The George Washington University 

HEATH Resource Center

2121 K Street, N.W. Suite 220 • Washington, DC 20037 

Voice/TTY: 202-973-0904 • 1-800-544-3284 (toll-free) • Fax: 202-973-0908 

Email: askheath@heath.gwu.edu Website: www.heath.gwu.edu 

 

 

 

While education beyond high school in the United 

States is optional, it has become a necessary 

investment in future employment and life 

satisfaction for many people. Most, however, 

cannot afford to make this investment without some 

outside monetary assistance. Over the years, public 

and private sources of money have been developed 

specifically to meet this need. As increasing, but 

limited, amounts of money have become available, 

a standardized method of determining eligibility has 

evolved to promote equitable distribution of student 

financial aid. 

Financial aid is based on a partnership among the 

student, parents, postsecondary educational 

institutions, state and federal governments, and 

available private resources. For the student with a 

disability, the partnership also may include a 

Vocational Rehabilitation agency and the Social 

Security Administration. Such a partnership 

requires cooperation from all and an understanding 

by each of their responsibilities within the financial 

aid process. 

Obtaining financial aid can be a complex process. 

Laws frequently are amended, and eligibility 

requirements, policy, and disbursement of 

governmental funds change each year. As the costs 

of a postsecondary education rise, keeping informed 

about changes in the financial aid system becomes 

imperative. 

This resource paper provides an overview of student 

financial aid and discusses the roles and 

responsibilities of those who play a significant part 

in the process of providing aid to students with 

disabilities. The paper also addresses the financial 

aid application procedure and suggests timelines 

and resources for those individuals who are seeking 

financial aid. The information in this paper was 

based on the best available information at the time 

of publication in January 2002 and reflects 

information for the 2003-2004 school year. The 

HEATH staff have prepared this resource paper for 

students, parents, and all professionals who assist 

students with disabilities in securing financial 

assistance for postsecondary education. 

The discussion below covers the various types of 

financial aid, the technical words and phrases used 

to describe them, and the process involved in their 

disbursement. Particular attention is given to those 

expenses that are considered disability-related, and 

suggestions are made about ways in which some of 

those expenses may be met. Also included is a brief 

description of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) 

Agencies, the services that they may provide, and 

the interaction between the state VR agency and the 

financial aid office of a postsecondary institution. 

Finally, suggestions are offered about additional 

possibilities for financial assistance. 

WHAT IS FINANCIAL AID? 

Financial aid is designed to help individuals meet 

their educational expenses when their own 

resources are not sufficient. A student who believes 

that his or her own and family resources are not 

sufficient to pay for all the costs of attendance 

(tuition, room and board, books, transportation, 

campus activities, etc.) should apply for financial 

CREATING OPTIONS: A RESOURCE ON FINANCIAL AID FOR 

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES 2003 EDITION 

HEATH 

R e s o u r c e C e n t e r

The George Washington University
2 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

aid through the financial aid office of the institution 

he or she plans to attend. 

Four types of aid are available:

1.Grants—Aid that generally does not have to 

be repaid. 

2. Loans—Money borrowed to cover school 

costs, which must be repaid (usually with 

interest) over a specified period of time 

(usually after the student has left school or 

graduated). 

3. Work-study—Employment that enables a 

student to earn money toward a portion of 

school costs during or between periods of 

enrollment. 

4. Scholarships—Gifts and awards based on 

student’s academic achievement, background 

or other criteria. 

FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID 

The federal government contributes to the first three 

types of student financial aid. These programs are 

explained in a booklet called Funding Your 

Education from the U.S. Department of Education. 

For a free copy, write to: Federal Student Aid 

Programs, Box 84, Washington, DC 20044, or call 

(800) 433-3243 or (800) 730-8913 (TTY). The 

booklet is also available at the following Web 

address: http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/FYE/. 

The programs described in the booklet are: 

1. Federal Pell Grants 

2. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity 

Grants (FSEOG) 

3. Federal Work-Study (FWS) 

4. Federal Perkins Loans 

5. Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) 

 including: 

 a. Federal Stafford Loans (subsidized and 

 unsubsidized) 

 b. Federal PLUS Loans 

6. William D. Ford Direct Loans including: 

 a. Federal Direct Loans (subsidized and 

unsubsidized) 

 b. Federal Direct PLUS Loans 

 

All of these programs, except the unsubsidized and 

PLUS loans, are based on the financial need of the 

student and his or her family. Although the PLUS 

and unsubsidized loan programs do not take into 

account any family contribution, these loans 

(individually or combined) cannot exceed the 

difference between the student’s cost of attending a 

postsecondary institution and the student’s other 

financial aid (including scholarships). 

Generally, a postsecondary school participates in 

either the Federal Family Education Loan Program 

or the Direct Loan Program. A student may not 

borrow both a Federal Stafford and a Direct Loan 

for the same period of enrollment, nor may a parent 

borrow both a Federal PLUS and a Direct PLUS 

simultaneously for the same student. The terms and 

conditions of the Direct Loan programs mirror those 

of the FFEL programs, except that the Direct Loan 

programs carry additional repayment options. 

Financial assistance is also available through 

AmeriCorps, a program authorized under the National 

and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. This 

program provides individuals ages 17 and over with 

the opportunity to earn education awards of $4,725 in 

exchange for full-time service of at least one year or 

part-time service of at least two years in an approved 

program of community service. An individual may 

serve up to two terms and earn up to two education 

awards. For more information about exchanging 

national or community service for educational funding, 

contact AmeriCorps at (800) 942-2677 or visit their 

web site: http://www.americorps.org. 

 

Some colleges, states, and other entities may also 

offer aid that is merit-based, which means that 

funds are provided to students without regard to 

financial need if certain conditions (such as high 

grades) are met. The financial aid administrator at 

the school of your choice is the best resource for 

locating merit-based or any other financial aid 

resources for attending that school. 

WHAT APPLICATION DO I COMPLETE? 

All students applying for federal assistance are 

required to complete the Free Application for 

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who 

applied for federal financial aid in the previous year 

have the option of completing a Renewal Free 

Application for Federal Student Aid (Renewal 
3 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

FAFSA). There is no charge to complete or process 

the FAFSA or the Renewal FAFSA. 

The Department of Education develops the FAFSA 

and the Renewal FAFSA in both paper and 

electronic formats. To apply, students may use any 

of the following formats: 

 

• FAFSA on the Web 

• EDExpress application software 

• The paper FAFSA 

FAFSA on the Web allows students to complete a 

FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA online and submit it 

via the Internet. To learn more about this process, 

visit the following web site: 

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. 

FAFSA Express is a software program that allows 

students to apply for federal student aid from their 

home computer. Students can order a copy on 

diskette by calling 1-800-801-0576 or download the 

program from the U.S. Department of Education’s 

web site at 

http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/Students/apply/f

express.html. Students who do not have a home 

computer can use this program at a public library, 

college, or high school that has a copy of FAFSA 

Express for public use. 

