https://baderscott.com/about/scholarship/workers-compensation-scholarship
Schizophrenia
- Lilly Reintegration Scholarship
http://www.reintegration.com
Unspecified
- Auger & Auger Disabled Scholar Award
https://www.augerlaw.com/disabled-scholar-award/ - Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Disability Scholarship Program
https://buckfirelaw.com/scholarships/disability/ - disABLEDperson, Inc.
https://www.disabledperson.com/scholarships/33 - EpicWheelz disability based scholarship
https://www.epicwheelz.com/pages/epicwheelz-scholarship - Horatio Alger Association Scholarship Program
http://www.horatioalger.com - Google Lime Scholarship
https://www.limeconnect.com/programs/page/scholarships - Health Products for You Scholarship
https://www.healthproductsforyou.com/scholarship.html - Flora Marie Jenkins Memorial Disability Scholarship
https://disabilitydenials.com/about-us/college-scholarships/disability-scholarship/ - Microsoft Disability Scholarship
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/diversity/programs/microsoftdisabilityscholarship.aspx - Sleep Family Scholarship
https://sleepfamily.org/scholarship - The Springboard Foundation
http://thespringboardfoundation.org/ - Vitality Medical Scholarship
http://www.vitalitymedical.com/scholarship - Zivadream Scholarship
https://www.zivadream.com/scholarship
Visually Impaired
- American Council of the Blind of Texas, Inc.
https://acbtexas.org/resources/scholarships/ - American Foundation for the Blind
https://www.afb.org/about-afb/events-and-awards/afb-scholarships - Blind Veterans Association
https://bva.org/programs/scholarships-awards/ - Christian Record Services for the Blind
https://christianrecord.org/member-services/scholarship/ - Emma Freeman College Scholarship. Vibrant Works
https://vibrantworks.org/children-youth/ - Learning Ally National Achievement Awards
http://www.learningally.org/NAA - Lighthouse Guild
https://lighthouseguild.org/support-services/academic-and-career-services/scholarships - National Federation of the Blind
https://nfb.org/scholarships - National Federation of the Blind of Texas
https://www.nfbtx.org/scholarships.php