tzippy@dasys1.uucp (Tzipporah BenAvraham) (06/05/90)
Index Number: 8654
Julie, I have an idea for you. It is this file on financial aid
from Higher Education and the Handicapped 1 800 544HEATH where my
good friend Jay Brill used to work. They have files like this for
disabled students and also ideas for financing ed IF YOU ARE
DISABLED. This is a file they send to handicaped students. I have
many more... if you are NOT disabled, I can also send you some
ideas about student financial aid also.
Here you go.. a BIG 41,000 charater file.. plus another
afterwords
FINANCIAL AID AND DISABLED STUDENTS
1986 Edition
Education beyond high school in the United States is optional but has
become a necessary investment in future employment and life satisfaction
for many people. Most, however, can't afford to make this investment
without some outside monetary assistance in meeting the cost of
postsecondary education. Over the years public and private sources of
money have been developed specifically to provide that help for education.
As increasing, but limited, amounts of money have become available, a
standardized method of determining eligibility has evolved to promote
equitable disbursement of student financial aid. This process is known as
the financial aid system.
The financial aid system is based upon a partnership between the student,
parents, postsecondary educational institution, state and federal
government, and, available private resources. For the disabled student the
partnership may be extended to include a Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
and the Social Security Administration. Such a partnership requires
cooperation of all, and an understanding by each of their responsibilities
within the financial aid process.
Obtaining financial aid can be a complex process. Laws are frequently
amended and eligibility requirements, policy, and disbursement of
governmental funds change each year. As the costs of obtaining
postsecondary education rise, keeping informed about changes in the
financial aid system becomes imperative. This fact sheet provides an
overview of the financial aid system. It also discusses the roles and
responsibilities of those who play a significant part in the process of
providing aid to disabled students. The fact sheet also addresses the
financial aid application procedure, and suggests timelines and resources
for those individuals seeking financial aid. While most of the information
in this fact sheet will not change from year to year, it is important to
confirm the specific rules, award amounts, eligibility criteria, or
other programs during the year for which you apply for aid. The HEATH
staff has prepared this fact sheet as a resource for students, parents, and
all professionals who assist disabled students to secure financial
assistance for postsecondary education.
The discussion below covers the various types of financial aid, the
technical words and phrases used to discuss it, and the process involved in
its disbursement. Particular attention is given to those expenses which
are considered disability related, and suggestions are made about ways in
which some of those expenses may be met. There follows a brief description
of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies, the services that they may
provide, and the interaction between the state VR agency and the Financial
Aid Office of a postsecondary institution. Finally, suggestions are
offered about additional possibilities for financial assistance.
WHAT IS FINANCIAL AID?
Financial aid is a system of financial assistance to help individuals
meet their educational expenses when their own resources are not
sufficient. A student who believes that his own and family resources are
not sufficient to pay for all the costs of attendance (tuition, room and
board, books, transportation, campus activities, etc.) should apply for
financial aid through the Financial Aid Office of the institution he or she
plans to attend. Three types of aid are available:
1. Grants--Gifts and scholarships which do not have to be repaid
2. Loans--Money borrowed to cover school costs, which must be
repaid (usually with interest) over a specified period of time (usually
after the student has left school or graduated)
3. Work--Employment which enables a student to earn a portion of school
costs.
The Federal Government contributes to all three types of student financial
aid. These programs are explained in a booklet called Five Financial Aid
Programs: A Student Consumer's Guide. Free copies of this booklet (in
print or disc) may be obtained by writing Federal Student Aid Programs,
Department DEA-86, Pueblo, CO 81009. The programs described in the booklet
include:
1. Pell Grants
2. Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)
3. College Work-Study (CW-S)
4. National Direct Student Loans (NDSL)
5. Guaranteed Student Loans (GSL)/PLUS Loans
All of these programs are based upon financial need of the student, and his
or her family.