Some schools will complete the application for 

students using an electronic software product 

developed for use by schools only called 

EDExpress. Students must first check with their 

school to make sure that it has EDExpress 

application capability. 

Copies of the paper FAFSA are available at high 

schools and colleges or by contacting the Federal 

Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-

4FEDAID. 

Once the application has been processed, students 

will receive the processed result In one of two 

ways: 

• Students who provide an e-mail address on the 

application will receive an e-mail notification 

containing a direct link to the student's Student Aid 

Report (SAR) data on SAR on the Web. 

• Students who do not provide an e-mail address 

will receive either 1) a paper SAR If the student 

filed a paper SAR, or 2) a paper SAR 

Acknowledgement If the student filed via FAFSA 

on the Web or EDExpress. 

WHAT IS THE FAMILY CONTRIBUTION? 

The family contribution is the amount of money the 

family of a student is expected to contribute toward 

college expenses. The family includes the student 

and the student’s parents in the case of a dependent 

student, or the student (and spouse, if any) in the 

case of an independent student. The amount the 

family is expected to contribute is calculated by a 

standardized formula that takes into account the 

family’s financial resources (income and assets), 

family size, and basic living expenses. The 

calculation of family contribution is based on 

information provided by the student’s family on a 

standardized need analysis form. 

Before completing the FAFSA, students must first 

determine their dependency status. If, for the 

purposes of applying for financial aid, the student is 

considered to be dependent, then the student and the 

student’s parents must complete the FAFSA. 

If the student is considered to be independent, only 

the student (and the student’s spouse, if married) 

must complete the FAFSA. A student may qualify 

as financially independent if he or she: is 24 years 

of age or older by December 31 of the award year 

(12/31/03 for the 2003-2004 award year), is a 

veteran of the armed forces of the United States, 

will be a graduate or professional student for 2003-

2004, is an orphan or ward of the court, is married, 

has legal dependents other than a spouse, or is a 

student for whom a financial aid administrator 

makes a documented determination of 

independence by reason of other unusual 

circumstances. 

Students who are also applying for non-federal 

financial assistance from postsecondary institutions 

or from their state of residence may be required to 

complete an additional form, and may be required 

to pay a fee for processing this information. Check 

with the financial aid offices of the colleges or 
4 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

universities that you are interested in attending to 

determine what additional forms for non-federal 

assistance you should file. 

The financial aid office can also tell you about the 

availability of state aid and whether you will need 

to file an additional form to apply for such aid. The 

financial aid office can either supply you with any 

additional forms needed to apply for state aid or tell 

you how to obtain the necessary forms. If you reside 

in a state other than the one in which the college is 

located, the college can tell you where to obtain this 

information for the state in which you reside. 

WHAT IS THE COST OF ATTENDANCE? 

Each college or university must estimate the costs a 

student will reasonably encounter in order to attend 

that institution. Cost of attendance will always 

include a figure for tuition and fees. Supplies 

needed for coursework are sometimes included in 

tuition, but more often books and supplies are 

estimated separately. Cost of attendance should also 

include estimates for living expenses—primarily 

room and board, as well as a moderate amount for 

personal and miscellaneous expenses. Cost of 

attendance is sometimes called “cost of education” 

or “student budget.” 

For students living in dormitories or other local 

housing, cost of attendance estimates should include 

transportation for trips between the student’s home 

and the college or university at the beginning and 

end of the period of attendance, as well as any 

breaks during which the institution closes its 

housing facilities. For a student commuting daily 

from home, transportation includes a reasonable 

amount for commuting, usually using public 

transportation if it is available. Purchase of a car for 

commuting purposes may not be considered an 

education-related expense, although the basic 

maintenance of a car during the student’s 

enrollment may be included. Also, new rules allow 

schools the option of including the cost of 

purchasing or renting a personal computer into the 

cost of attendance. 

In addition, costs related to a student’s particular 

personal circumstances may also be included if they 

are incurred as a result of attending the college or 

university. For example, cost of attendance may 

include day-care costs for students with dependent 

children. Expenses associated with a period of study 

abroad that is part of the student’s educational 

program, or during a cooperative education 

experience, may also increase a student’s cost of 

attendance. Costs related to a student’s disability 

may also be included under certain circumstances 

(see page 5). A student who believes his or her 

costs are higher than the standard estimated by the 

college or university should ask to speak with the 

institution’s financial aid administrator. 

Whether a student is taking classes on a full-time or 

part-time basis may also impact his or her cost of 

attendance. A student’s “enrollment status” is 

usually measured as full-time, three-quarter time, 

half-time, or less than half-time. The definition of 

these measurements may vary at different 

institutions, but federal rules establish certain 

minimum definitions that must be used when 

determining the amount of a student’s federal 

financial aid. Although a college or university may 

increase the amount of work required to classify a 

student as full-time, an institution may not reduce 

the federal minimum definition for any reason. 

However, a college or university may allow a 

student with unusual circumstances (such as a 

disability) extra time to complete his or her program 

and may award financial aid during the extra terms 

or periods of enrollment. 

The amount of tuition estimated for a student 

attending on a part-time basis is generally less than 

the amount estimated for full-time attendance. The 

allowances for books and travel might also be less 

for a part-time student. Allowances for room and 

board and certain other costs are eliminated entirely 

for students who attend less than half-time. In 

addition to affecting a student’s cost of attendance, 

part-time enrollment directly affects the maximum 

amount allowable under certain aid programs. 

WHAT IS FINANCIAL NEED? 

The financial need of a student is the difference 

between the student’s educational expenses and the 

amount of money the family is expected to 

contribute. In general terms, the formula to 

determine financial need is shown in the box on 

page 2. There is no guarantee, however, that any 
5 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

one institution will be able to meet the total 

financial need of any given student. 

WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS? 

The financial aid process is designed to equitably 

serve the approximately 19.5 million undergraduate 

and graduate students currently enrolled at more 

than 7,000 postsecondary educational institutions. 

The scope of the financial aid system requires that 

the application process be standardized. Describing 

special circumstances or needs, therefore, may 

require additional effort on the part of the applicant. 

Applicants who have special needs, such as 

disability-related expenses, should express those 

needs to the aid administrator at the postsecondary 

institution. Because of the complexity of the 

system, however, they must take care to express 

those needs within the context of the system as 

explained below. 

According to many directors of financial aid, taking 

care to be early and accurate in applying for aid is 

the most important step in the financial aid process. 

However, completing the financial aid application 

form early requires you to report income tax 

information well in advance of the April 15th 

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax filing deadline. 

