Young people who have disabled parents often have to give up their dreams to get a higher education. That being said, it doesn’t always have to be that way. The higher education cost in United States is indeed expensive, but there are several grants for students with disabled parents available from the government and also private foundations. In fact, some grant may deem you to be eligible even when your grandparent is disabled.
We’ve compiled several options that you can try. It is important to remember that each of the programs may have different eligibility or documents requirements, so we highly recommend you to visit their official site for confirmed information.
List of Grants for Students with Disabled Parents
Through the Looking Glass – http://www.lookingglass.org
This nonprofit organization is famous for their effort to help families with disabled members, including parents. Although they are not making grants available, scholarships are available for students with disabled parents. As long as the student is under 21 years old, they can still apply or the grant. In general, they are providing a $1,000 per award.
The National MS Society Scholarship Program – https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Living-Well-With-MS/Work-and-Home/Insurance-and-Financial-Information/Financial-Planning/Financial-Resources/Scholarship-Resources
If your parent(s) is disabled due to the Multiple Sclerosis, then you can apply for this scholarship program. To be eligible for this free money for college, the student has to be in high school and he or she is planning to get their undergraduate degree for the first time. According to their official site, in general, every student who has been selected in this scholarship program will receive up to $3,000 annually. However, students with special circumstances may receive more than that number. The application process usually starts in early October to mid-January. Awarded students will receive notification in late spring.
Meanwhile, children who have disabled parents who have been in service for the armed force of United States may be eligible for the Paralyzed Veterans of America grant/scholarship. The parent should be the member of the organization and the student has to be less than 24 years if age and not married yet. The application process is started in April.
National Center for Parents with Disabilities Scholarship
The National Center for Parents with Disabilities scholarship is a program administered by the Department of Education of United States. To be eligible for the scholarship program, the student should be less than 21 years old and have at least one disabled parent. This program is available for both high school and college students.
These are a few examples of grants available for students with disabled parents. We would like to remind you over and over again about the importance of education. In the United States, you need to have a degree in order to be employed. Education is one of the foolproof ways to improve your life quality.
If your parent(s) is recently disabled, then you should update the information about them at the Department of Social Services or the Department of Health and Human Services. After doing so, we recommend you to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once you’ve gone to college, the FAFSA can help you cover the cost of college tuition.
I hope you have gotten yourself good information about grants for students with disabled parents from this site.
References:
- TLG College Scholarships for Students of Parents with Disabilities – https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/disability.htm
- image: angloinfo.com