Some colleges, states, and other entities may also offer aid that is
merit-based which means that funds are provided to students without
regard to financial need, if certain conditions (such as high grades) are
met. The Financial Aid officer at the school of your choice is the best
resource for locating merit based or any other financial aid resources for
that school.
WHAT IS FAMILY CONTRIBUTION?
The family contribution is the amount of money the family of a student
(parents and the student him or herself) is expected to contribute toward
college expenses. The amount the family is expected to contribute is
calculated by a standardized formula that takes into account family's
financial resources (income and assets), family size, and basic living
expenses. The calculation of family contribution is based on information
provided by the student's family on a standardized needs analysis form such
as Financial Aid Form (FAF, published by College Scholarship Service, Box
2700, Princeton, New Jersey 0854l), the Family Financial Statement (FFS,
published by American College Testing, Student Needs Analysis Service,
P.O. Box 1000, Iowa City, Iowa 52243), or the Application for Federal
Student Aid (AFSA) published by the U.S. Department of Education, (OSFA,
Washington, DC 20202). Each institution specifies which form is required
or may provide its own form. These forms are available from high school
counselors as well as Financial Aid Offices in colleges to which one might
apply.
Many students receive little or no financial support from their parents in
order to enroll in a postsecondary education program, and the financial aid
system recognizes this situation. Students may qualify as financially
independent of their parents if all of the following are true during a
specified time period: a student is not claimed as a dependent on parents'
tax returns, student received less than specified limited amounts of
financial support, and student did not reside in parents' home. For those
who qualify as financially independent the Family Contribution for college
is calculated on the basis of their own income and assets (and that of
their spouse, if they are married).
WHAT IS FINANCIAL NEED?
The Financial Need of the student is the difference between the student's
educational expenses and the amount of money the family is expected to
contribute. In general terms, the formula to determine financial need is
the following:
Expenses Family Contribution Financial Need
Tuition, fees, books Amount family and/or student May be met by
and supplies, room, is expected to contribute financial aid
board, transportation, toward cost of education package (see page
personal expenses, (summer savings, contri- --- for expla-
child care, expenses bution from income or assets, nation of
related to disability.* veterans benefits, social package)
security benefits, welfare,
etc.)
There is no guarantee, however, that any one institution will be able to
meet the total financial need of a student, disabled or not.
WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS?
The financial aid process is the method used by the student to apply
for funds from the financial aid system. The process is designed to
serve equitably over 15 million applicants from over 4000 postsecondary
education institutions. The scope of the financial aid system requires
that the application process be standardized. Describing special
circumstances or needs, therefore, may require additional effort on the
part of the applicant. Applicants who have special needs, such as
disability related expenses, should express those needs in their
application for aid. Because of the complexity of the system, however,
they must take care to express those needs within the context of the system
as explained below. Changing conditions can be reflected in a Special
Conditions form.
According to many directors of financial aid, taking care to be early and
accurate in applying for aid are the most important steps in the financial
aid process. However, completing the Financial Aid Application form
requires you to report actual or estimated income tax information well in
advance of the April 15th Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax deadline.
Having this information available several months before a family usually
prepares the income tax form calls for advanced planning. Campus Financial
Aid officers suggest that a family estimate the tax information in time to
complete the appropriate financial aid form by the announced deadline. If
the actual IRS tax information is different from the estimate, send an
amended report when it is available to the Financial Aid Officer rather
than delay sending the form in the first place. If an individual's aid
information is not processed and forwarded to the appropriate schools by
January or February, institutional processing deadlines may be missed and
the student may loses priority for financial aid. If the family mistakenly
reports only the taxes withheld on the W-2 form and not the complete tax
information from the 1040 and other IRS forms, the financial aid form must
be returned to the family to provide the necessary information, causing
unnecessary additional delay. Students and their families should be aware
that because college aid and IRS application deadlines may conflict and may
call for differing information, a very early and accurate preparation is
necessary so that all deadlines can be met with appropriate information.
WHAT IS A FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE?