Campus financial aid administrators suggest that a 

family complete the tax information in time to file 

the FAFSA (and any additional non-federal forms) 

by the college’s or university’s deadline, or use an 

estimate rather than delay completing and 

processing the form. A processed application can be 

corrected if the actual IRS tax information differs 

from the estimate. If an individual’s processed aid 

application is not received by the date specified by 

the college or university, the student may lose 

priority for many forms of aid, both federal and 

institutional. Students and their families should be 

aware that because aid application deadlines vary 

from institution to institution and may call for 

differing information, early preparation will ensure 

that all deadlines can be met with appropriate 

information. 

If the college or university requests documentation 

of application information, such as signed tax 

returns or verification statements, the family must 

comply by the deadlines for those documents to 

keep the aid application process on track. It is also 

important to note that students must reapply for 

financial aid every year. 

WHAT IS A FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE? 

A financial aid package is a combination of 

financial aid resources (grants, loans, work-study) 

put together by the institution’s financial aid 

administrator and designed to meet, as closely as 

possible, a student’s individual financial need. The 

amount and types of assistance in a package depend 

on the cost of attendance at a particular institution, 

the student’s need, availability of funds at the 

institution, and funds available from outside 

sources. Thus, a student may be offered two 

different financial aid packages if he or she applies 

to two different institutions. Students should 

compare not only the dollars offered, but also the 

composition of the financial aid package from each 

institution. The following examples illustrate 

different packages of financial aid that a student 

might be offered at two different institutions. 

School A costs $5,000 to attend, and School B costs 

$10,000. (See box on this page.) 

Note: The aid amounts are for illustration purposes 

only and do not necessarily reflect actual amounts a 

student could expect from a similar school. 

In the examples on this page, School B offers 

$8,600 this year, whereas School A offers less than 

half of that. However, if the student chooses School 

B, he or she must find $400 more than the expected 

family contribution. On the other hand, School B 

may have the academic program of choice and the 

necessary support services. Thus, the student may 

believe that in the long run, School B is the right 

choice. 

In addition to comparing the total dollars offered in 

aid by each institution, however, students need to 

consider level of indebtedness, terms of loan 

repayment, and the institution’s policy on how the 

aid packages will be constructed in subsequent 

years. Students, their families, financial aid 

personnel, and, where relevant, rehabilitation 

counselors of students with disabilities should 

evaluate the amount of debt a student can 

reasonably repay after graduating. Career choices 
6 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

often determine (or are determined by) a student’s 

level of indebtedness and terms of repayment of 

financial aid loans. 

From year to year, financial aid administrators may 

vary the combination of grant, loan, and work-study 

money in a student’s aid package, emphasizing 

loans for freshmen and work-study or scholarships 

in later years—or the other way around. Institutions 

might not have uniform policies on financial aid 

package combinations over time. Ask the financial 

aid administrator what the institution’s policy is 

beyond the first year of study. 

WHAT EXPENSES ARE CONSIDERED 

DISABILITY RELATED? 

The student with a disability is often faced with 

additional expenses not incurred by other students. 

These may include: 

• Special equipment (related to the disability) and 

its maintenance. 

• Cost of services for personal use or study, such as 

readers, interpreters, note takers, or personal care 

attendants. 

• Transportation, if traditional means are not 

accessible. 

• Medical expenses not covered by insurance that 

relate directly to the individual’s disability. 

Students should be sure to inform the aid 

administrator of disability-related expenses that 

may previously have been covered by the family 

budget. These may include food and veterinary bills 

for guide dogs, batteries for hearing aids and a 

Typed Text (TTY) [previously called a 

Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD)], or 

the cost of recruiting and training readers or 

personal care attendants. 

Leaving home often necessitates the purchase of 

new or additional equipment that will allow the 

student to be independent at college. For example, 

the student’s secondary school may have furnished 

an adapted computer or other disability-related 

equipment, but that equipment belongs to and 

remains at the high school after the student 

graduates. Students with disabilities should seek 

assistance from the Office of Disability Support 

Services and/or the Financial Aid Office to 

determine disability-related expenses. 

Once these expenses have been identified, students 

should provide the financial aid administrator with 

documentation of any disability-related expense that 

is necessary to ensure attainment of the student’s 

educational goal. Where applicable, this 

documentation should also state the amounts that 

will be covered by insurance and other assisting 

agencies. Depending on the institution, 

documentation may be simply a written statement 

of explanation by the student or an official 

statement by a doctor or Vocational Rehabilitation 

counselor. To be certain of the appropriate 

documentation, the student should check with the 

institution’s financial aid office. By virtue of 

provisions within the Americans with Disabilities 

Act (1990) and The Rehabilitation Act (1973), all 

public and private postsecondary institutions are 

required to provide reasonable accommodations for 

students with documented disabilities who request 

them. 

Some special equipment and support services may 

be available at the postsecondary institution, 

through public or private community organizations, 

through the state Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, 

or through organizations for people with 

disabilities. The student should check with the 

Student Services Personnel, 504 Coordinator, or 

Office of Disability Support Services at the 

postsecondary institution. 

Probably the most valuable resource to a new 

student is the network of students with disabilities 

already on campus. Students with disabilities who 

have had similar experiences and similar needs are 

likely to have practical advice and low-cost 

solutions to problems that incoming students with 

disabilities frequently encounter. 

Regardless of whether the student is able to obtain 

any special equipment or services through the 

institution or elsewhere, it is still important to let the 

financial aid administrator know of any anticipated 

expenses. Such information is considered in the 

determination of the student’s financial need, on 

which all aid decisions are based. It is also 

important to understand that disability-related 
7 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

expenses that are covered by other assisting 

agencies cannot also be covered by financial aid 

from the school. 

HOW DOES VOCATIONAL 

REHABILITATION FIT INTO THE 

FINANCIAL AID PROCESS?

Assistance to students with disabilities is often 

provided by state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) 

agencies. In some states there are two agencies: a 

general agency and one for people who are blind or 

visually impaired. In other states, there is one 

agency serving all people with disabilities. State 

Vocational Rehabilitation agency titles vary from 

state to state, and thus may be hard to locate in the 

telephone directory. You may contact a state 

education agency, public library, or Governor’s 

Committee on Employment of People with 

Disabilities for the telephone number and address of 

your local VR agency. 

The local Vocational Rehabilitation agency has VR 

counselors who can help a person with a disability 

determine his or her eligibility for assistance. The 

VR program is an eligibility program, rather than an 

entitlement program. To be eligible for services, an 

individual must have an impairment that results in a 

substantial impediment to employment and can 

benefit from and requires VR services for 

employment. The primary goal of a VR counselor is 

to assist the client in becoming employed; therefore, 

the counselor will look closely at a student’s 

educational plans in terms of job potential. While 

initial counseling and evaluation are open to all, the 

counselor may determine that a client is not eligible 

for other services based on state agency policies 

governing economic need, order of selection, or 

other criteria. 

Among the services that may be provided by VR 

agencies to a student who is a client are: 

• Help with tuition expenses. 

