Financial Resources & Discounts for Students With Disabilities UPDATED (Nov, 2022)

College life is one of the stressful times for a student in which they mostly spend their time on studies and apart from studies they also invest their time in casual activities so almost they bound themselves in a circle of stress. The most difficult time for those who have disabilities that will not only add financial but also mental stress to students. This is the main reason why we created this guide to gather financial resources, coupons, discounts, and saving options for students with disabilities.

Our list of best discounts for disabled students not only gives students a better life but also focuses on discounts for disabled students including utilities, travel, books, software, and modern technologies for students to use. Don’t miss the chance to grab this opportunity and save more.

Almost 11% of students go to school with disabilities, and for them, we are doing our best to make disabled students’ lives easier in terms of grabbing discounts. We have introduced a list of financial resources to cut the financial cost and relieve the stress of disabled students.

Let’s start with the federal financial aid programs that are available to all students who have a financial need.

• Pell Grants: This is for Undergraduate grants that should not be repaid
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG): Undergraduate grants of college students with or without disabilities, awarded by individual schools
• Perkins Loans: Low-interest loans for graduate or undergraduate students
• Federal Work-Study: Jobs available for undergraduate and graduate students that help them pay their expenses.
• Stafford Loans: Graduate and undergraduate loans with a varied interest rate must be paid
• Federal Subsidized Stafford Loans: These are the Loans where the government take care of the interest during certain grace periods such as deferments
• PLUS Loans: Unsubsidized loans for a student’s parents

Potential Federal-Backed Loans & Grants for Disabled Students

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Federal grant should be awarded to those who qualify under Social Security’s definition of disability
• State Programs: Financial assistance, programs, and support for students with disabilities that can differ from state to state
• Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Programs: Special programs authorized under the Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS): An opportunity to help individuals return to work that involves creating a vocational goal

College Scholarships for Students With Disabilities

• AAHD Scholarship Program: This scholarship is for those whose major is in public health, health promotion, disabilities studies, or a relevant field.
• AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award: This award requires three essay questions, a r?sum?, and two letters of support.
• AG Bell College Scholarship Program: If you want this scholarship then you must have bilateral hearing loss diagnosed before the age of 4.
• Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarships: This is for those students who set career goals and keep participating in school activities.
• Ben’s Fund: You must live in a Washington state and diagnose with autism.
• National Federation of the Blind Scholarship: Students with disabilities must be legally blind.
• NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship: This scholarship is for those students looking a career in the entertainment industry or media.
• Rehabmart.com $25,000 Scholarship Fund: A “short, thoughtful essay” needed to apply for this scholarship.
• RiSE Scholarship Foundation: Awarded more than 100 scholarships to learning disabilities students.
• Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship: The scholarship is for individuals with Down syndrome.
• Springboard Foundation Scholarships: Series of scholarships provided by major corporations.
• 1800wheelchair.com Scholarship: Must have an issue in a “visual poem” to receive a scholarship.
• Brother James Kearney Scholarship for the Blind: You must be enrolled in one of 12 participating schools in the New York City area.
• disABLEDperson Inc. Scholarship: A student must prove disability to get this scholarship.
• Hard of Hearing Scholarship: Requires a 3.2 GPA or higher for a bachelor’s degree
• Incite Scholarship: You must be a southwest Washington resident.
• Independence Foundation Scholarship: Individual with a physical disability.
• KFM Making a Difference Scholarship: $500 scholarship for those with autism.
• Lighthouse Guild Scholarship: Scholarship for graduate students as well as undergraduate students.
• Little People of America Scholarship: Students with a form of dwarfism.
• Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards: Chance to win one of the oldest disability scholarship for college.
• Michael Yasick ADHD Scholarship: For this scholarship, you must be under the care of a licensed health professional for ADHD.

You can also search for scholarships or college students with learning disabilities through the College Board.

Top Colleges for Students With Learning Disabilities

Make sure that your college offers a comprehensive transition and post-secondary (CTP) program. The college must have a program approved by the U.S. Department of Education for working with learning-disabled students.

Check the list of school qualifies with a CTP program!

The wheelchair-friendly campus 101mobility.com ranked the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as number one for its best resources and care. They have basketball and track teams for wheelchair users. Hofstra University and Edinboro University ranked as third and second. UC Berkeley also provides individually planned services based on each student’s needs.

There are a variety of schools for students with learning disabilities, like Landmark College and Beacon College for different learning styles students. Several other colleges with the best learning disability programs include RIT, Northeastern, the University of Arizona, and others. There are also colleges for students with ADHD including Mount St. Joseph University, which offers its Project EXCEL program.

Student Loan Disability Discharge

Students usually can’t get out of the student loan but some situations lead to student loan discharge. Disability such as permanent can lead to a discharge. You just need to prove your permanent disability, and student loans like those from the Perkins, FFEL, Direct Loan and TEACH programs can be forgiven. This only happens through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the Social Security Administration or by getting a letter from a physician. Must go through the process before you apply.

Accommodations for Students With Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) covers several types of accommodations for college students with disabilities. To get accommodation it is the student’s responsibility to disclose their disability with a disability resource center on the campus.

Travel Disability Discounts

• Mobility International USA (MIUSA) is the best resource for answering trip-related questions. This nonprofit organization arranges study-abroad trips for disabled students. They also have a list of available scholarships for disabled students going abroad!
• DiversityAbroad also provides important tips and resource guides for disabled students, too.
• Before you travel, check out the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) rules on aids, devices, pat-downs, service animals, and special rules for wheelchair-using passengers. TSA’s helpline is 855-787-2227.
• Before choosing a country to visit, see the Department of State’s human rights information for that country. It has vast information on how certain groups are treated in other countries.
• If you’re choosing Europe, the European Network for Accessible Tourism has rated best for the most accessible European cities.

Check out this list of resources for all global travel students with disabilities.

Software for Students With Disabilities

Software	Work
NaturalReader	Free text-to-speech reader.
NVDA Access	Free screen reader
Dragon Speech Recognition	Turn your voice into text.
Google Docs	Offers voice-to-text typing for free!
Ava	Shows what people are saying around you in real-time
soundAMP R	Allow controlling the sounds for each ear. Best for recording and playback lectures.
rabe’s Big-Cursors	Enlarge your cursor for better visualization..
Camera Mouse	Control your mouse/cursor by using your head.
Proloquo2Go	This symbol-based communication system is best for conveying needs.
Verbally	Free tool for using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

Discount Disability Equipment

Resources	Equipment
The Center for Accessible Technology	iPads, screen-readers, and computers for seniors and disabled groups.
REquipment Refurished Equipment Inventory	Offers refurbished scooters, wheelchairs, shower chairs, and other equipment.
Danny’s Wish	Offers tablets for disabled users with autism.
iTaalk Autism Foundation iPad Grant	Offer a free tablet for those with autism.
Miracle-Ear Foundation	Eligible people can get hearing aids for free.
Computers With Causes	Provide tablets, laptops, and even servers.
PCs for People	If you are under 200% of the federal poverty level, you can be considered for a PC.
Online Schools Offering Free Laptops	A great list for disabled students who are considering a state-run online college.
Notebooks for Students	Offers discounted laptops to all students. You must provide a student ID to avail.
Computer Technology Assistance Corps	Free laptops for disabled people and others.
Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP)	Specifically for federal employees
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped	Free devices to blind and visually impaired people.

Tips for Finding More Discount for Disabled College Students

Apart from all these scholarship programs and discounts for disabled people, look up coupons and deals for more ways to save. We have plenty of coupons and deals for college students that are not only upto academic but also a student-priced Amazon Prime subscription.