College Grants for Permanent Federally Disabled Individuals

Private Scholarships

• A large source of college grants for permanently disabled people are private interest groups. Students seeking private scholarships or grants should find out if there is an advocacy group for their disability and if the group has any scholarship programs. For example, the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing holds an annual scholarship program open to full-time students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree; awards range in value from $1,000 to $10,000.

  Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

  3417 Volta Place, NW

  Washington, D.C. 20007

  202-337-5220

  agbell.org

Federal Aid

• The federal government does not award any grants specific to disabled students, but disabled students may be eligible for federal grants and scholarships if their level of financial need is high enough. All federal financial aid is need-based and applied for through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available online at fafsa.ed.gov. Permanently disabled students might be eligible for Pell Grants, Academic Competitiveness grants, National SMART grants or Federal Supplemental Opportunity Educational Grants, depending on their level of financial need as measured by the FAFSA. These grant programs may cover up to the full cost of college attendence, depending on the student's need and program.

State Aid

• Many states have specific scholarship programs targeted toward students who are permanently disabled. For example, the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Agency (KHEAA) offers two scholarships for people who have a "physical or mental condition that creates a substantial obstacle," according to the KHEAA website. Kentucky's Vocational Rehabilition Assistance scholarship pays partial tuition for a vocational education program for a disabled student. Students who wish to apply for these grants should check their state's higher education website to see if they qualify for any grant or scholarship programs.

  Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Education Cabinet,

  209 St.Clair Street

  Frankfort, KY 40601

  800-372-7172

  ovr.ky.gov