• Room and board. 

• Transportation/ commuting expenses. 

• Books and supplies. 

• Reader services for people who are blind or who 

have learning disabilities; interpreter services for 

people who are hearing impaired; and/or 

individually prescribed aids and devices. 

• Telecommunications, sensory, and other 

technological aids and devices. 

• Other goods and services that help an individual 

with a disability become employed. 

Services provided to an individual must be 

authorized in advance in an Individualized Plan for 

Employment (IPE) developed by the client and 

approved by a VR counselor. 

The above items may differ from state to state, and 

may be subject to a test of a client’s ability to pay. 

They require the use of resources from another 

agency (“comparable benefits”) before a 

commitment of VR funds is made. There are 

differences between states’ VR programs because 

each participating state administers its own program 

through the provisions of a state plan that has been 

developed under the guidelines of the act and 

approved by the U.S. Department of Education. For 

additional information, request Vocational 

Rehabilitation Services: A Consumer Guide for 

Postsecondary Students from HEATH. 

IS THERE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE 

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION 

AGENCIES AND THE FINANCIAL AID 

OFFICES? 

Most states have developed working agreements 

between state associations of financial aid 

administrators and Vocational Rehabilitation 

administrators. These agreements allow for a 

coordinated effort in providing funds for students 

with disabilities in participating states. The 

agreement, or memorandum of understanding, 

establishes the process a VR agency and 

postsecondary educational institution will follow in 

determining the aid to be granted to a VR 

client/student. It is important to note that the federal 

Rehabilitation Act, as amended, requires that 

students served by a VR agency apply for student 

financial aid. 

Through standardized information exchange forms, 

the VR and financial aid offices are kept abreast of 

what the other is doing. The process is not a simple 

one; it takes time and requires a constant effort by 

both offices and the student. Often a student’s aid 

package is recalculated several times as new 

information is provided by either office. 
8 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

The best advice for a student with a disability in the 

quest for financial assistance is to contact as early 

as possible both the VR agency where the student is 

a client and the financial aid office of the institution 

the student plans to attend to be sure to meet both 

their deadlines. The institution will determine the 

student’s eligibility for financial assistance and 

develop an award package. Meanwhile, VR will 

also determine the student’s additional disabilityrelated needs and, if possible, award funds. 

Whatever is not covered by the VR agency can be 

recalculated by the institution into the student’s 

expenses, and, if funds allow, the student’s aid may 

be increased. Even with excellent cooperation 

between the financial aid administrator and the 

Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, there still may 

be a need for additional family funds or loans. 

IS FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE FOR 

GRADUATE STUDY? 

The increasing importance of graduate or 

professional degrees has caused concern over the 

availability of funds for such study. After a student 

completes an undergraduate degree program, he or 

she is no longer eligible for certain federal and state 

funds. Other programs may serve graduate students, 

but only after all undergraduates have been served. 

Because there is the expectation of employability 

after completion of a technical, community college, 

or undergraduate degree program, state VR 

agencies may be reluctant to fund graduate studies. 

Nevertheless, there are sources of funding available 

specifically for advanced degrees. 

Many students use the traditional routes of 

institutional scholarships in their field of study, 

part-time or alternate-semester employment, loans, 

savings, assistantships, and family contributions as 

the primary routes to a graduate degree. The 

college’s graduate program or academic department 

can provide information about funding. 

ARE THERE OTHER POSSIBLE SOURCES 

OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE? 

Supplemental Security Income

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal 

program that provides financial assistance to people 

who are aged, blind, or disabled and who have little 

or no income and resources. The amount of SSI 

payment is dependent on the income and resources 

of the client. (If the student is under l8, some of the 

parents’ income and resources will be included.) 

The student should be aware that earnings from 

work-study or other employment may affect SSI 

benefits. If the Social Security Administration 

approves a Plan for Achieving Self Support, the 

student would be able to set aside income and 

resources that are being used toward a specific 

vocational goal (tuition, savings for equipment or 

other needs) and continue to receive SSI payments. 

Plans can be developed by Vocational 

Rehabilitation counselors, public or private social 

agencies or groups, anyone assisting the student, or 

by the student. For more information on SSI and the 

Plan for Achieving Self Support, contact your local 

Social Security Administration office. 

Social Security Benefits 

The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) 

program allows workers and eligible dependents to 

receive monthly cash benefits because of a period of 

disability. A student who has been employed may 

file based on his or her own work record. If the 

parents of a student with a disability have filed for 

Social Security or if a parent is deceased, the 

student may also qualify for dependents’ benefits 

based on the parent’s work record. For further 

information on the student provisions and eligibility 

requirements of the various Social Security 

programs, contact your local Social Security 

Administration office.

Talent Search, Educational Opportunity 

Centers, and Special Services for Disadvantaged 

Students 

Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Centers 

are federally funded programs located at various 

sites across the country. Some are part of a 

postsecondary institution, and some have been 

established as part of a private or public 

organization. These programs were set up to 

provide counseling and other services to 

disadvantaged students and students with 

disabilities. One of the responsibilities of the 

program is to help place students and sometimes 

help them negotiate financial assistance with their 
9 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

postsecondary institutions. Many colleges also have 

federally funded programs for disadvantaged 

students, including those with disabilities. These 

programs provide certain services and academic 

assistance, and may provide financial assistance as 

well. Because programs vary by campus, check 

with the college or university of your choice to see 

if there is a Special Services Program and what 

services are offered. 

For more information on Talent Search, Educational 

Opportunity Centers, and Special Services 

Programs, contact the Division of Student Service, 

1250 Maryland Avenue, SW, Portals Building, 

Suite 600, Washington, DC 20202-5249. 

Information about these programs is also available 

at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/trio/. 

 

State Programs 

Most states now offer some form of student 

assistance. To find out the details of state grants and 

loans, students should contact their high school 

counselor or college financial aid administrator. For 

a listing of the agency that offers assistance for 

higher education in their state of residence, students 

can go to 

http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/agencies.html. 

 

Private Scholarships 

A variety of unique situations, which may have 

nothing to do with disability, may make a student 

eligible for private scholarships. They may include, 

for example, parents’ place or type of work, military 

experience, and ethnic background, or student’s 

career goals, religious affiliation, or extracurricular 

activities. Such scholarships may be researched by 

purchasing or borrowing books about financial aid 

from a school or public library. Several of these are 

mentioned in the “Selected Resources” section at 

the end of this paper. 

There are very few scholarships available for people 

whose unique situation is disability. However, 

HEATH staff have surveyed organizations and 

foundations across the country and developed a listing 

of organizations that provide scholarships for people 

with particular disabilities. Note that the amount of 

money from a disability scholarship may be token and 

ceremonial rather than substantial. Disability 

organization scholarships are generally $500 to $1,000 

per year. 

