The Best 22 Scholarships for Disabled Students in 2024

Ever since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990, colleges, universities, and trade and vocational schools have made great strides in creating a more level playing field for disabled college students and graduating high school seniors. Financial aid programs have expanded rapidly. Those changes have torn down many barriers that made it harder for disabled students to access the same opportunities as everyone else when pursuing higher education.

To help disabled students find financial support, we’ve compiled the top 22 scholarships in 2023 and beyond. Whether you’re looking to start your undergraduate program or want help as a graduate student, we’ve identified several opportunities for all disabled students. We’ll also cover how to apply for these scholarships and tips to stand out during the application process. 

About Scholarships for Disabled Students

Today, the physical environment of many college campuses is much easier for physically disabled students to navigate. In addition, educational strategies and facilities are specifically designed to assist undergraduate and graduate students with learning disabilities and emotional, mental, and physical health challenges to succeed and earn a valuable college degree or professional certification.

Those improvements have made a real difference for students once they get to college, technical college, or vocational school. Still, many students with disabilities face equally daunting financial aid barriers when finding the money to pay for their education while caring for their health needs. For too many, that means giving up before they can finish school or never starting.

As those financial challenges have become more recognized, many organizations have stepped up to provide financial aid explicitly dedicated to making higher education at an accredited college more affordable for students with disabilities both during their years at school and afterward, when student loan debt can create impossible burdens.

What are Scholarships for Disabled Students? 

Scholarships for disabled students help them stick with college and even earn a graduate degree, making it possible to avoid piling up unsustainable amounts of student debt. There are programs aimed at students with a specific disability and more awards available to students with a wide range of physical or cognitive disabilities, including learning disabilities. These scholarships can help many populations who struggle to find financial support as they consider ways to pay for a bachelor’s degree program and possible graduate programs in the future.

Of course, high school students, undergrads, and graduate students with disabilities are frequent winners of many other annual scholarships. These can be ones where they qualify due to their academic excellence, family financial status, musical and athletic talents, ethnic or national background, and many other criteria.

What Qualifies Someone for a Disabled Student Scholarship? 

Disabled student scholarships are specifically designed to assist students with a learning, physical, or mental disability throughout their educational journey. To qualify, an applicant typically must provide official documentation or a medical note that attests to the disability. This can range from mobility impairments, hearing or visual impairments, learning disorders, or cognitive disorders. Besides the specific disability criteria, some scholarships may have additional academic, financial, or location-based requirements. Before applying, review each scholarship’s eligibility criteria to ensure you can submit an application. 

Types of Scholarships for Disabled Students

As mentioned above, many public and private organizations and individuals generously fund millions of dollars in scholarships each year. Much of it awards money in support of those of us with disabilities that make it more challenging to access the same educational and social resources that many people don’t understand. In addition, here are a few other types of scholarships disabled students can apply for: 

Merit-Based Scholarships

These scholarships recognize the academic, artistic, or athletic achievements of disabled students. If you’re a student who excels in one of these fields, you may have to provide documentation or proof to apply. For example, some scholarships require applicants to maintain a specific GPA and submit transcripts upon graduation. 

Need-Based Scholarships

Financial constraints can sometimes overwhelm disabled students who already have medical or accessibility expenses. These scholarships help alleviate the financial burdens of education, providing deserving students with assistance if they demonstrate financial need. Applicants typically must provide detailed financial information to qualify. 

Student-Specific Scholarships

These scholarships are for students with specific disabilities or challenges, such as Dyslexia, seizures, heart disease, or a related condition. Whether it’s a scholarship for visually impaired students or those with a learning disability, student-specific scholarships support the unique needs of qualifying applicants. 

Career-Specific Scholarships

Certain professions or industries actively encourage disabled students to pursue higher education and join their respective fields after graduation. Disabled students can often find scholarships for their intended career, such as therapy, government work, or health care sponsored by one of these programs. 

