Washington State Department of Services for the Blind

List of Scholarships and Grants

There are many sources of funding out there, from loans to work-study to scholarships and grants. Your local library or bookstore will have several books and guides that give information on where to look for funds, and how to write good letters of application and essays. This list contains contact information for organizations that offer scholarships, grants, and other aid specifically for people who are blind or visually impaired.

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

1819 H Street NW, Suite 330
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-457-0046 or 1-800-840-8844
URL: www.aapd-dc.org

Henry B. Betts Award and the Paul A. Hearne/AAPD leadership awards are given to people who significantly improve the life for people with disabilities and also outstanding individuals in the field, including people with disabilities.

American Council of the Blind (ACB)

Attn: Holly Fults
Coordinator of Affiliate and Member Services
1155 15th Street Northwest, Suite 720
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-467-5081 or 1-800-424-8666
Fax: 202-467-5085
URL: http://www.acb.org

ACB sponsors more than two dozen scholarships for students who are legally blind and enrolled in an academic or vocational training program at the post-secondary level. Amounts rewarded vary. To apply, contact the ACB in the fall to receive an information and application packet. Applicants will be considered for every ACB scholarship for which they are eligible. Deadline for applications is February.

American Council on Rural Special Education (ACRES)

University of Utah
221 Milton Bennion Hall
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
Phone: 801-585-5659

ACRES Scholarship: Rural high school students who have completed one year of college and are committed to careers as rural special educators.

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

Information Center
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-502-7661
URL: http://www.afb.org

1. Delta Gamma Foundation Florence Margaret Harvey Memorial Scholarship $1,000: Awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student in the field of rehabilitation and/or education of persons who are visually impaired or blind.
2. Gladys C. Anderson Memorial Scholarship $1,000: Awarded to blind women students who have been accepted into a college or university program for religious or classical music.
3. Helen Keller Scholarship Fund $1,000: Legally blind U.S. citizen currently enrolled in college.
4. R.L. Gillette Scholarship $1,000: Legally blind female students who are accepted into a four-year baccalaureate degree program in literature or music.
5. Rudolph Dillman Memorial Scholarship $2,500: Undergraduate and graduate blind students in a training program within the broad field of rehabilitation and/or education of blind and visually impaired persons.
6. Telesensory Scholarship $1,000: Undergraduate and graduate blind students in the field of rehabilitation and/or education of the blind.
7. TSI/VTEK Scholarship $1,000: Undergraduate, graduate, and vocational/technical blind students are eligible to apply.
8. National Chinese American Scholarship $2,000: Chinese-American blind undergraduate and graduate students.

Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)

AER Ferrell Scholarship Fund
4600 Duke Street, Suite 430
Alexandria, VA 22397
Phone: 703-823-9690

William and Dorothy Ferrell Scholarship Award (amount varies): Awarded to a legally blind student who is studying for a career in service to blind and visually impaired people and must submit evidence of enrollment in or acceptance to such a program of study. Deadline is April.

Blinded Veterans Association (BVA)

Katherine F. Fruber Scholarship Program
Blinded Veterans Assocation
477 H Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001-2694
Phone: 1-800-669-7079

Applicants must be either a dependent child or a spouse of a blinded veteran of the US Military. Applicant must be enrolled full-time in an accredited institution of higher education, a business school, or a trade school. Total of 16 scholarships – eight worth $2,000 and eight worth $1,000. Deadline is April 16.

Christian Record Services

4444 South 52nd Street
Lincoln, NE 68516
Phone: 402-488-0981

1. Anne Lowe Memorial Scholarship $500: Awarded to legally blind students in the undergraduate level for all areas of study. Deadline is March.
2. Christian Record Services Scholarship $500: Awarded to legally blind students in the undergraduate level for all areas of study.

Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI)

1400 North Drake Road, #218
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Phone: 616-381-9566 or 1-800-733-2258
URL: http://www.cclvi.org

1. Fred Scheigert and CCLVI Scholarship: Awarded to college students with low vision. Applicants must meet visual acuity and academic guidelines for consideration. Deadline is April 15.
2. Carl E. Foley Scholarship: Awarded to a student attending one of several colleges which offer a degree in the field of low vision. Applicants need not be visually impaired. Deadline is April 15.