In general, the best resource for all students, 

including those with disabilities, is the financial aid 

administrator at the colleges being considered. The 

financial aid administrator has been trained to 

understand and explain the complex system of 

financial aid. In addition, the financial aid 

administrator will be familiar with local, state, and 

private sources of funding and able to tie these 

together with institutional resources to create the 

most advantageous financial aid package for the 

student. 

Keep in mind, however, that any problems 

encountered in applying to a college or university, 

or in completing the financial aid application in a 

thorough and timely manner, could adversely affect 

the quality of any financial aid package for which a 

student may be eligible. Students may apply to, and 

“shop” among, several colleges for the most 

advantageous combination of academic excellence 

and financial aid available. Due to the lead time 

involved in the college/financial aid process, “smart 

shoppers” will begin the process of looking for a 

college or university and preparing to apply for 

financial aid up to two years in advance of high 

school graduation. 

Other private scholarship sources are listed below. 

• The International Kiwanis Club recommends 

checking with local Kiwanis organizations to see 

if they offer scholarships. To find the telephone 

number of your local chapter, call (317) 875-

8755. 

• For scholarships offered through the Elks Grand 

Lodge in Winton, North Carolina, call (919) 358-

7661. 

• Local chapters of the Rotary Club offer 

scholarships for overseas study. Call (202) 638-

3555 for more information. 

• Call the Lions Club International at (630) 571-

5466 to find the telephone number for the District 

Governor in your area, who can inform you about 

scholarship opportunities. 
10 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

• Another possible source of funds is the National 

Association of American Business Clubs at P.O. 

Box 5127, High Point, NC 27262; (336) 869-

2166. 

Scholarship Search Services 

Entrepreneurs in many cities have established 

scholarship search services that have information 

about thousands of scholarships nationwide and that 

provide—for a fee—lists of those most appropriate 

for individual clients. These services usually can be 

found in the yellow pages or from a long-distance 

information operator in various large cities (San 

Francisco, New York, Houston, and others) under 

names such as Scholarship Information Service or 

Scholarship Search. Be forewarned, however, that 

the value of the information provided by such 

services can vary considerably. Therefore, as with 

any other service for which there is a fee, callers 

should request a written list of exactly what they 

will get for their investment and what has been the 

experience of the business in identifying 

scholarships for students with disabilities. 

Remember, as discussed previously, there is 

relatively little grant money made available on the 

basis of disability. Thus, search services are not 

likely to list scholarships specifically intended for 

students with specific disabilities. Rather, they may 

identify funds available to students by geographic 

area; area of student interest; college or university; 

professional, civic, or religious affiliation; or some 

other criteria. 

The student who is willing to invest some time and 

effort is likely to be just as successful locating 

funding sources as any fee-charging search service 

might be. Information about federal student aid 

programs is readily available at no charge (see 

“Selected Resources”), while high school guidance 

counselors and college financial aid offices are 

good resources for information about state-based 

and institutional aid. Also, the reference section of a 

college or community college library is likely to 

have guidebooks and directories listing grants and 

scholarships. It is increasingly common for high 

school guidance departments, libraries, and colleges 

to offer computerized scholarship searches at little 

or no cost. Finally, there are numerous resources 

about financial aid and scholarships on the World 

Wide Web, including several search services that 

charge no fee at all (see the following section, 

“Internet Searches”). 

Internet Searches 

Students with Internet access will find a wealth of 

information about how to complete the FAFSA, as 

well as additional grants and scholarships for which 

they may apply. The following World Wide Web 

addresses are listed to facilitate an electronic search. 

Note that many web sites offer additional links to 

other related sites. 

1. Easy Access for Students and Institutions (EASI) 

offers information about the financial aid system: 

http://www.easi.ed.gov/. 

2. Financial Aid for Students, through the U.S. 

Department offers information and links relating 

to federal student assistance programs: 

http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/students/sfa.h

tml.

3. The Financial Aid Information Page is a 

comprehensive resource that will connect 

students with mailing lists, news groups, loan 

information, and scholarships for special interest 

groups such as females, minorities, veterans, 

etc.: http://www.finaid.org. 

4. College Board Home Page includes an instant 

profile search of available grants and 

scholarships: http://www.collegeboard.org/. 

5. FastWEB (Financial Aid Search Through the 

WEB) is a searchable database of more than 

180,000 private sector scholarships, fellowships, 

grants, and loans. Used by colleges across the 

United States, fastWEB is now available to you 

at no charge through the World Wide Web, 

courtesy of the Financial Aid Information Page 

and Student Services, Inc.: 

http://www.fastweb.com. 

6. CASHE (College Aid Sources for Higher 

Education), provided free through Sallie Mae’s 

Online Scholarship Service, is a database of 

more than 180,000 scholarships, fellowships, 

grants, loans, internships, competitions, and 

work-study programs sponsored by more than 

3,600 organizations: http://www.salliemae.com/. 

7. CollegeNET MACH25 is a free Web version of 

the Wintergreen/Orchard House Scholarship 

Finder database. This database contains listings 

of more than 500,000 private sector awards from 
11 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

1,570 sponsors. The database is updated 

annually: http://www.collegenet.com/mach25/. 

8. The National Association of Student Financial 

Aid Administrators’ (NASFAA) home page 

includes two free downloadable publications for 

students and their parents, Cash for College and 

TIPS: Timely Information for Parents and 

Students. The site also contains links to other 

financial aid-related web sites: 

http://www.nasfaa.org. 

9. College Quest is a comprehensive site devoted 

to the process of searching, choosing, applying, 

and paying for college that contains a database of 

more than 850,000 scholarships and grants for 

postsecondary study: 

http://www.collegequest.com/. 

Foundation Center 

The Foundation Center, with headquarters in 

Washington, DC, and New York and cooperating 

collections in nearly 100 cities across the country, 

can provide the names of private foundations that 

donate money for particular activities or causes. The 

Foundation Center has a volume of listings called 

Foundation Grants for Individuals arranged in 

broad categories. It can be used there or purchased 

for $65 plus $4.50 for shipping and handling. Call 

(800) 424-9836 to find the address of the nearest 

cooperating collection. 

SELECTED RESOURCES

The Big Book of Minority Opportunities (1997), 

edited by Willis L. Johnson, lists employment 

opportunities, financial aid sources, and career 

information services for members of minority 

groups. Although the volume is not specifically for 

those with disabilities, many students may find it an 

important resource. This well-organized directory 

lists more than 4,000 general sources of financial 

aid. Programs cited include scholarships, 

fellowships, and loans for college study; job 

training and retraining activities; summer 

employment and internship options; occupational 

information and career-guidance assistance; and 

employment skills banks and talent bank services. It 

is available by prepaying $39.95 plus $1.50 for 

shipping and handling to Garrett Park Press, P.O. 

Box 190A, Garrett Park, MD 20896, or by calling 

(301) 946-2553. 