The Financial Aid Package is a combination of financial aid resources
put together by the college Financial Aid administrator and designed to
meet, as closely as possible, a student's individual financial need. The
amount and types of assistance in a package depend on the cost of
attendance at a particular institution, student's need, availability of
funds at the institution, and funds available from outside sources. Thus,
a student may be offered two different financial aid packages if he or she
applies to two different schools. It pays for a student to shop around and
compare not only the dollars offered, but also the composition of the
fiancial aid package each institution offers. The following examples
illustrate different packages of financial aid which a student might
be offered at two different schools: School A which costs $5,000 to attend
and School B which costs $10,000.
Note: The aid amounts are for illustration purposes only and do not
necessarily reflect actual amounts from campus to campus. However, it
costs twice as much to attend School B as School A.
SCHOOL A SCHOOL B
COST OF ATTENDANCE $5,000 $10,000
(tuition, fees, room,
board, books, supplies,
transportation, disability-
related expenses, misc.)
FAMILY CONTRIBUTION $1,000 $1,000
Need for Financial Aid $4,000 $9,000
(cost minus family contribution)
SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AID
Pell Grant $1,100 $1,100
Federal Campus-based Aid $1,500 $3,000
(SEOG, Work-Study, NDSL)
Aid from Institution $ 400 $2,000
Guaranteed Student Loan $1,000 $2,500
Total Financial Aid $4,000 $8,600
Total Unmet Financial Need $ 0 $400
(to be met from outside sources:
additional family contribution, PLUS
loans for parents or students, local/
disability-specific scholarships, etc.)
In the examples above, School B offers $8,600 this year whereas School
A offers less than half of that. In fact, if the student chooses School
B, he must find $400 more than the expected family contribution. On the
other hand, School B may have the academic program of choice and necessary
support services. Thus, the student may believe that in the long run,
School B is the right choice.
In addition to comparing the total dollars offered in aid by each school,
however, students need to consider level of indebtedness, terms of
repayment, and the school's policy on how the aid packages are combined
over time. Students, their families, financial aid personnel, and, where
relevant, rehabilitation counselors of disabled students are concerned
about what level of indebtedness a student can reasonably assume upon
completion of education. Often career choices determine (or are determined
by) level of indebtedness and terms of repayment of financial aid loans.
>From year to year Financial Aid officers may vary the combination of grant,
loan, and work-study money in a student's aid package, emphasizing loans
for freshmen and work-study/scholarship in later school years -- or the
other way around. There is no uniform policy on financial aid package
combinations over time. It is definitely appropriate to ask the Financial
Aid officer what the school's policy is during the progression from
freshman to graduate student.
WHAT EXPENSES ARE CONSIDERED DISABILITY RELATED?
The disabled student is often faced with additional expenses not incurred
by other students. These may include:
o special equipment related to the disability and its maintenance;
o expenses of services for readers, interpreters, notetakers, or personal
care attendants;
o transportation necessary to pursue an academic program, if regular
transportation is not accessible;
o medical expenses relating directly to the individual's disability
that are not covered by insurance;
Students should be sure to include disability-related expenses that
may previously have been covered by the family budget. These may include
food and veterinary bills for guide dogs, batteries for hearing aids and
Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD), or the cost of recruiting and
training readers or personal care attendants. Often, leaving home
necessitates the purchase of new or additional equipment that will allow
the student to be independent at school. For example, the disabled
student's secondary school may have furnished equipment necessary for use
in school, but that equipment belongs to and remains at the high school
after the student graduates. Disabled students should seek assistance from
the Disabled Student Services office and/or Financial Aid office to
determine disability-related expenses. Once these expenses are identified
students should provide the Financial Aid Officer with documentation
of any disability-related expense which is required to insure attainment
of the student's educational goal. Depending upon the institution,
documentation may be simply a written statement of explanation by the
student or an official statement by a doctor or Vocational Rehabilitation
counselor. To be certain, the student should check with the Financial Aid
Office.