Delta Gamma Foundation

3250 Riverside Drive
Columbus, OH 43221
Phone: 614-481-8169

Ruth Billow Memorial Fund (amount varies): Awarded to visually impaired students who are members of Delta Gamma Sorority and are looking to work with the visually impaired.

Division of Rehabilitation Education

Chairperson, Science Grant Committee
1207 South Oak Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: 217-244-1004

Foundation for Science and the Handicapped Scholarship: Awarded to college seniors and graduate students studying science, engineering, mathematics, or medicine.

Dominican College

Department of Music, Chairperson
San Rafeal, CA 94901
Phone: 206-415-4440

Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA)

EIA Scholarship Awards Committee
2500 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 210
Arlington, VA 22201-3834
Phone: 703-907-7408
Email: mvorac@eia.org
URL: http://www.eia.org

A minimum of six EIA Scholarships (ranging from $2000 to $5000 each) are awarded each year to students with disabilities who are about to pursue undergraduate studies directly related to the high tech, electronics and telecommunications industries. Selection is based upon career goals, academic achievements, and financial need. Deadline is February 1.

Equal Opportunity Publications

CSFA
PO Box 297
St. Peter, MN 56082

Equal Opportunity Publications Scholarship: Designed for outstanding students planning a career in engineering or computer science.

Ethel Lewis Armstrong (ELA) Foundation

C/o Deborah Lewis, Executive Director
2460 North Lake Avenue, PMB #128
Altadena, CA 91001
Phone: 626-398-8840
Fax: 626-398-8843
Email: executivedirector@ela.org
URL: http://www.ela.org

The ELA Foundation awards two scholarships (worth $2000) each year to women with disabilities who are pursuing an advanced degree at a university in the United States. The purpose of the scholarship is to supplement financial assistance received by female graduate students. Application and forms are available at the ELA Foundation Web site or by contacting the foundation’s offices. Deadline for application is June 15.

Foundation for Exceptional Children

Scholarships
1920 Association Drive
Reston, VA 22091
Phone: 703-620-1054

Stanley E. Jackson Scholarship: Awarded to students entering or enrolled in post secondary studies.

Future Farmers of America (FFA)

National FFA Center
Attn: Scholarship Office
PO Box 15160
5632 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
Alexandria, VA 22309-0160
Phone: 703-360-3600
URL: http://www.ffa.org

Building Rural Initiative for Disabled Through Group Effort (BRIDGE) Endowment Fund ($5000 average): Six scholarships are awarded each year to selected FFA members who have disabilities. Deadline: February 15.

Lions Club International

300 West 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL 60521-8842
Phone: 1-800-847-5786

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)

Peggy Elliott, Chairman
NFB Scholarship Committee
805 Fifth Avenue
Grinnell, IA 50112
Phone: 641-236-3366
URL: http://www.nfb.org

The NFB bestows 30 scholarships each year to high-achieving full-time post-secondary students. Selection criteria are academic excellence, financial need, and service to the community. The scholarships range in value from $3000 to $10,000 and are restricted to persons who are legally blind. Most scholarships are otherwise unrestricted, although a few are restricted as to gender or field of study. The application deadline each year is March 31, and every applicant will be eligible for most scholarships. Submission of a single application is sufficient. Applications and program rules may be downloaded from the NFB website at www.nfb.org or obtained in hard copy by request at the above address.

National Federation of the Blind

Committee on Assistive Technology
3530 Dupont Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55412
Phone: 612-521-3202

National Federation of the Blind Loans for Assistive Technology: Low-interest loan of three percent to blind persons in need of assistive technology.

National Federation of the Blind of Washington

PO Box 2516
Seattle, WA 98111

1. Hazel tenBroek Merit Scholarship $2,000: Awarded to a legally blind state resident pursuing a full-time college or graduate course of study.
2. Beverly Prows Memorial Scholarship $3,000: Awarded to a legally blind state resident pursuing a full-time college or graduate school course of study.

National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC)

1336 North Delaware Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-4003

1. NFMC Music for the Blind Composition Awards $150-$250: Two scholarships are awarded. Eligible applicants must be NFMC composer members, ages 10-30, who are blind. Deadline is February.
2. NFMC Music for the Blind Performance Awards $200: Eight awards are given to NFMC instrumentalist or vocalist members, 19 years of age or younger, who are blind and U.S. citizens. Deadline is March.

