Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities For Students who are Deaf, Deafblind, or Hard of Hearing

New York State Readers Aid Program

Each semester, a stipend is made available to employ persons to take notes or provide reader services for a college student who is blind or deafblind or provide note taker or interpreter services for a student who is deaf.

Eligibility:

A severe to profound hearing loss or a speech discrimination of less than 70 percent; or
Legally blind meaning 20/200 in the better eye with best correction;
A legal resident of New York State; and
Must be matriculated in an institution of higher education authorized by law to grant degrees and, if in New York State, approved by the New York State Board of Regents.

Deadline: None

Contact:

Sharon Brown–Levey
New York State Education Department Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) at (518) 474-5652

Alexander Graham Bell (AGB) Association for the Deaf Scholarship

The AGB Association for the Deaf offers a college scholarship to provide financial assistance for post-secondary education to students who are profoundly deaf or hard of hearing.

Application Process:

Applications are accepted on November 1 of each year. Only the first 500 requests will be accepted. Requests must be made in writing.

Eligibility:

Applicants must have a 60 dB or greater hearing loss in the better ear in the speech frequencies of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 Hz.
Applicants must be oral deaf students who were born with a profound hearing impairment, or incurred loss before language was acquired.
Applicants must use speech and residual hearing and/or speechreading as their mode of communication.
Applicants must be accepted by or already enrolled in a regular full-time college or university program for students with normal hearing.

Deadline: All applications and materials must be postmarked by March 15th.

Contact:

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, Inc.
3417 Volta Place, N.W.
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-5220 (V/TTY)

Alan B., '32 and Florence B., '35 Crammattee Fellowship

To provide financial assistance to deaf graduate students who wish to pursue graduate study in a field related to business at universities for people who hear normally.

Eligibility:

Applicants must be hearing-impaired graduates of Gallaudet University or other accredited colleges or universities who have been accepted to graduate study in a business-related field at colleges or universities for people who hear normally.
Preference is given to applicants who possess a master’s degree or equivalent and are seeking the doctorate.

Deadline: April 20th

Contact:

Gallaudet University Alumni Association
Peikoff Alumni House, Kendall Green
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002-3695
(202) 651-5060 (Voice)
(202) 651-5061 (TTY)

Gallaudet University Scholarships

Gallaudet University offers a variety of scholarships to provide financial assistance to deaf graduate students who wish to pursue graduate study at universities for people who hear normally.

Eligibility:

Must be hearing-impaired graduate of Gallaudet University or other accredited college or university where people hear normally
Preference is given to applicants who possess a master’s degree or equivalent and are seeking the doctorate.

Deadline: April 20th

Contact:

Gallaudet University Alumni Association
Peikoff Alumni House, Kendall Green
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002-3695
(202) 651-5060 (Voice)
(202) 651-5061

International Alumnae of Delta Epsilon Sorority (IADES) Fellowship Award

To provide financial assistance to deaf women pursuing a doctoral degree. The award will be sent to the recipient’s university/college to pay tuition costs for the next academic year.

Eligibility:

Deaf women pursuing a doctoral degree, who are not alumnae of the Delta Epsilon Sorority of Gallaudet University.
Applicants must have attained 12 or more credits and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Deadline: April 15th

Contact:

International Alumnae of Delta Epsilon Sorority
Scholarship Committee
2453 Bear Den Road
Frederick, MD 21701

International Alumnae of Delta Epsilon Sorority (IADES) Betty G. Miller Fellowship Award

To provide financial assistance to deaf women pursuing a doctoral degree.

Eligibility:

Deaf women who are alumnae of the Delta Epsilon Sorority of Gallaudet University
Must have attained 12 or more credits and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Deadline: April 15th

Contact:

International Alumnae of Delta Epsilon Sorority
Scholarship Committee
2453 Bear Den Road
Frederick, MD 21701

National Fraternal Society of the Deaf Scholarships

To provide financial assistance for post secondary education to members of the Society. The Society presents 10 $1,000 scholarships each year.

Eligibility:

Deaf, hard of hearing, or hearing persons who are enrolled in or accepted to a post secondary education institution are eligible to apply, if they have been members of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf for at least one year prior to application.

Deadline: July 1st

Contact:

National Fraternal Society of the Deaf
1118 S. 6th Street
Springfield, IL 62703
(217) 789-7429 (Voice)
(217) 789-7438 (TTY)

Minnie Pearl Scholarship Program

All Minnie Pearl Scholarship recipients are exceptional students. They have achieved academic excellence, are class leaders, and are aspiring to even higher levels after high school. Even more remarkable, these students have been able to reach such high goals in spite of being deaf/hard of hearing. This year the EAR Foundation will award 14 $2,000 scholarships to deaf/hard of hearing students who will be attending prestigious colleges across the United States.

Eligibility:

Be a high school senior with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
Have significant bilateral hearing loss
Have already been accepted as a full-time student at the university of their choice, but not yet be in attendance.
Be mainstreamed, deaf/hard of hearing, and a United States citizen.

Deadline: February 15th

Contact:

The EAR Foundation
2000 Church Street, Box 111
Nashville, TN 37236
1-800-545-HEAR (Voice/TTY)

Sertoma International Scholarships

Sertoma International is now accepting applications for scholarships for all deaf and hard-of-hearing college students pursuing four-year degrees. This organization will provide 13 awards of $1,000 each to students attending universities in the United States or Canada. This scholarship program has been made possible through a donation by Oticon, Inc. and Phonic Ear, Inc. Both companies are well known for the hearing instruments they create and produce.

Application Process:

Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with request.

