Chronic Illness Scholarships for Disabilities
Chronic Illness scholarships for disabilities are available to students who are interested in getting degrees through institutions of high learning but are also living with chronic diseases. The programs designed for this purpose are very often inspired under the hope that by providing some financial assistance students with chronic diseases will be able to better attend school with fewer worries on their minds. Students who have lived their entire lives with a disease, or some portion of a recurring and debilitating illness, have often struggled quite enough as it is. By relieving the financial burden of higher education costs their lives are in all hopes made a little easier.
Such illness scholarships are provided at many different levels – nationally in some instances by large non-profits and regionally by colleges or groups with more local mandates. Those students who have lived their lives with a chronic illness should consider these programs. However, interested students should know that not all programs are designed with all diseases in mind, and they should look over eligibility requirements to make sure that the chronic illness scholarship they are interested in does in fact apply to them.
Amongst the organizations which provide chronic illness scholarships, the Foundation for Science and Disability gives out multiple $1,000 awards every year. This particular illness scholarship is specifically offered to graduate students looking to continue their education. All applicants must be studying a STEM course (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and must also be citizens of the United States. Applicants should also be suffering from a disability for chronic illness which otherwise incapacitates them. The deadline for this program is December 1.
The Incight Education program provides a varying number of scholarships every year which range from $750 to $1,000. This program is limited to students who are suffering from a chronic condition which is debilitating. While the number of recipients varies, in 2010 over 80 different students received awards from the organization. There are very few eligibility requirements for this program outside of having a documented chronic disability and attending school full time. Deadlines for future academic cycles will be posted on the Incight website, so students should pay attention and stay tuned. Interesting to note about this program is the potential of going to a “matching” partner school. This illness scholarship allows students who are attending specific schools to have their award amount matched by the institution they are attending. Students interested in this option should review the schools which participate in the matching program.
Not all chronic illness scholarships for disabilities are available only through these nationally oriented programs. Many different universities provide their own illness scholarships which students should be interested in considering. Those students interested in finding chronic illness scholarships at their own academic institution should consider checking with their local office of Continuing Education or Department of Financial Aid. The Timothy Weise Memorial Scholarship is a good example of such a program available at San Francisco State University. The award amount given out by this program is $600. All applicants will need to have at least a 2.5 grade point average, have a financial need as shown by their FAFSA filing, and be registered with the school’s Office of Disability Resources. Students who are enrolled in a graduate program at San Francisco State University will be able to apply for this illness scholarship as well but must maintain a 3.0 grade point average.
Chronic illness scholarships largely focus around those conditions which cause debilitating effects in their victims. Not all programs are equal, but all provide something which a student will be able to use. Students who are suffering from exceptional disabilities should also consider making use of equipment scholarships which are also offered by many organizations or schools which help provide assistance for equipment an individual may need to make their student experience better in the long run. Students should find that organizations and schools offering illness scholarships are genuinely interested in providing them the support they need to have a successful run in their chosen college, and interested applicants should consider all available options at their disposal.
I have chronic Lyme’s Disease and had to step out of school after two years of college. I have spent the last three years pouring thousands of dollars into various treatments. I am well enough to go back to school part time but have no savings to pay for school and I am not able to work and be in school. What scholarships are available for students with chronic Lyme’s or general chronic illness?
Carissa,
check out foundations or organizations which provide support for Lyme’s Disease. Many times they have Lyme’s Disease scholarships,grants you can apply to as this one does. Once you fill out your FAFSA you should be awarded need based aid too. Speak to the financial aids office about disability student aid you may also apply to. Every college has some sort of disability program which includes disability student financial aid; such as the disability scholarships from the University of Michigan UMInDS program.