National Association for Parents of the Visually Impaired, Inc. (NAPVI)

PO Box 317
Watertown, MA 02272
Phone: 1-800-562-6265

NAPVI Scholarship $500: Grants are available for visually impaired students who are entering college, visually impaired gifted children in a special program, and multi-handicapped visually impaired children in special programs or needing special equipment.

Nordstrom

Nordstrom Diversity Affairs
Phone: 206-373-2490
TTY Phone: 206-373-2493

Nordstrom Celebration of Cultural Diversity Scholarship, $10,000: Scholarships are awarded to four students in the greater Puget Sound Community. All incoming high school seniors (current juniors) who have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 – 4.0, demonstrate a financial need for a scholarship, and complete a financial information form (included with the application) are eligible. Official application forms are available at any Nordstrom Customer Service department in the greater Puget Sound area or by contacting Nordstrom Diversity Affairs. Deadline for entries is July 15.

Opportunities for the Blind, Inc.

PO Box 510
Leonardtown, MD 20650
Phone: 1-800-884-1990
Email:oppblind@yahoo.com
URL: http://www.oppblind.org

Opportunities for the Blind Scholarship $1,000: Scholarships are offered to career-oriented graduate students.

President's Committee On Employment of People with Disabilities

1331 F Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20004-1107

1. ELA Scholarship $2,000: Awarded to female graduate blind students who have been accepted in an accredited college or university graduate program. Grant is made payable to the institution.
2. Nike Scholarship $2,500: Awarded to a high school senior or undergraduate blind student who has been accepted in an accredited college or university program. Grant is made payable to the institution.
3. Nordstrom Scholarship $2,000: Awarded to a high school senior or undergraduate blind student who has been accepted in an accredited college or university program. Grant is made payable to the institution. Deadline is January 14.

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D)

Scholarship Office
20 Roszel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: 609-452-8044

RFB&D awards scholastic achievement scholarships to students who have been enrolled in the RFB&D program for one year prior to application.

Samara's Scholarship Fund

Call Jodi at 509-886-1055
Call Donna Gills at 509-884-7924

Samara’s Scholarship Fund for the Visually Impaired and Blind: Applicants will be evaluated and may receive assistance with tuition, books, visual aids, housing, transportation, and/or their special needs. Contact the above individuals for additional information and application packets.

Twitty, Milsap, Sterban Foundation

600 Renaissance Center, Suite 1300
PO Box 43517
Detroit, MI 48243
Phone: 313-567-1920

Twitty, Milsap, Sterban Foundation Scholarship (amount varies): Any student who is blind and enrolled in a four-year college or graduate school program is eligible to apply.

United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA)

33 North Institute Street
Brown Hall, Suite 015
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: 719-630-0422

1. Arthur E. Copeland Scholarship for Males $500: Awarded to members of USABA for two years and have been admitted to an academic, vocational, technical, professional, or certification program at the post-secondary level.
2. Helen Copeland Scholarship for Females $500: Awarded to members of USABA for two years and have been admitted to an academic, vocational, technical, professional, or certification program at the post-secondary level.

Very Special Arts (VSA)

1300 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 1-800-933-8721

Panasonic Young Soloists Award: Up to $10,000 is awarded to one instrumentalist or vocalist who is permanently disabled, under the age of 25, and interested in studying music. Deadline is September.

Visually Impaired Data Processors International

C/o Janis Olsen
Summit Bank Building
310 4th Avenue South, Suite 822
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Kelly Cannon Memorial Scholarship (amount varies): Awarded to high school seniors and undergraduates who are interested in majoring in computer science or computer programming.

Washington State Department of Services for the Blind

Child and Family Program Scholarship Program
3411 South Alaska Way
Seattle, WA 98118
Phone 206-721-4422 or 1-800-552-7103

Shirley A. Smith Scholarship (Grants awarded in amounts not to exceed $1,500): To be considered, applicant must be a legal resident of Washington State, eligible for vocational rehabilitation services with DSB, and a high school senior who will graduate the year that the scholarship application is submitted.

