Student Loans For Disabled Students

The Heath Resource Center is an online an online website dedicated to helping students with disabilities to go on to postsecondary education. The HEATH Resource Center has information for students with disabilities on policies, procedures, adaptations, educational disability support services, and many more postsecondary education training items. HEATH has been operating since 1984. HEATH was acquired by The George Washington University on October 1, 2001. Another program is the National Directory of Financial Assistance Programs for Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities which is published by the National Educational Association of Disabled Students.

A short list of scholarships that disabled students can apply for are:

·         Anne Ford Scholarship – It is a $10,000 scholarship awarded by the National Center for Learning Disabilities to a high school senior with a learning disability who can act as a role model to others.

·         Ralph G Norman Scholarship – This scholarship is offered by the Learning Disabilities Association Arkansas.

·         Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa – This scholarship awards three $1,000 scholarships to Iowa high school seniors with learning disabilities.

There are far more scholarships out there and all it takes is a bit of research to find them all. Another is the Minnie Pearl Scholarship which is available to high school seniors who have severe to profound bilateral hearing loss. US Citizenship and a 3.0 or higher GPA is required.

Federal Stafford Loans are based on financial need and are available to both undergraduate and graduate students. They vary in maximum value for each year of study, and must be repaid. The interest rate isn’t constant. If you qualify based on your need for a subsidized Stafford loan, the government will pay the interest on your loan while you are in school.

Federal PLUS Loans are unsubsidized loans made to parents. If you are independent or your parents cannot get a PLUS loan, you are eligible to borrow additional Stafford Loan funds, the interest rate isn’t constant. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are grants available for undergraduates only and range in value. Perkins Loans are low-interest loans that have to be repaid. The maximum annual loan amount is greater for graduated students than for undergraduate students.

It’s a tough world out there, but that doesn’t mean that figuring out how to go to college and being a disabled student should be stressful. There are many people you can ask to help you along the way. You can ask your counselor at your high school or the admissions office at the college that you are applying to. They will provide you with all the information you need to get your exciting time at college started and to help you through out college.