Hi my name is megan,
I’m a person who likes to take care of myself I’m a person who likes to take care of other people person who is chronically ill I’m a person who can’t work right now I’m homebound I just had on life-saving surgery two weeks ago I am very smart I should be done with medical school this year but because of my illness and because I broke my back and I was 18 I got derailed, I don’t want to hand out I’m not that kind of person I’ve been working on trying to work as much as I can to save up to go back to school but I finally realize he can do myself, I want to be a better contributor of society eventually I want to feel better I thought about it the other day and I don’t remember ever feeling good I don’t know there are not feelings right now I have a hole in my hip that has a wound back right now I switched on the pain that I am bleeding internally and I can’t sleep or eat because of my migraines and I can’t get any rest because of my back Pain, I need help and I am never asked for help but I want to be a somebody I already against against all odds and I believe it was my intervention got pregnant for years ago almost and I give the baby a precaution she’s three and when I was little the only thing I ever want to lose family wanted a husband I want to kids wanted a life I want to be successful and I was stripped away from me by abuse by neglect and severe chronic pain and illness I may not ever be a mother again if I don’t feel opening so we will have a career if somebody can please help me! Leave me this investment will not go or not be wasted if we valued it will be cherished it will be given back to society are you I hope to start a A scholarship funds when I am done with college and I feel better! I’m asking if someone can please help me please never asked for help never humiliate but I can’t do it anymore I physically can’t and my doctors no one let me know know how I’m going to pay for my car payments or any kind of payment I rent my food right now when I can’t work till February but I’ll make it I always do I just want to go to school so bad I love it!!! I’m not a person who buys extravagant things that person buys anything on person who is alone because my illness I can’t be friends because nobody wants to be around somebody like pain with Crohn’s with migraines Hosimotos, Hannah attacks and severe PTSD, with severe back injuries too many details sciatic with a botched gallbladder surgery, ulcers, and they think now I have cancer, among other things.i’m a bubble girl to need a bubble I can’t leave my house my knee and system is nonexistent please help please help save my life because I audit classes on my phone now I can’t leave the house but I do his reading so fascinated with with learning I just I can’t afford it and I am no help I have nobody had a boyfriend but he can’t keep helping my dad is bipolar mean woman my family they don’t care and my mom can’t she just can’t. If you help me you want to grab it I need to pay off my bills I need a pair of adoption bills and I need to go back to school I need a life and they haven’t had applied in over 10 years and only 25 please help !! If I am given help I will 10 times or more fold put that back own to the world when I have a better job.
Mj,
you must apply for disability scholarships to see if you can qualify for them – you should be able to qualify for many of them.
I have CFS and wanted to know of any scholarships for people like me. I would like to take more classes to change my field and also pursue graduate school. Most likely it will be online since my condition still limits what I can do at this point.
Rowena,
search for organizations which provide support for CFS. Many times they will have educational awards you can apply to. Read more at http://www.onlinecolleges.net/for-students/chronic-health-issues/.
I suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2001 and shortly after had to quit school and work. I’ve been very ill since then but have seen much improvement in the past 6 months to where I started back I to college. I’m taking only one class currently to see how I do and will increase to more next semester if I’m able. Besides the traumatic brain injury, I also have Addison’s disease, central sleep apnea, wholfs Parkinson’s white heart condition, pituitary & hypothalamic failure, hypothalamic syndrome, was in an accident when I was younger and also have chronic migraines & tension headaches with chronic head & neck pain, and have a pain pump implant. I’m starting to see some light at the end of that tunnel for the first time in many years. I have a great team of docs helping me feel better. Do you know of any special scholarships for any of the above conditions. I’ve also dealt with mild to severe depression most my life (stable meds really help with that). I’m currently working on finishing a couple nursing pre reqs that I can take before transferring to a bachelors program. I already have my associates degree (general transfer degree). I’m only on disability and very poor, lots of medical bills. I’m a California resident, mainly interested in pursuing an RN degree but also interested in other medical fields, biological & forensic sciences, marine biology, etc…., you get the idea. Any scholarships, grants or opportunities anyone knows about that can help me financially able to afford finishing my education would be so greatly appreciated. Know of any good places to search? Thanks.
Tanya,
you can apply to any GENERAL disability scholarship – which means you just have to have any disability to qualify you to apply. You may want to look at our website and use the SEARCH bar to look for some of the disabilities you are afflicted with. You can also look on the net for Foundations or organizations which provide support for any of your disabilities for they many times have an educational award you can apply to.
HI I’m Robin
I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Sickle Cell Anemia Tract and Raynaud’s Syndrome. I’m 57 years and unemployed. I’m planning on returning to college to complete my undergrad degree in Psychology. How can you direct me?
Thanks.
Robin,
look for organizations which provide support for your illnesses. Many times they have educational awards you can apply to. Also; read more at: women scholarships. Even though many of these scholarships posted at this website are for moms; they mostly are directed towards women – so you can apply to them too.
I suffer from chronic migraines. I have been for 10 years (ish), and are scholarships avaliable to people with chronic migraines?
Adrianna,
apply to all those scholarships with a general disability scholarship guidelines; meaning that you have to have a documented disability to apply. As long as your disability is documented from a doctor you can apply to most all of them. Look also for organizations providing support with chronic migraines because sometimes they have educational scholarships & grants you can apply to.
Axon Optics has a scholarship for students affected in one way or another by migraine. This past year’s submission deadline has just passed, but you can apply for next year.
https://www.axonoptics.com/axon-optics-scholarship/
ACC,
Go to: https://www.disabilityscholarships.us/disability-scholarships/disability-scholarships-for-financial-aid/1922/ to read more about the post on the Axon Optics scholarship.
scholarships for students with fibromyalgia?