Eligibility:

Have 3.2 cumulative grade point average.
Have a documented hearing loss.
Be a full-time entering or continuing student in a four-year degree program or university in the United States or Canada.

Deadline: May 2nd

Contact:

Sertoma International
1912 East Meyer Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64132
(816) 333-8300 (Voice/TTY)

William C. Stokoe Scholarship

To increase the number of deaf social scientists who are actively involved in research on sign language or the deaf community by providing financial aid to a deaf graduate student. The annual award of $1000.00 is announced in May. The award is paid in two parts, the first upon announcement, and the remaining portion upon completion of the project.

What does the winner of the scholarship have to do?
The winner of the Stokoe Scholarship must create and complete a research or development project within a year that relates to sign language or the deaf community. The winner must prepare a brief report upon completion of the project.

Eligibility:

Any deaf student who is pursuing part-time or full-time graduate studies in a field related to sign language or the deaf community, or who is developing a special project on one of those topics.

Deadline: March 15th

How to Apply:

Send completed application along with:
A short proposal that describes project
Three signed letters of recommendation from people who have read your proposal
Official undergraduate/graduate transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

Contact:

National Association of the Deaf
Stokoe Scholarship Secretary
814 Thayer Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 587-1788 Voice
587-1789 TTY

Lion Clubs International

Local chapter of Lions Clubs may provide financial assistance to individuals. Contact the national office for the location of your nearest local chapter.

Contact:

Lions Clubs International
300 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL 60570
(312) 571-5466

International Kiwanis Club

To find the number of the local chapter, call (317) 875-8755

Elks Grand Lodge

For information regarding scholarships, contact (919) 358-7661

Rotary Clubs

Local chapters of the Rotary Club offer scholarships for overseas study. Call: (202) 638-3555

New York State Grange

Purpose: To provide assistance to a Grange individual who is preparing for a career working with the deaf, or a deaf individual who is furthering his or her education.

Application Process:

Deaf individual does not need to be a Grange member but must be recommended by a Grange.
Applicant must have been accepted to, or currently enrolled in a course of study beyond high school.
Deafness is defined as the range of those who have sufficient hearing loss to require full time amplification to those who are profoundly deaf.

For more information contact:

Deaf Awareness Program: membership and scholarship information at either NYS headquarters 100 Grange Place Cortland, NY 13045, (607) 756-7553 or National headquarters at 1-888-4-GRANGE.

New York State Association of Educators of the Deaf (NYSAED)

Regional units have the option to present a "Student Recognition Award" and a savings bond to a student who demonstrates school and community spirit. For information contact your local representative or the New York State School for the Deaf, at (315) 337-8400.

American Society for Deaf Children

The ASDC Memorial Education Fund is intended to provide more educational opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing children. The ASDC Board established this fund to grant scholarships for up to $250.00 per family or parent organization for deaf or hard of hearing children of an ASDC family or affiliate group to attend or produce an educational event about deaf culture, sign language or to enhance deaf or hard of hearing children’s participation in family and community events.

Eligibility:

Recipients of this scholarship must be active members of ASDC in good standing. Scholarships must be used to pay for the following: to allow an individual or family to attend an educational event about deaf culture, sign language, enhancing deaf or hard of hearing children’s participation in family or community events, or to help cover costs for educational events for deaf children hosted by ASDC Affiliate Groups.

Application Process:

The ASDC office must receive applications in the form of a written request detailing the event no later than 60 days prior to the event. One of ASDC’s Board Members will review all written applications received and make recommendations to the Executive Board for approval.

Patricia S. Brown Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship in honor of a dear friend and past president of ASDC is established to benefit families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Roy K. Holcomb Founders Scholarship

The first scholarship established to honor the Founders of American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) and will benefit families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Contact:

American Society for Deaf Children
2848 Arden Way, Suite 210
Sacramento, CA 95825-1373

Katlyn’s Hope

Katlyn’s Hope is a not-for-profit corporation founded to assist in the education of deaf-blind children, birth to 21, through educational scholarships. The scholarships are to be used for intervenor consultation, in-home training, educational toys and materials, assistive devices such as hearing aids, glasses, conformers, and canes, and other educational necessities. Stipends are also given to families to help them travel to conferences and workshops and to provide interpreters/intervenors for deaf-blind children at the meetings.

Contact:

Katlyn’s Hope
303 South elm St.
Wellington, KS 67152
(316) 326-5848

American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults

The American Action Fund for blind Children and Adults is a service agency which specializes in providing help which is not readily available from government programs or existing service systems. Services are planned especially to meet the needs of blind children, the elderly blind and the deaf-blind. Outreach volunteers are available throughout the U.S. who provides services to people in their home localities. Services include:

Direct assistance to individuals (e.g., information & referral, financial assistance, technical assistance)
A free weekly Braille newspaper for people who are deaf-blind called "Hot-line to Deaf-Blind" a summary of the most current news stories.
Free Braille calendars
Scholarships for higher education
Financial aid to assist individuals in furthering their educational or occupational interests outside of the traditional academic setting ( can also be used to help pay guides, interpreters for deaf-blind people who wish to attend seminars or other training workshops)
Library that loans children’s books that has adjacent pages of print and Braille free of charge.

Contact:

American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
1800 Johnson St.
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9315

Yellow Ribbon Scholarship

Limited to students with physical and/or sensory disabilities who are planning a career in the travel & tourism industry.

Contact:

National Tour Foundation
546 East Main Street
Lexington, KY 40508
(800) 682-8886

fastWEB

Fastweb is a resource to find scholarships/grants. There, you can create a profile on yourself, and they will attempt to match your needs with potential scholarships, grants, loans, etc. and add the information to your mailbox on a daily basis (you have to create a mailbox at the web site first).