College can be hard enough without the added hurdles that come with having a disability. But your disability doesn’t have to hold you back from enjoying all of the many benefits gained from graduation (more money, better health, and more friends, too). The Americans with Disabilities Act, in tandem with most schools and many organizations, help students with disabilities overcome challenges in many ways. From accomodations to incredible opportunities to get paid to go to school, let’s help you get supported.
Quick Read:
College students with disabilities have their own unique challenges, but resources are available for those seeking equal opportunities. Coordinating with schools about campus resources, seeking accommodations, and advocating for yourself can help you overcome any special challenges to be at your best and graduate with the rest. It’s all about ensuring you have the right support network. Keep reading to learn how you can access these special supports!
Students With Disabilities: These Resources are For You!
Know Your Advocates
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures your right to equal services and opportunities in college. Any school that receives federal funding must make reasonable accommodations for disabled students who need them. This means that regardless of physical or mental disability, most schools must do what they reasonably can to give you the same opportunities to learn as your peers.
Most colleges will have a special department that handles accommodations. There, case workers identify individual needs and help students implement available resources and accommodations. You will be required to provide documentation confirming your disability, usually a letter from your doctor.
Reasonable Accommodations
Accommodations can include assistive software, notetakers, access to alternative methods of presenting certain assignments, and help getting to class. While resources are available, you must also be your own greatest advocate. Some schools are more disability-friendly than others, so research your top picks carefully before you apply.
Remote Learning
If your disability makes physical attendance an issue, consider attending an online university. Many schools offer remote learning programs to help you further your career from the comfort of your own home. Curriculums are generally the same, you just aren’t required to attend a physical classroom. Note that you may still need to make special arrangements for exams, labs, and other critical components.
Scholarships
Students with disabilities enjoy support from the government, many organizations, and even corporations. These places provide scholarships to help cover the cost of school that can help balance out the need to work or take out loans.
- 1800Wheelchair.com Scholarship pays $500 to one recipient each year. To enter, write a “visual poem” about your experience in a wheelchair.
- Google Lyme Scholarship offers up to $10,000 to disabled students interested in technology.
- Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship awards $2,500 to high school seniors who plan on enrolling in community college or a vocational or technical training program. Eligible students must have ADHD or another documented learning disability.
- Anne Ford Scholarship offers $2,500 to students with ADHD and other learning disabilities who are working toward their bachelor’s.
- Microsoft Disability Scholarship awards $5,000 per year to disabled students studying various fields in technology.
- Council of Citizens with Low Vision International pays three $3000 scholarships to student with low vision.
- Organization for Autism Research offers $3000 per year for a student with documented autism or Asperger’s syndrome.
Your disability doesn’t define you. Why should it define your college experience? Find out what resources you qualify for; then, claim your piece of success. Above all else, know that you have the right to advocate for yourself seek an education that’s free from discrimination. You deserve an equal shot, so take it.