College Financial Aid for Dummies (2nd Edition), 

by Joyce Lain Kennedy and Dr. Herm Davis, while 

not disability specific at all, is one of the most 

comprehensive and useful small books available on 

the subject of utilizing the regular financial aid 

system to full advantage. Basic terms are defined, 

and needs for money immediately, soon, and in the 

future are addressed. Kennedy and Davis, who are 

especially experienced in clarifying all aspects of 

financial aid, describe ways to simplify the 

application process, alternative strategies for 

financing a college education, and numerous 

borrowing tips. How to locate scholarships, grants, 

and other gifts is described, as are several saveahead plans for those who have a few years before 

the actual college or graduate school dollars are to 

be spent. Available at bookstores that carry the 

“Dummies” series of how-to publications, by 

calling 1-888-438-6643, or on-line at 

http://www.hungryminds.com. The cost is $19.99 

plus shipping and handling. 

Dollars for College: The Quick Guide to 

Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities

(1998), edited by Elizabeth A. Olson, is a 

compendium of 525 listings of organizations 

(including state rehabilitation services, training 

programs, some colleges and universities, and 

organizations serving veterans) that offer some type 

of financial aid for students with disabilities, or 

offer programs to train people with or without 

disabilities to prepare to work in the disability 

service field. In addition, there are several annotated 

lists of organizations established to assist people 

with disabilities in areas other than financial aid. 

There is a description of Federal Financial Aid 

Programs, a glossary of Financial Aid Terminology, 

a section of Useful Books, and contact information 

for a short list of Associations Concerned with 

People with Disabilities. The Index assists readers 

in locating programs of relevance to their own 

needs. Dollars for College, one of a series of special 

focus books on the subject, is available for $7.95 

plus $1.50 for shipping and handling from Garrett 

Park Press, P.O. Box 190B, Garrett Park, MD 

20896; (301) 946-2553. 
12 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

Don’t Miss Out: The Ambitious Student’s Guide 

to Financial Aid (2000/01) is one of many special 

focus guides produced regularly by Octameron 

Associates. This 192-page book is full of useful 

strategies, helpful hints, and good solid planning 

information, as well as information on the 

reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and a 

brief section about students with disabilities. Others 

in the series cover academic scholarships, college 

grants, loans, cooperative education opportunities, 

admissions, campus visits, and transition from high 

school to college. Don’t Miss Out is available by 

prepaying $10 plus $3 for shipping and handling to 

Octameron Associates, P.O. Box 2748, Alexandria, 

VA 22301. The publication can also be purchased 

on-line at http://www.octameron.com. 

Financial Aid for Graduate and Professional 

Education (1997), by Patricia McWade, is a 14-

page pamphlet that provides a comprehensive 

overview of the topic. How and when to apply, 

determining financial need, types of aid available, 

aid for special groups (although not much on 

disability), debt management, and consolidation are 

some of the topics covered. Contact information 

about related resources is included. Available by 

prepaying $2.35 plus $1 for shipping and handling 

to Peterson’s, P.O. Box 2123, Princeton, NJ 08543-

2123; (800) 338-3282. This and other Peterson’s 

publications about financial aid can be purchased 

on-line at http://www.petersons.com. 

Financial Aid for the Disabled and Their 

Families (1998-2000), by Gail Ann Schlachter and 

R. David Weber, promises to inform readers about 

the 900 programs that have been established just for 

individuals with disabilities or members of their 

families. The book is a useful and comprehensive 

resource for librarians and counselors, but promises 

more than it really delivers. The book is well 

organized for use since it has chapters about 

financial aid for people with specific disabilities, 

and there are sections of each chapter for both 

undergraduate and graduate education. However, 

entries are double and triple counted, resulting in 

inflation of the total number of scholarships and 

other aids included. The book is available for $40 

plus $5 for shipping and handling from Reference 

Service Press, 5000 Windplay Drive, Suite 4, El 

Dorado Hills, CA 95762, or by calling (650) 594-

0743. The book can also be purchased on-line at 

http://www.rspfunding.com. 

 

Financing Graduate School (1996), by Patricia 

McWade, answers the most frequently asked 

questions about financial aid for graduate school. 

Topics include aid eligibility, loan jargon, and 

information on tax laws pertaining to student loans. 

Available by prepaying $16.95 plus $3 for shipping 

and handling to Peterson’s, P.O. Box 2123, 

Princeton, NJ 08543-2123; (800) 338-3282. This 

and other Peterson’s publications about financial aid 

can be purchased on-line at 

http://www.petersons.com. 

 

Funding Your Education, 2000-2001, created by 

the U.S. Department of Education, is a booklet that 

describes the federal student aid programs. The 

booklet is widely available in school and public 

libraries or can be ordered free by writing Federal 

Student Aid Programs, Box 84, Washington, DC 

20044-0084, by calling (800) 433-3243, or by 

visiting their web site: 

http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/FYE/. 

Grants for Graduate and Postdoctoral Study

(1998), fifth edition, lists and fully describes a 

diverse collection of more than 1,400 scholarships 

and grants usable at the graduate level for the study 

of nearly every discipline. This well-indexed guide 

provides practical tips as well as specific details 

about each award. Available in libraries or by 

prepaying $32.95 plus $3 for shipping and handling 

to Peterson’s, P.O. Box 2123, Princeton, NJ 08543-

2123; (800) 338-3282. This and other Peterson’s 

publications about financial aid can be purchased 

on-line at http://www.petersons.com. 

Need A Lift? To Educational Opportunities, 

Careers, Loans, Scholarships, Employment

(annual edition) is a publication of the American 

Legion covering sources of financial aid and the 

financial aid process. Special emphasis is given to 

programs for children of deceased or disabled 

veterans, but the information is designed to be of 

service to all students. The 128-page booklet 

contains sources of scholarships, cooperative 

education programs, and career information. 

Available for $3 from American Legion National 
13 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

Emblem Sales, Attn: Need A Lift, Box 1050, 

Indianapolis, IN 46206. 

The Parents Guide to Paying for College (1998), 

by Gerald Krefetz for The College Board, 

incorporates the new Taxpayer Relief Act 

regulations to provide parents with practical advice. 

The 160-page book covers a range of sound 

financial management strategies for saving, 

investing, borrowing, and establishing credit for 

parents of teenagers as well as young children. 

Discussed in detail are the HOPE Scholarship, 

Lifetime Learning Tax Credit, and Educational 

IRAs. There is an extensive glossary to clarify 

financial terms, appendixes providing an individual 

tax table, a gift tax table, an income tax rate 

schedule for trusts, and information on interest rates 

and yields. Available by prepaying $14.95 plus a 

$3.95 handling charge to The College Board, 

College Board Publications, Box 886, New York, 

NY 10101-0886. The guide may also be purchased 

on-line at http://www.collegeboard.com. 

