Neurological Scholarships for Disabled Students

The college bound who live with neurological conditions will find there are numerous neurological scholarships for disabled students available to assist them with their educational endeavors. Neurological disorders affect the nervous system in the body. In a neurological illness certain electrical, biochemical or structural abnormalities may occur in the spinal cord, nerve endings or brain. As a result, the body or the brain may receive information that is confused. In their mildest forms, such conditions may be irritating, but they can also be life-threatening.

When a neurological disease or condition is severe enough that the condition interferes with an individual’s daily activities, it may be considered a disability. Individuals who have medical documentation regarding their neurological illness or condition may be able to qualify for disability or neurological scholarships. A variety of different types of neurological scholarships may be available and can be found through individual universities and colleges as well as through private funding sources as outside foundations and organizations.

One such neurological scholarship is the Byron Riesch Paralysis Foundation scholarship. This disability scholarship is awarded to persons who either suffer from a neurological disorder or who have parents who suffer from a neurological condition or disorder. Award amounts may vary between $1,000 and $2,000. The number of scholarships that are awarded may also vary. Four to six scholarships are typically given per year. Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. There are no income restrictions for this scholarship. The deadline to apply is July 25th.

The UCB Family Epilepsy scholarship is another neurological condition scholarship students should consider applying for if they or a family member has epilepsy. The goal of this scholarship program is to provide financial support to individuals who live with epilepsy, their caregivers and/or family members. To be eligible for this disabilities scholarship, applicants must be seeking a graduate or undergraduate degree. All applications must be received by no later than May 4th. UCB has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships since 2004 to over 200 students.

Another disabled student scholarship to consider applying for is the Melissa Centrella Dystonia scholarship. This scholarship is given in memory of Melissa, who died in 2002 after living with Dystonia for 20 years. Each year Melissa Anne Centrella Scholarships are awarded to students who are pursuing a career in medical sciences, nursing or a medical technical field. One $3,000 scholarship is awarded in memory of August Centrella. Three $1,500 scholarships are given in memory of Melissa. There are also three $1,000 and one $1,000 disability scholarships available for continuing education for nursing. Students must be in good academic standing and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to qualify. The final deadline to apply is April 1st.

The Schwallie Family Scholarship Program was introduced by the Organization for Autism Research in 2008. The goal of this program is to support individuals with Asperger Syndrome or autism who are in pursuit of a post-secondary education. Awards of $3,000 each are presented in three different categories. Those categories are: four-year undergraduate university or college, two-year undergraduate college and technical, vocational or trade school. Awards are one-time only and are not renewable. As of July, 2011 a total of 55 students from across the United States have received more than $170,000 in scholarship funding through this program. The deadline to apply is April 30th.

The Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Award is given to high school seniors with learning disabilities, defined as a neurological disorder which affects their ability to receive, process, store and/or respond to information and which may affect their ability to read and understand standard print. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is March 15th.

The National MS Society awards scholarships for disabled students who dream of attending college, but who experience obstacles due to the fact that either they or their parents live with Multiple Sclerosis, a neurological condition that limits normal mobility. Funding is provided through various donors to issue annual scholarships. Award amounts and the number of awards given vary, but the average scholarship amount is approximately $2,000. Applications for these neurological scholarships become available in October and are accepted through January 15th.

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