by Yes, there are many scholarships available for students with disabilities in New York. These scholarships provides financial support to help you pursue your education and achieve your goals. So if you are a student with a disability, living in NY State, and are looking for financial support to pursue your education? You’re not alone. Many students face unique challenges, but there are scholarships available to help ease the financial burden. In this guide, we’ve explored some of the best scholarships for students with disabilities tailored for New York residents.
Matthew Goldstein Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities
This Scholarship Program is designed for students with disabilities attending the City University of New York (CUNY). It provides important financial support by offering tuition waivers to students who might otherwise struggle to afford their education. It aims to bridge the gap left by the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). Its main purpose is to assist you if you require a reduced course load due to your disability. Eligibility criteria include being an undergraduate enrolled at CUNY, maintaining a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and you have to be registered with the campus Office of Disability Resources & Services.
You must also be certified for the “ADA TAP” program. The scholarship provides a tuition waiver for unmet TAP expenses. The application process requires coordination with the campus Office of Disability Resources & Services and the Financial Aid Office. If you’re a CUNY student with disability, you are encouraged to seek assistance for applying for the scholarship.
USS Donald and Mary Ellen Passantino Scholarship for Disabled Students
Another great option if you’re a CUNY student is the USS Donald and Mary Ellen Passantino Scholarship offered by the University Student Senate (USS) of the City University of New York (CUNY). This scholarship recognizes students with disabilities who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship, leadership, and service under extraordinary circumstances. Two students per campus are awarded this scholarship each academic year. Eligibility is you must be a CUNY undergraduate and graduate student with disability.
The criteria is minimum GPA of 2.5. You must have a demonstrated outstanding scholarship. You have to have an enthusiastic leadership and service under extraordinary circumstances. The award for this scholarship is $1,000 per year, and you can be able to renew, may be for up to four years. The scholarship aims to support and encourage you with your disability in the pursuit of higher education within the CUNY system. If you are interested in applying or learning more, I recommend you to visit the USS CUNY website or contacting their office directly.
AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability
If you’re in your second year of college or beyond, the AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability is a great option. This scholarship is available to students with disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It supports students pursuing degrees in health-related fields. The purpose is to recognizes and aid students committed to improving health and quality of life for individuals with disabilities. To become eligible, you must have a disability, be enrolled in an accredited U.S. college as at least a sophomore, and study related disciplines. The award amount is typically under $1,000. This is determined annually by the AAHD Scholarship Committee based on available funds.
Application process for this scholarship requires you to submit an application and supporting documents by a deadline for consideration. Check the AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on google, access their website for more update on the deadlines.
AmeriGlide Achiever Scholarship
This scholarship program is offered by AmeriGlide, a company that sells accessibility products like stair lifts and wheelchair lifts. The scholarship is open to you if you’re a full-time college student who use either manual or electric wheelchairs in your pursuit of higher education. To be eligible you need to be a full-time college student and you use a wheelchair. The scholarship amount is $2,500. If you’re interested, you need to fill out an application form on the AmeriGlide website. The application includes an essay component. Please note that scholarship details can change over time. So always refer to the AmeriGlide website for the most up-to-date information and application requirements.
Little People of America (LPA) Scholarships
For students diagnosed with dwarfism, the Little People of America (LPA) Scholarships provides financial support. This support is for you and your immediate family members. The LPA purpose is to improve the quality of life for people with dwarfism, by offering to you scholarships. Eligibility for this award includes LPA members and non-members with dwarfism and your immediate family of LPA members. There are two undergraduate and one graduate scholarship available, with awards ranging from $250 to over $1,000. The application can be found on the LPA website, it usually opens in late March and closes in late May. Note: The scholarship committee selects the recipients of this award, prioritizing LPA members and their families only. If you’re interested in this scholarship, I recommend you consult the LPA website https://www.lpaonline.org for current details and application guidelines.
1-800-Wheelchair Scholarships
The 1-800-Wheelchair Scholarships are awarded to full-time students who have undergone a major limb amputation. This scholarship provides financial assistance to help you pursue your education. Eligibility are open to you if you are a student of any major or concentration. The award amount is one or two $500 given each year. The requirements is that you must be enrolled at an accredited high school, college, or university in the U.S and State of NY, you are enrolled at the graduate, undergraduate level, or in your final year of high school. Also you must be aged 16 or older and in good academic standing (GPA of at least 3.0).
Note: If you’re applying for this scholarship, you must send your application via a traditional mail. And the deadlines are usually May 31st of each year. You can find all necessary information and application details on the 1-800-Wheelchair website: https://www.1800wheelchair.com/scholarship
Scholarships and Awards – The Arc New York
This program offers several scholarships and awards to you if you’re pursuing degrees in special education, physical or occupational therapy, or you’re in the fields related to intellectual and developmental disabilities. The scholarships recognize students who go above and beyond to improve the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Below are some of their available scholarships to you:
- Arthur W. Pense Scholarship. This is for students in physical or occupational therapy programs.
- James F. Reville Scholarship. This is for full-time college students in programs related to intellectual and developmental disabilities like behavioral sciences, social work, nursing, etc.
- Jonathan Weingold Scholarship. This is for employees of The Arc New York Chapters.
- Joseph T. Weingold Scholarship. This is for students in New York State degree programs leading to special education certification.
To be eligible requires you must be a residency of New York State and enrolled in a relevant degree program. The application deadline for most of the scholarships is February. You can find more information and application details on The Arc New York website.
Finally, make sure you research each scholarship’s eligibility criteria. Learn about the application process. This will help you find the best one that fits your needs.
