If you’re a student with disabilities or you know one, this article will be of interest. We’ve compiled seven scholarships dedicated to individuals with disabilities pursuing postsecondary education. Prizes cap out at $8,000, and some submission requirements include medical confirmation of a certain disability. Take a look through the details below to get started.
American Association on Health and Disability Scholarship
For students pursuing health and disability studies
How to Apply: Submit your college transcript and one letter of recommendation, and write a personal statement of no more than two pages on your educational/career goals, extra-curricular activities, and reasons why you should be selected.
Eligibility: Must be at least a sophomore in college with a disability as defined by the ADA pursuing studies related to health and disability, including public health, health promotion, disability studies, disability research, rehabilitation engineering, audiology, disability policy, and special education
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: March 3, 2025
Website: https://aahd.us/initiatives/scholarship-program/
Microsoft Disability Scholarship
For students interested in the technology industry
How to Apply: Submit your future plans, academic transcript, a letter of recommendation, and an essay on your vision for a new technology innovation to enhance the lives of people with disabilities.
Eligibility: Open to high school seniors living with a disability as defined by the World Health Organization, planning to attend a U.S. 2 or 4-year college or university in the fall of the upcoming academic year with a declared major in engineering, computer science, CIS, law, business, or a related field with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
Amount: $5,000 per year, up to $20,000 total
Deadline: March 13, 2025
Website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/diversity/programs/microsoftdisabilityscholarship.aspx
Autism Can Do Scholarship
For students interested in design
How to Apply: Provide a brief statement about yourself and what you will do with the scholarship, and design a pair of socks using the template provided.
Eligibility: Open to high school seniors and current college students who are on the autism spectrum
Amount: Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000
Deadline: March 15, 2024
Website: https://johnscrazysocks.com/pages/autism-can-do-scholarship-2024
National Federation of the Blind Scholarship
For students with legal blindness
How to Apply: Submit an application, which includes one letter of recommendation, your academic transcript, proof of legal blindness, an interview with your NFB affiliate president, and an essay of 700 words or less on what sets you apart from other applicants.
Eligibility: Open to U.S. and Puerto Rican residents who are legally blind and pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time or part-time course of study in a degree program at a U.S. college or university in Fall 2025; must also participate in the NFB National Convention (finalists will receive assistance to attend)
Amount: Multiple winners of $8,000 each
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Website: https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program
Organization for Autism Research Scholarship
For students with autism
How to Apply: Choose between three scholarship options, all of which require completion of an application, which includes three short-essay questions; some also require one or two letters of recommendation. Finalists are required to submit copies of the medical documentation that establishes their autism diagnosis.
Eligibility: Open to students with an autism diagnosis pursuing full-time education or vocational-technical training at a 2-year or 4-year school, a trade, technical, or vocational school, or in a cooperative life skills program
Amount: $3,000
Deadline: April 21, 2025
Website: https://researchautism.org/how-we-help/scholarships/
180 Medical Scholarship
For students with a medical condition
How to Apply: Complete the application and tell your story, including how your medical condition has affected your life and your goals for the future, through either a 5-minute (maximum) video or an essay of 750 words or less.
Eligibility: Open to incoming and current college or graduate students who are under a physician’s care for a spinal cord injury, spina bifida, transverse myelitis, neurogenic bladder, or ostomy (ileostomy, colostomy, or urostomy)
Amount: Seven winners of $1,000 each
Deadline: June 1, 2025
Website: https://www.180medical.com/scholarships/
ABC Law Centers Cerebral Palsy Bi-Annual Scholarship
For those with cerebral palsy
How to Apply: Submit a complete application, academic transcript, and an essay (750 to 1,000 words) or other creative project explaining how cerebral palsy has shaped your academic interests and passions.
Eligibility: Open to current college students who have cerebral palsy and a GPA of at least 3.0
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: July 31, 2025
Website: https://www.abclawcenters.com/cerebral-palsy-scholarship/
Scholarships should be considered a small—yet still important—source of revenue for college. Data shows that most families pay for college using parent and student income, savings, and loans. Most scholarship recipients receive $2,500 or less, and only 0.1% of undergraduate students receive $25,000 or more in scholarship funds. In addition to looking for scholarships to help pay for college, families should apply for financial aid and consider saving in a dedicated college savings account.