College-Specific Scholarships

Several US colleges and universities offer scholarships and grants exclusively for incoming students. Disabled students can qualify, but it’s essential to consult your school’s financial aid department to determine the available opportunities and criteria. And in some cases, your school may offer scholarships specifically for disabled students. 

How to Find Scholarships for Disabled Students

Scholarships for disabled students pursuing a college education are available from the federal student aid program and many private sponsors operating in every part of the country, including large national organizations, state and local programs, and many non-profit endowments created by individual people and businesses.

For high school seniors and juniors, the place to start looking for disability scholarships is at your college advisory office. They will know about many of the high-profile tuition assistance programs available from a national federation but may also have leads to local organizations.

Check with the national offices of large non-profit organizations focusing on the disability or disabilities you contend with. Even if they don’t offer a free scholarship program themselves, they will provide you with extensive lists of scholarship sponsors. 

Check with college financial aid offices for any awards available to eligible applicants based on a documented disability, academic achievement, financial need, and other factors.

Even with those resources available, finding and learning how to apply for some of the thousands of available scholarships can be challenging. That is why online scholarship platforms like Bold.org put significant resources in place to make that search more manageable and effective. 

Bold.org will do much more than give you a long list of scholarship funds with programs you might qualify for. They have built-in online application systems that allow you to input information about yourself and then help match you to the best possibilities based on your profile. You’ll find out about deadlines for applying for annual scholarships and any special requirements you must meet. They can answer any questions about their process and the financial aid and scholarship jigsaw puzzle. 

Most of these services can also connect you to help with boosting your grades or test scores and help you strategize about what to put into a personal essay or other pieces that some sponsors ask for as part of your application package.

How to Apply for Disabled Student Scholarships: A Step-by-Step Guide

When you’re ready to apply for scholarships, we recommend using Bold.org. Disabled students can get started by following these steps: 

Step 1: Begin with Bold.org

Start your scholarship search by visiting Bold.org, a platform home to hundreds of scholarships (including for disabled students). 

Step 2: Create a Free Account and Profile

To apply for scholarships on Bold.org, you must first create an account and refine your profile. This profile shows your experience and unique perspective as a disabled student, so specifically mention the challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve overcome them. The more impactful your profile, the better the scholarship panels will be able to assess your situation. 

Step 3: Search for Disability-Specific Scholarships

You can use the search feature on Bold.org to narrow down the available scholarship opportunities. Use keywords related to your disability or other aspects of your life to find scholarships tailored to you. 

Step 4: Read the Eligibility Criteria Carefully

Each scholarship has its own set of requirements. Ensure you fit the criteria before applying, as some might be specific to a particular disability, academic achievements, or financial needs. 

Step 5: Craft and Submit Your Applications

When you’ve identified a good mix of scholarships, start working on your applications and try to submit them as early as possible. However, don’t rush through them; you want to put your best foot forward and create compelling applications that illustrate why you deserve to win. 

Step 6: Stay Updated 

After you apply for scholarships, you can keep track of all your applications through your Bold.org dashboard. You can see if the scholarship organizer makes any updates, requests additional information, or notifies you if you win. And if you’re successful, Bold.org will automatically apply the funding to your school’s tuition, eliminating the need for paperwork and extra time. 

Tips for Winning a Disabled Student Scholarship

Just like applications for higher education, scholarships take some effort if you want to win. Here are some insider tips to help you during the application process: 

Tip 1: Start Early and Plan Ahead

Initiate your scholarship search as soon as you know you’ll pursue higher education. Create a calendar to track deadlines and requirements, along with any relevant information worth remembering. The earlier your begin, the more opportunities you’ll discover. 

Tip 2: Personalize Your Applications

Since every scholarship has different requirements, take time to tailor each one to show how you meet the specific criteria. A personalized application resonates more with scholarship committees, so do your best to make each one stand out. 