Additional Scholarship Resources

411 Web Place
College Scholarships!
URL: http://www.of411.com/scholarships.htm

Academy for Educational Development Fellowships
URL http://ppia.aed.org/index.html

American Association of Hispanic CPA’s Scholarships
URL: http://www.aahcpa.org/scholar.htm

American Association of University Women (AAUW)
URL: http://www.aauw.org/3000/fdnfelgra

American Geological Institute Minority Geoscience Scholarships
URL: http://www.agiweb.org/ehr/mgsftp.html

American Society for Microbiology Undergraduate Fellowships
URL: http://www.asm.org/edusrc/edu23b.htm

Bristol-Myers Squibb Minority Fellowships in Academic Medicine
URL: http://www.bms.com/aboutbms/fellow/data/

Center for Debt Management
URL: http://www.center4debtmanagement.com

Coca Cola Scholarships
URL: http://www2.coca-cola.com/citizenship/education_scholarsfoundation.html

College Funding Solutions, Inc.
1521 South Pine Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362-7527
Phone: 1-877-265-7737
URL: http://www.scholarships4college.com

The College Planning Web Site
URL: http://www.collegeplan.org

College View Campus
URL: http://www.collegeview.com

The David and Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Fund
URL: http://www.wilsonfund.org/mission.htm

Development Fund for Black Students in Science
URL: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/dlhinson/dfb_sch.htm

Disability Merit Financial Aid and Scholarship Listings
URL: http://www.gripvision.com/aidlistings/merit/disability.html

Disability Services at the University of Georgia
URL: http://www.dissvcs.uga.edu/scholarshipstext.html

EditMeNow.com
6742 Willow Lake, 2nd Floor
Fort Myers, FL 33912
Phone: 941-939-3648
Fax: 309-279-2218
mail: editor@editmenow.com
URL: http://www.editmenow.com

Education Planet
Scholarship Research Center
URL: http://12.47.197.196/educationplanet

eduPASS
URL: http://www.edupass.org

Embark
URL: http://www.embark.com

FastWeb!
URL: http://www.fastweb.com

Student Services
URL: http://www.studentservices.com

Federal Money Retriever
URL: http://www.fedmoney.org

Finaid!
URL: http://www.finaid.org

Free Scholarship Search (FreSch!)
URL: http://www.freschinfo.com

The Foundation Center
URL: http://www.foundationcenter.org

GeoCollege.com sponsored by GeoPortals.com
URL: http://www.geocollege.com

The George Snow Scholarship Fund Online Resource Center and Research Library
URL: http://www.scholarship.org/rcmainpage.htm

Harry Truman Scholarship Foundation
URL: http://www.truman.gov

Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)
URL: http://www.kkf/org/docs/fellowships/mini.html

Hispanic College Fund
URL: http://hispanicfund.org/scholar.html

International Education Finance Corporation (IEFC)
URL: http://www.iefc.com

Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF)
URL: http://www.jackierobinson.org

Jewish Education for All (JEFA)
Resources for Disabled People
URL: http://www.bethjacobirvine.org/jefa/resources.htm

Kaplan, Inc.
URL: http://kaplan.com

Marine Corps Scholarships
URL: http://www.marine-scholars.org/

McDONALD’S Education Scholarships (with UNCF)
URL: http://www.mcdonalds.com/countries/usa/community/education/scholarships/

McNair Scholars Program
URL: http://trc.dfrc.nasa.gov/trc/Undergrad/space.html

Minority Health Program
URL: http://www.ahcpr.gov/fund/minortrg.htm

Minority Scholarships (doctoral students in accounting)
URL: http://www.aicpa.org/members/div/career/mini/fmds.htm

Microsoft
URL: http://www.microsoft.com/college

Military.com
URL: http://www.military.com/Careers/Education/

ScholarshipSearch

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
Email: ask@nasfaa.org
URL: http://www.nasfaa.org

The National Academies
URL: http://nationalacademies.org

The National Scholars Honor Society
URL: http://www.americanscholars.org/index1.htm

Office of Community Development
URL: http://www.humbleisd-communitydevelopment.org/ grants_students.htm

Pride Foundation
URL: http://www.pridefoundation.org

Regis University
GrantSeeker Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
URL: http://www.regis.edu/grants/scholar6.htm

Research Program for Women & Minorities Underrepresented in the Sciences
URL: http://www.research.att.com/academic/urp.html

