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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Clearinghouse Reviewers
  • Crisis Resources
  • National Resources
    • National Organizations
    • Federal Agencies
    • Campus Student Groups
  • Publications & Products
    • NCCSD Posters & Products
    • Research Briefs
    • Research Highlights
    • AHEAD Publications

Paying for College

Financial Aid and Scholarships

FAFSA website screen shot
If you haven't already, the FIRST THING TO DO is to fill out the free FAFSA form. It is free -- don't let anyone charge you to fill it out! The FAFSA helps you know what financial aid you might be eligible for, and what opportunities are available.
University of Washington DO-IT logo

​The University of Washington’s DO-IT Center has pulled together an excellent list of resources on financial aid, specific to disabled students.
Financial Aid book cover
If you want to go old-school, Financial Aid for Persons with Disabilities and Their Families by Schlachter and Weber is published every few years and is available in most libraries. It’s a comprehensive directory to hundreds of scholarships and grants around the globe.  This is available at many campus libraries - check with your librarian.

Visit the NCCSD Scholarship Blog for announcements that we hear about.

More Ideas and Strategies

Financial aid accommodations are a little-known tool for many students.  If you spend a considerable amount of money on disability-related expenses or equipment, you should tell your campus Financial Aid office, so they can consider that in your financial aid package.  Some campuses (not all) also offer students the ability to take courses part-time while still counting as "full-time" students (so they don't lose their financial aid.  Financial aid offices may also be able to advise you if you have Incompletes due to a disability, need to take a reduced courseload, or have to take a medical leave.

Another tip: If you're already receiving some financial aid and need more, check with your campus Financial Aid Office 2 or 3 weeks into the semester to see if they have any "un-awarded" financial aid. Sometimes students leave mid-term or end up going to another school and don't use the financial aid awarded to them. Financial Aid can often reassign that unused aid to other students.

If you are a parent or younger prospective student, you may want to set up a federally-sponsored ABLE account.  You can set up an ABLE account in any state, whether or not you live there.  It allows you to save money for any future expenses (including college, housing, technology), while essentially "hiding" the money so it isn't counted as income by Social Security or other federal groups. And if you don't have ABLE accounts in your state, you can open one in ANY state in the U.S. - so people in Kentucky could open an account in Minnesota, for instance. A handy Q&A about these really important accounts.

Many parents are also unaware of 529 Plans that work like IRA accounts where you save money for education expenses, tax free. These are available for all families. Moneygeek.com has information on how to choose one. 

You might be eligible for Social Security or Supplemental Security Income disability programs which can help with disability-related expenses, including assistive technology.  Visit https://www.ssa.gov/disability/ if you or your parents are getting SSI or SSDI, be sure to check with Social Security to find out whether there are considerations for the way you fill out the FAFSA financial aid forms, how you complete the financial aid forms for your school, or how much you may earn through jobs or work study financial aid programs and grants.  Questions about Social Security can also be directed to Virginia Commonwealth University's National Training Center.

If you have a permanent disability, you might be able to have your student loans forgiven/dismissed so you don't have to pay them back.  Be sure to read information carefully and consider consulting a financial advisor - if you have many assets or a full-time job, you could be taxed on the amount of the loans that is forgiven, and not all people with disabilities are eligible.

Also, check to see if you are eligible for services through the Department of Rehabilitation (also known as "Vocational Rehabilitation," "VR" or other names, depending on the state). Every state has an office, which you can find at the "JAN" website.  "VR" can often help pay for technology, but rules vary in each state.  There may also be requirements for how many electives you can take (electives are courses you choose that are usually not required for your degree).

Students identified as having intellectual or developmental disabilities (like Down syndrome) may be eligible for some types of federal aid, and may also use Medicaid waivers to assist with school expenses or paying for aides to offer supports.  More information is available at Think College on their financial aid resource page.

Veterans and children of veterans are also eligible for assistance with financial aid.  Check our veterans page for links.  Be sure to ask about limitations on funding that may exist, including caps on the number of years you can be in school or limitations on the kinds of courses they pay for.  

If you plan to study abroad, check out resources from Mobility International USA, including information about using your campus study abroad programs, or getting scholarships to do your own travel or research. 

Maryville College Online offers a comprehensive guide explaining the various types of financial aid. Note that this is a commercial site. NCCSD does not endorse it or other similar sites; for informational purposes only.

Free Grants for Women is a directory of state and national grants, scholarships and financial aid for low-income and other women who need assistance for living, work, school, child care and other expenses.



Don't forget to plan a budget for college!

Find some tips for budgeting and managing money from commercial sites IgniteSpot and Rate.com
Bankrate.com has tips for saving money when it comes to driving and car maintenance.
While they're not specifically for disabled students, they can be adapted for disability-related expenses.

Footer-About the NCCSD

NCCSD logo-bold blue letters NCCSD surrounded by green laurel leaves on both sides; beneath this:
Logo for AHEAD Black lettering Association on Higher Education And Disability
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​In 2021, a federal discretionary grant (P116D210002) was awarded via  the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities Program (NCITSPSD) to the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration (ICI-UMN), in full partnership with the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) and is authorized by Congress in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (777.4). 

The NCITSPSD program grant was originally awarded in 2015 (P116D150005) to the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD).

Please see caveats on the home page about not assuming the NCCSD, University of Minnesota, AHEAD or the US Dept. of Education agree with all content on linked pages, and we can't guarantee the accessibility of other sites.

The material on this website is available in alternative formats upon request; questions or concerns about accessibility should be sent to nccsd@ahead.org.  All images are from Bigstock.com or public domain except where noted.

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