Scholarships for Students with Disabilities and Illnesses

For any student, the work and rigors of attending college are a daily challenge. For students challenged with a disability or illness, handling these additional obstacles is truly admirable. Award opportunities for students living with, challenged by, or having 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. March is National Disability Awareness month. In honor of this, check out the following scholarships for students challenged by a disability or illness.

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

disABLEDperson National Scholarship

Deadline: 3/15/24
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 1,000 words or less on the following topic: "If adopted, how would the above-proposed changes affect the Disability Community?"

Wells Fargo Scholarship Program for People with Disabilities

Deadline: 3/20/24
Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: $1,250 - $2,500
The Wells Fargo Scholarship Program for People with Disabilities is available to high school senior students who have an identified disability. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. Selection is based on academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience, statement of educational and career goals and objectives, and an essay question.

Ruby's Rainbow Scholarship

Deadline: 4/15/24
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000 - $10,000 The Ruby's Rainbow Scholarship is available to college students with Down syndrome. You must be at least 18 years old by August 1st to be eligible for this award.

Little People of America Scholarship

Deadline: 4/15/24
Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $250 - $1,000 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.

Team See Possibilities Global Scholars Program

Deadline: 4/30/24
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000 The Team See Possibilities Global Scholars Program is open to high school seniors and undergraduate and graduate students who are legally blind.

Johnson & Johnson Access-Ability Lime Scholarship

Deadline: 4/7/24
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $10,000 The Johnson & Johnson Access-Ability Lime Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are living with disabilities. You must be pursuing a degree in healthcare or STEM at a four - year college / university to be eligible for this award.

Help America Hear Scholarship

Deadline: 4/7/24
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.

Vitality Medical's Student Disability Scholarship

Deadline: 9/15/24
Available to: High School Seniors & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $500 The Vitality Medical's Student Disability Scholarship is available to high school seniors and current undergraduate students. To be eligible, you must be at least 16 years of age, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and submit a visual poem, in a style of your choosing, on the following theme: "how using disability aids has added vitality to your life." Applicants are not required to possess a disability.

AvaCare Medical Scholarship

Deadline: 12/15/24
Available to: High School Senior through Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000 The AvaCare Medical Scholarship is available to high school senior, undergraduate, and graduate students who are pursuing a degree in a medical field. You must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. Additionally, you must submit a written, video, or image submission describing or representing an act of kindness which you find inspirational. Preference will be given to students with a physical disability.

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.

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.

Scholarships for Students with Chronic Illness

Ram Scholarship for the Arts

Deadline: 3/15/24
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.

Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship

Deadline: 4/1/24
Available to: up to 24 years old
Award Amount: $3,500 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.

Hydrocephalus Association Scholarship

Deadline: 4/1/24
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.

Medexus B More Scholarship

Deadline: 4/30/24 Available to: Undergraduate and 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.

Beth Carew Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: Varies Available to: Undergraduate Students Award Amount: $500 - $6,000 The Beth Carew Memorial Scholarship is available to undergraduate students who are living with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, or another related inherited bleeding disorder. You must have performed community service and / or volunteered with any organization within your community that is not associated with your school to be considered for this award.

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 handicapped 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, 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!