Ron Brown Scholar Program (major Scholarships)
URL: http://www.ronbrown.org

Rotary International
URL: http://www.rotary.org

Scholarship News
URL: http://www.free-4u.com

Scholarships.com
Free College Scholarship Search and Financial Aid Resource
URL: http://www.scholarship.com
URL: http://www.freescholarships.org

Scholarships On The Net (1,500)
URL: http://advocacy-net.com/scholarmks.htm

ScienceWise: The Workplace for Science and Engineering
Minority Online Information Service (MOLIS)
URL: http://www.sciencewise.com/molis

State Farm Insurance Achievement Scholarships
URL: http://www.statefarm.com/foundati/awards.htm

Target Scholarships
URL: http://www.target.com/target_group/community/community_scholarships.jhtm

Tylenol Scholarships
URL: http://scholarship.tylenol.com/

United Negro College Fund Merck Science Initiative
URL: http://www.uncf.org/merck/program.htm

U.S. Department of Education
Federal Student Aid Information Center
PO Box 84
Washington, DC 20044
Phone: 1-800-433-3243
URL: http://www.ed.gov or http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

Washington Occupational Information System (WOIS)
1415 Harrison Avenue Northwest, Suite 201
Olympia, WA 98502
Phone:360-754-8222 or 1-800-700-9647
Fax: 360-943-4257
Email: info@wois.org
URL: http://www.wois.org

Internships

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
1200 New York Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20005-3920
Phone: 202-326-6670
FAX: 202-371-9849

AAAS is a program that provides outstanding opportunities for paid internships for undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities who are pursuing technical careers. Internships are available throughout the country at NASA Centers and in private industry.

Equipment

Foundation for the Advancement of the Blind

4058 Moore Street
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Phone: 213-301-0344

Foundation for the Blind Equipment Grant: Eligible visually impaired or blind persons who live in the US. Applicants must specify what equipment they need, how much the equipment will cost, and how it will be used.

Telesensory Systems, Inc.

PO Box 7455
Mountain View, CA 94039-7455
Phone: 415-863-8255 or 1-800-227-8418

Mitarai/Canon Optacon Financing Program: Awarded to Individuals who are blind and in need of a reading device. (Subsidizes the purchase of Optacon II)

Opportunities for the Blind, Inc.

PO Box 510
Leonardtown, MD 20650
Phone: 301-475-5312

Opportunities for the Blind Equipment Grants (up to $3,000): Applicants must wish to purchase devices that will assist them in achieving employment or educational goals.

Higher Education Coordinating Board

917 Lakeridge Way, GV-11
Olympia, WA 98504
Phone: 360-753-3571

Washington Financial Aid to Blind Students, $200 per quarter, $300 per semester for 1 year: Awarded to a legally blind Washington resident that has been accepted into a state college or university.

Washington Assistive Technology Alliance (WATA)

West 606 Sharp
Spokane, WA 99201
Phone: 509-328-9350 or 1-800-214-8731
Fax: 509-326-2261
Email: Spokane@seals.org
URL: www.wata.org

Lions Club International

300 W 22nd Street
Oak Brook IL 60523
URL: www.lionsclubs.org

Washington Assistive Technology Foundation (WATF)

1901 NW Market Street
Seattle WA 98107
Phone: 206-447-9226 or 1-800-214-8731
Fax: 206-682-4084
URL: depts.washington.edu/watf/

American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD)

258 Main Street, Suite 203
Milford, MA 01757
Phone: 508-634-3200
Toll Free: 866-241-3200

Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)

P.O. Box 9130
Marlborough, MA 01752-9130
Phone: 1-800-328-8797
TTY: 1-800-395-5146Fax: 508/263-6453
URL: www.dcu.org

Members of the AAPD can join the DCU to take advantage of this new loan product. Access Loans are now available for any product, device, or building modification designed to assist someone with a disability. Borrow from $1,500 to $25,000 or more for up to 72 months with no downpayment required. The borrower need not be the beneficiary of the purchase. Qualified purchases include, but are not limited to: voice systems for the blind, standard manual wheelchairs, Powered-non-vehicle transportation such as scooters, power wheelchairs, and specialized beds.

Return to Higher Education Handbook Table of Contents