Scholarships for Students with Disabilities and Illnesses

For any student, the work and rigors of attending college is a challenge on a daily basis. For students challenged with a disability or illness, handling these additional obstacles is truly admirable. Award opportunities for students living with, challenged by, or have overcome illness, exist to help such students achieve their goals. Such students prove, time and time again, that anyone can accomplish educational goals with the right motivation, determination, and access to resources. Check out the following scholarships for students challenged by a disability or illness:

AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship

Deadline: 3/1/23
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000 The AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students living with disabilities. Preference is given to students who are majoring in public health, health promotion, disability studies, disability research, rehabilitation engineering, audiology, disability policy, special education, and majors that will impact quality of life of persons with disabilities. Learn more about the AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship.

Microsoft Disability Scholarship

Deadline: 3/15/23
Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: $5,000
The Microsoft Disability Scholarship is available to high school seniors living with disabilities. You must be majoring in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, law, business, or a related field and have minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Microsoft Disability Scholarship.

disABLEDperson National Scholarship

Deadline: 3/15/23
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $2,000
The disABLEDperson National Scholarship is available to full - time college students who are living with disabilities. To be considered, you must submit an essay of 1000 words or less on the following topic: "Outside of your immediate family, who has influenced your life the most and how has that person been supportive?" Learn more about the disABLEDperson National Scholarship.

Ram Scholarship for the Arts

Deadline: 3/15/23
Available to: Ages 17-35
Award Amount: Varies The Ram Scholarship for the Arts is available to students who were diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 17 and 35. Special consideration will be given to glioblastoma multiforme survivors. You must be a U.S. citizen to be considered for this award. This award must be used for an art related expense. Learn more about the Ram Scholarship for the Arts.

Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship

Deadline: 3/31/23
Available to: up to 24 years old
Award Amount: Varies The Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship is available to students under the age of 25 who were diagnosed with cancer or a high grade or anaplastic brain tumor before the age of 18. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship.

Help America Hear Scholarship

Deadline: 4/2/23
Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: $2,000 The Help America Hear Scholarship is available to high school seniors who have a hearing loss, which requires the use of hearing aid(s) in their daily life. A 500 to 1500 - word essay is required. Learn more about the Help America Hear Scholarship.

Hydrocephalus Association Scholarship

Deadline: 4/15/23
Available to: Age 17 and older
Award Amount: $1,000 The Hydrocephalus Association Scholarship is available to students who have been diagnosed with hydrocephalus. You must be at least 17 years of age to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Hydrocephalus Association Scholarship.

Little People of America Scholarship

Deadline: 4/15/23
Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: Varies The Little People of America Scholarship is available to undergraduate students. You must have a medically diagnosed form of dwarfism, or be the immediate family member of someone with dwarfism to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Little People of America Scholarship.

Medexus B More Scholarship

Deadline: 4/28/23 Available to: Undergraduate % Graduate Students Award Amount: Varies The Medexus B More Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students. You must be living with hemophilia B to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Medexus B More Scholarship.

FACES College Scholarship

Deadline: 6/1/23
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $2,500 The FACES College Scholarship is available to students who suffer from epilepsy or a seizure disorder. You must demonstrate financial need to be considered for this award. Learn more about the FACES College Scholarship.

Mobility Disability Scholarship

Deadline: 9/1/23
Available to: Age 16 and older
Award Amount: $500 The Mobility Disability Scholarship is available to students who have a mobility disability, and to those who have a regard for disability awareness in America. To be considered, you must submit an essay on the following theme: "Pick an experience from your own life and explain how it has influenced your development." Learn more about the Mobility Disability Scholarship.

Kaela Anderson Memorial Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: High School Seniors & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: Varies The Kaela Anderson Memorial Foundation Scholarship is available to high school seniors and current undergraduate students who are afflicted with Moebius syndrome. To be considered, you must submit a maximum two - page essay that describes your educational goals including the degree to which your physical disability has influenced your life. Learn more about the Kaela Anderson Memorial Foundation Scholarship.

Neilsen Scholarship Program

Deadline: Varies Available to: College Students (at participating colleges) Award Amount: Varies The Neilsen Scholarship Program is open to students at selected colleges who are living with a spinal cord injury. You must be attending one of the Sponsor's partner institutions and have a minimum GPA of 2.5 to be considered for this award. Applications are by invitation only. Learn more about the Neilsen Scholarship Program.

Attending College with a Disability or Illness

Students searching for and attending colleges who have a disability or illness will find that most college campuses will work with them to be as accommodating as possible. For instance, a student with a life-threatening peanut allergy may find that their college will designate a residential hall or certain eateries on campus as peanut-free zones. A student that is wheelchair-bound may find that their campus has special housing that provides handicap access to their room, bathroom, and study area. Additionally, students with a disability or illness can advocate through proper channels for their college or university to make changes that will benefit them and improve their quality of life on campus. The National Center for College Students with Disabilities is a federally-funded entity that exists to help students navigate finding a college based on their specific needs, securing aid to pay for college, and handle problems that may arise once they are a student. Their site provides training handbooks and webinars to teach students and their families how to navigate working with a college in order to improve their on-campus experience. This resource is especially helpful to those students who may experience a new disability or illness while in college. While being diagnosed with a new disability or illness in college is uncommon, it’s not unheard of. Colleges have undoubtedly experienced this within their student body in the past and are diligent and compassionate about caring for students through their diagnosis. Whether you start your college career with a disability or illness, or are diagnosed after you arrive, it’s important to keep your professors and Resident Assistant’s (RA) informed of your condition. They will undoubtedly understand if you need to miss classes, or will serve as a help to you if you need assistance in your living unit. You'll also want to keep in touch with the campus health center and find a specialist – if necessary – near your college campus. For students living with disabilities and illnesses on a college campus, community is so important to physical, mental, emotional, and academic success. However, the success is all your own. To navigate a college campus and attend college classes with the challenges that having a disability or illness may create is nothing short of amazing. You’ve got this!