The Student Guide (2000-2001), is the most 

comprehensive resource on student financial aid 

from the U.S. Department of Education. Grants, 

loans, and work study are the three major forms of 

student financial aid available through the federal 

Student Assistance Programs. Updated each year, 

The Student Guide tells you about the programs and 

how to apply them. The booklet may be obtained 

by calling the Federal Student Aid Information 

Center at 1-800-4FEDAID or by visiting the 

department’s website at 

http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/Student Guide/. 

The U.S. Department of Education’s toll-free 

number (800) 433-3243 / (800) 730-8913 (TTY) 

may be used by seekers of federal student financial 

aid information. Toll-free calls from all 50 states 

and Puerto Rico can be made from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 

p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. Callers will 

receive a recorded message and will be asked to 

remain on the line if they need additional 

information or if they have a specific question. 

January 2003. Updated by Daniel Gardner from 

material prepared previously by HEATH. Careful 

review and comments by Eunice Powell of the 

National Association of Student Financial Aid 

Administrators and Robert Burns of the Maryland 

State Department of Education, Division of 

Rehabilitation Services, were gratefully 

appreciated. Also reviewed by Pamela M. Ekpone, 

Ed.D. Director of the George Washington 

University HEATH Resource Center. 

This resource paper was prepared under 

Cooperative Agreement No. # H326H010005 

awarded to The George Washington University by 

the U.S. Department of Education. The contents do 

not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. 

Government, nor does mention of products or 

organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. 

Government. 
14 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES 

Scholarships designated for students with disabilities are extremely limited. Students are urged to read the 

publications listed in the “Selected Resources” section of this paper and to pursue the scholarships available for 

criteria other than disability. Listed below are organizations that offer the few disability-specific scholarships that 

have come to the attention of HEATH staff. 

* In addition to the organizations listed here, consult other disability specific advocacy organizations to 

Inquire about possible scholarships

Alexander Graham Bell 

Association for the Deaf

3417 Volta Place, NW 

Washington, DC 20007-2778 

(202) 337-5220 (Voice/TTY) 

http://www.agbell.org

(limited to individuals who are 

prelingually deaf or hard of hearing 

and who use speech or speech 

reading to communicate) 

American Council of the Blind 

1155 15th Street, NW 

 Suite 1004 

Washington, DC 20005 

(800) 424-8666 

(202) 467-5081 

http://acb.org

(limited to individuals who are 

legally blind or visually impaired) 

American Foundation 

for the Blind

11 Penn Plaza 

Suite 300 

New York, NY 10001 

(800) 232-5463 

(212) 502-7661 

http://www.afb.org

(limited to individuals who are 

legally blind or visually impaired) 

Association for Education and 

Rehabilitation of the Blind and 

Visually Impaired

4600 Duke Street 

Suite 430 

P.O. Box 22397 

Alexandria, VA 22304 

(703) 823-9690 

http://www.aerbvi.org

Bank of America Abilities 

Scholarship Program

P.O. Box 1465 

Taylors, SC 29687 

(864) 268-3363 

(Awarded to students with 

disabilities who have permanent 

residence or attend school in 

Arizona, Arkansas, California, 

District of Columbia, Florida, 

Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, 

Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, 

Nevada, New Mexico, North 

Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, 

South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, 

Virginia, or Washington. 

Applicants must demonstrate a 3.0 

cumulative grade point average and 

have a declared interest in finance, 

business, or computer systems.) 

Blinded Veterans Association

477 H Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20001-2694 

(800) 669-7079 

(202) 371-8880 

http://www.bva.org

(limited to children and spouses of 

blinded veterans) 

Central Intelligence Agency 

Personnel Representative 

Undergraduate Scholar Program

P.O. Box 12727 

Arlington, VA 22209-8727 

http://www.cia.gov

Chairscholars Foundation, Inc.

Hugo and Alicia Keim 

16101 Carencia Lane 

Odessa, FL 33556 

(813) 920-2737 

(limited to high school seniors and 

college freshmen who have a 

serious physical disability) 

Christian Record Services, Inc.

4444 South 52nd Street 

Lincoln, NE 68516 

(402) 488-0981 

(limited to students who are blind 

or visually impaired) 

Council of Citizens with Low 

Vision International (CCLVI)

1155 15th Street, NW 

Suite 1004 

Washington, DC 20005 

(800) 733-2258 

http://www.cclvi.org

Electronic Industries 

Foundation (EIF) 

Attn: Marcie Vorac 

2500 Wilson Boulevard 

Arlington, VA 22201 

(703) 907-7408 

http://www.eiafoundation.org/eif

(limited to high school seniors with 

disabilities who are pursuing 

undergraduate or graduate studies 

directly related to the electronics 

industry)

Foundation for Exceptional 

Children; Stanley E. Jackson 
15 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

Award for Gifted/Talented 

Students with Disability

1920 Association Drive 

Reston, VA 20191 

(888) 232-7733 

(703) 264-3507 

http://www.cec.sped.org

(limited to entering freshmen who 

have a disability) 

Foundation for Science 

and Disability, Inc.

Richard Mankin 

Grants Committee Chair 

503 NW 89th Street 

Gainesville, FL 32607-1400 

(limited to science students with a 

disability entering or currently in a 

master’s 

or doctorate program in 

engineering, math, computer 

science, or medicine) 

The Geoffrey Foundation

P.O. Box 1112 

Ocean Avenue 

Kennebunkport, ME 04046 

(207) 967-5798 

(limited to students who are deaf or 

hard of hearing and utilizing 

an auditory/verbal approach to 

communication) 

Gore Family 

Memorial Foundation 

Scholarship Coordinator 

4747 North Ocean Drive, #204 

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 

(954) 781-8634 

(limited to students who have 

severe physical disabilities) 

Graduate Fellowship Fund 

Gallaudet University Alumni 

Association

Alumni Office 

800 Florida Avenue, NE 

Washington, DC 20002 

(202) 651-5060 (Voice/TTY) 

http://www.gallaudet.edu

(limited to Ph.D. students who are 

hearing impaired) 

Hemophilia Health Services 

Memorial Scholarship Program 

6820 Charlotte Pike 

Nashville, TN 37209-5100 

(800) 800-6606 ext. 5177 

http://www.hemophiliahealth.com

(limited to students with 

hemophilia and von Willebrand 

disease) 

Immune Deficiency Foundation

25 West Chesapeake Avenue 

Suite 206 

Towson, MD 21204 

(800) 296-4433 

http://www.primaryimmune.org

(limited to students with primary 

genetic immune deficiency) 

Jewish Braille Institute 

of America

110 East 30th Street 

New York, NY 10016 

(212) 889-2525 

http://www.jewishbraille.org

(offered to students who are legally 

blind and wish to become rabbis, 

cantors, or Jewish educators) 

La Sertoma International

21710 South Race 

Spring Hill, KS 66083 

(913) 686-3000 

(limited to graduate students who 

are preparing for careers to assist 

people who are blind) 

Lighthouse, Inc.