Tip 3: Share Your Unique Story

Your journey as a disabled student is unique and worth sharing. Explain the challenges you’ve faced and what you’ve done to surpass them. No one can replicate your story, so be authentic and show what differentiates you from the other applicants. 

Tip 4: Craft a Compelling Essay (if required)

If you must submit an essay, take the time to write a thoughtful and well-constructed piece. Discuss not just your disability but also your achievements, goals, and how the scholarship will help your educational aspirations. And, of course, ensure you adequately answer the provided prompt. 

Tip 5: Diversify Your Applications

Applying for multiple scholarships automatically increases your chances of winning, almost like buying numerous raffle tickets. While being a disabled student might qualify you for specific scholarships, also consider other categories like academic achievements, talents, or interests. 

Tip 6: Optimize Your Bold.org Profile

Multiple scholarships on Bold.org won’t ask for an essay or any real application. Instead, they use your profile to determine if you’re the right candidate to receive the award. Leveraging your profile and making it stand out is one of the best ways to gain an advantage, so ensure you take time to optimize it. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships for Disabled Students

Still have questions? Here are some of the most common inquiries and our answers. 

What should I consider when applying for scholarships?

When applying for any scholarship, the most important considerations are whether you meet the requirements shared by the funders and how many scholarships you can realistically apply for. A lot of work is involved in crafting a unique essay or other personal material like a video or design portfolio for scholarships that include those requirements. That limits most students’ ability to apply for more than a couple of those kinds of scholarships. But you can still apply for many more. Sites like Bold.org make applying for more than one or two no-essay awards elementary each year. 

Can I get a scholarship for being a disabled student?

Yes. There are hundreds of scholarships available to students with a wide variety of learning disabilities, as well as mental and physical health challenges. Online scholarship search and assistance services will help you find the ones you qualify for. Awards are available for students looking to attend trade school for vocational training, community college, four-year colleges, and other accredited schools.

When should I start applying for scholarships?

Every scholarship had different deadlines and start dates for accepting applications. It is always a good idea to send your application as close to the start date as possible. Early bird students get more scholarship offers. Some scholarship organizations accept applications as early as the student’s junior year in high school, while others will require that you’ve started your senior year. Enrolled students can apply for scholarships every year during their undergraduate program and post-graduate college years. 

What types of scholarships are available for students with disabilities?

Students with disabilities have access to the full range of merit-, talent-, and needs-based scholarships for students attending accredited universities and colleges. In addition, hundreds of scholarships are available only to students with disabilities. Scholarships range from a few hundred dollars to help pay for books, lab fees, and other college expenses to full-ride financial assistance awards that essentially cover all the costs of attending an accredited vocational school, community college, and public or private universities.

What percentage of students with disabilities go to college?

Less than 25 percent of students report that they have a disability. Because it is illegal to ask a student who applies to college if they have a disability, that statistic is much lower than the actual percentage of college students with some form of recognized disability. Disabilities include learning and mental disabilities, as well as physical disabilities, and researchers estimate that approximately one out of every five adult Americans experience some form of mental or emotional illness during their life. 

What to consider when applying for scholarships?

When applying for any scholarship, the most important considerations are whether you meet the requirements shared by the funders and how many scholarships you can realistically apply for. A lot of work is involved in crafting a unique essay or other personal material like a video or design portfolio for scholarships that include those requirements. That limits most students’ ability to apply for more than a couple of those kinds of scholarships. But you can still apply for many more. Sites like Bold.org make applying for more than one or two no-essay awards elementary each year. 

How can I increase my chances of getting scholarships?

Remember that these organizations exist for one reason – to help high school students and current college students like you. So read up on each scholarship’s mission statement and consider how your education and work life might contribute. Tell them how you will put their gift to work during and after college.

How do I make my application stand out?

Your school record and test results are critical for winning and keeping disability scholarships. Check out online tutoring and test prep services during your junior year, if not before, if you want to boost those scores. Beyond your academic achievements, highlight your unique interests and skills. Community service is also an excellent way to get scholarship organizations’ attention.