U.S. Federal Pell Grants are available for students with or without disabilities. The goernment awards the grants, unlike loans, based on financial need. Eligibility requirement does not include a disability. Yet when disability expenses are included in the application, they increase the financial award and chances for obtaining the grant. The award amount of a Pell grant can be up to $5,550. Social Security benefits do not interfere with eligibility. Go to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) site to complete an application and determine eligibility.
State governments may also provide grants and financial assistance for those with disabilities. Disability.gov includes links to local state agencies and federal agencies. For instance, in Connecticut, the University of Connecticut Center for Students with Disabilities offers note-takers, access to assistive technology, along with an Alternate Media Site that includes Braille, CD-ROM and electronic files for eligible students with hearing or vision impairments.The Connecticut Board of Education Services for the Blind (BESB) provides resources and links to federal programs such as the National Federation of the Blind, which offers up to 30 scholarships for students enrolled in post-secondary degree programs. The Postsecondary Education Program Network (PEPNet-Northeast) has four regional centers that assist post-secondary institutions across the northeast in enhancing educational opportunities for the deaf or hard of hearing.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services are tailored for each individual based on developmental disability. Services include assessments, guidance and educational support. Emphasis is on transitioning the student into post-secondary training of a vocational nature. Other grants listed on Benefit.gov site for low-income families or minorities also include "disability" as a criteria, such as the Trio Student Support Services (SSS). The SSS grant provides career counseling, tutoring, mentoring and support services for students classified with a mental or physical disability who are earning a bachelor's degree.
Soldiers serving time to protect our country may return home, at times, with mental and physical disabilities. The DAV is a nationwide organization assisting veterans and their families in filing claims and accessing funding for assessments, career counseling, vocational rehabilitation and education.