111 East 59th Street 

New York, NY 10022 

(212) 821-9428 

http://www.lighthouse.org

(limited to students who are legally 

blind who attend schools and have 

legal addresses in one of these 

states: Connecticut, New Jersey, 

New York, Pennsylvania, or the 

New England states)

Lilly Awards Secretariat 

c/o Lilly Schizophrenia 

Reintegration Scholarship

734 North LaSalle Street, #1167 

Chicago, IL 60610 

(800) 809-8202 

(limited to persons with 

schizophrenia and related 

schizophrenia-spectrum disorders) 

National Amputation Foundation 

Scholarship 

38-40 Church Street 

Malverne, NY 11565 

(516) 887-3600 

http://www.nationalamputation.org

(limited to entering freshmen who 

have had a major limb amputation 

and are full time college or 

university students) 

National Association of the Deaf 

Stokoe Scholarship

814 Thayer Avenue 

Silver Spring, MD 20910-4500 

(301) 587-1788 

(301) 587-1789 (TTY) 

http://www.nad.org

(limited to graduate students who 

are deaf or hard of hearing and are 

pursuing studies in a field related to 

Sign Language or the Deaf 

Community) 

National Clearinghouse on 

Careers and Professions Related 

to Early Intervention and 

Education for Children with 

Disabilities; The Council for 

Exceptional Children

1920 Association Drive 
16 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

Reston, VA 20191-1589 

(800) 641-7824 

(703) 264-9476 

(703) 264-9480 (TTY) 

http://www.special-ed-careers.org

(limited to those who are preparing 

for careers within the field of 

special education) National 

Federation 

of the Blind 

1800 Johnson Street 

Baltimore, MD 21230 

(410) 659-9314 

(limited to students who are blind 

or visually impaired) 

National Hemophilia 

Foundation

116 West 32nd Street, 11th Floor 

New York, NY 10001 

(800) 424-2634 

http://www.hemophilia.org 

(limited to students with 

hemophilia or von Willebrand 

Disease) 

P. Buckley Moss Society 

Harbison Award

601 Shenandoah Village Drive 

Suite 1C 

Waynesboro, VA 22980 

(540) 943-5678 

(limited to high school seniors with 

learning disabilities who are 

continuing their education beyond 

high school and who have been 

recruited by a society member) 

Pfizer Epilepsy 

Scholarship Award

c/o IntraMed 

Attn: Paul Darrah 

230 Park Avenue South 

10th Floor 

New York, NY 10003-1566 

(800) 292-7373 

(limited to students with epilepsy 

who are pursuing a college 

education) 

The President’s Committee 

on Employment of People with 

Disabilities

1331 F Street, NW 

Suite 300 

Washington, DC 20004-1107 

(202) 376-6200 

Recording for the Blind 

and Dyslexic

20 Rozelle Road 

Princeton, NJ 08540 

(609) 452-0606 

(limited to students who are blind 

or visually impaired or who have 

learning disabilities) 

Solvay Pharmaceuticals 

Scholarship Program 

Attn: Connie Conner 

Westpark Corporate Center 

4364 South Balston Avenue 

Durham, NC 27718 

(919) 544-8770 

(offered to individuals with cystic 

fibrosis who have benefited from 

pharmaceutical treatment) 

Spina Bifida Association 

of America 

Scholarship Committee 

4590 MacArthur Boulevard, NW 

Suite 250 

Washington, DC 20007-4226 

(800) 621-3141 

(202) 944-3285 

http://www.sbaa.org

Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon 

Scholarship; National Tourism 

Foundation

546 East Main Street 

Lexington, KY 40508 

(800) 682-8886 (limited to students 

with physical and/or sensory 

disabilities who are planning a 

career in the travel and tourism 

industry) 

Venture Clubs Student Aid 

Award and Venture Clubs of 

America; Handicapped Student 

Scholarship

Two Penn Center Plaza 

Suite 1000 

Philadelphia, PA 19102-1883 

(215) 557-9300 

(offered to individuals with 

physical disabilities who are in 

need of further education)

Very Special Arts 

Young Soloists Program

Attn: Danni Fox 

1300 Connecticut Avenue, NW 

Suite 700 

Washington, DC 20036 

(800) 933-8721 

(202) 628-2800 

(202) 737-0645 (TTY) 

(limited to students aged 25 and 

under studying selected musical 

instruments) 

*Colleges and Universities may also

offer specific scholarships for 

students with disabilities. Contact 

the financial aid office at each 

institution to which you are 

applying. In addition, students and 

counselors may wish to consult the 

Directory of College Facilities and 

Services for People with 

Disabilities. The fourth edition of 

this 440-page directory was 

published in 1996 and contains an 

Index of Institutions that offer 

special financial aid programs. 

Libraries and guidance offices may 

wish to purchase this directory, 

which is available for $125 (plus 

$12.50 for shipping and handling) 

from Oryx Press, P.O. Box 33889, 

Phoenix, AZ 85067-3889; (800) 

279-6799. The Directory may also 

be purchased on-line at 

http://www.oryxpress.com. 
17 The GW HEATH Resource Center XXX

17

PRE-COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID CHECKLIST 

During the Junior Year of High School: 

 Explore college profiles and programs. If possible, visit the colleges that most interest you. 

 Investigate financial aid opportunities with your high school counselor. 

 Write to the college(s) of your choice for applications and financial aid information. 

 Begin the application process with Vocational Rehabilitation and/or Social Security. 

 If you are involved in Special Education services at your high school, be sure that your Individual Transition Plan 

(ITP) includes your academic and vocational goals. 

 Collect information and document expenses for completing the financial aid forms. 

By the Senior Year of High School: 

 Obtain the FAFSA from your high school counselor. Using the most accurate income tax information possible, 

complete the form. 

 Mail the financial aid form as soon as possible after January 1, since forms postmarked before then do not count. 

(Be sure to check the application deadline for each college to which you plan to apply.) 

 Complete and return to the college(s) all application materials and any financial aid documents requested by the 

college by the date indicated by the institution (usually February/March). 

 Keep track of the date on which you sent in each form. You should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) within four 

weeks. If you have not received any response within four weeks, call the student aid center at the number listed on the 

FAFSA. 

 When the SAR arrives, contact the financial aid offices of the colleges on your list to see if they need a copy of it. 

 Keep in touch with the college financial aid offices during the course of the application process to verify that they 

have received your application data and that they are processing your aid package. 

  If you are a VR client, be sure that your counselor is in touch with the financial aid offices at the colleges(s) on 

 your list. Be on time and accurate in filling out the application forms. If possible, have a third party read them and 

 check for accuracy. Keep at least one photocopy of each completed form for your own record in case problems arise.