Some of the special equipment and support services may be available at
the postsecondary institution, through public and private community
organizations, the state Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, or organizations
of and for disabled people. The student should check with the Student
Services Personnel, 504 Coordinator, or Disabled Students Office at the
postsecondary institution. Probably the most valuable resource to a new
student is the network of disabled students already on campus. Disabled
students who have had similar experiences and similar needs are likely to
have practical advice and low cost solutions to problems that disabled
students frequently meet.
Regardless of whether the student is able to obtain any special equipment
or services through the institution or elsewhere, it is still important to
let the Financial Aid Officer know of any anticipated expenses. Such
information is considered in the determination of the student's financial
need, on which all aid decisions are based.
HOW DOES VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION FIT INTO THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS?
Assistance to disabled students is often provided by state Vocational
Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies. In some states there are two agencies: a
general agency and one for blind persons only. In other states, there is
one agency to serve all disability populations, including blind persons.
State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency titles vary from state to state, and
thus may be hard to locate in the telephone directory. You may request a
State Resource List for your state from HEATH or contact a state education
agency or Governor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped for the
telephone number and address of your local VR agency.
The local Vocational Rehabilitation Agency has VR counselors who can
help a disabled person determine eligibility for assistance. The VR
program is an eligibility program, rather than an entitlement program. To
be eligible for services, a handicapped individual must have a disability
which is a substantial handicap to employment and must have potential for
employment as a result of rehabilitation services. The primary goal of a
VR counselor is to make the client employable; therefore, the counselor may
look closely at a student's educational plans in terms of job potential.
While initial counseling and evaluation are open to all, the counselor may
determine that a client is not eligible for other services based on State
Agency policies governing economic need, order of selection, and other
policies of the agency.
Among the services that may be provided by VR Agencies to a student
who is a client are:
o Tuition expenses;
o Reader services for blind and learning disabled persons and interpreter
services for hearing impaired persons; individually
prescribed aids and devices, which are authorized in advance in an
Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program (IWRP) developed jointly
by the client and the counselor;
o Telecommunications, sensory, and other technological aids and devices;
o Other goods and services, which help render a handicapped individual
employable.
The above items may differ from state to state, or be subject to a test of
a client's ability to pay or to the use of resource support from another
social service agency before a commitment of VR funds is made. To
understand why there are differences among and between states' VR programs,
one needs to know that the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation
Services Administration (RSA) administers the Rehabilitation Act, but each
participating state administers its own program through the provisions of a
state plan which has been developed under the guidelines of the Act and
which has been approved by RSA. The Rehabilitation Act (and various
amendments) describes eligibility as follows:
1. Person must have a disability;
2. Disability must be a handicap to employment;
3. There must be a reasonable expectation that, with rehabilitation,
the person will be able to work.
States each receive a different amount of 90-10 formula-based matching
funding. Federal-state resources influence how they prioritize their
spending. With the rise in Federal-state financial aid and as more
disabled individuals compete for shrinking rehabilitation dollars, the
traditional expectation of vocational rehabilitation funding for
postsecondary training has diminished. Every year colleges report a drop in
the percentage of disabled persons funded by Vocational Rehabilitation
agencies, even as they report a rise in the enrollment of disabled
students. As the role of VR as a primary funding source changes, students
who are eligible for VR funding should pay careful attention to
coordination between their VR counselor and the college financial aid
officer. For additional information request Vocational Rehabilitation
Services -- A Postsecondary Student Consumer's Guide from HEATH.
IS THERE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCIES AND
THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICES?
Most states have developed working agreements between state associations of
Financial Aid Officers and Vocational Rehabilitation administrators. These
agreements, while not legally binding, allow for a coordinated effort in
providing funds for disabled students in participating states. The
agreement, or memorandum of understanding, establishes the process a VR
agency and postsecondary educational institution should follow in
determining the aid to be granted to the VR client/student. Students served
by VR are required to apply for student financial aid under the guidelines
of the Vocational Rehabilitation/Financial Aid Cooperative Agreements
discussed below.
Through standardized information exchange forms, the two offices (VR
and institution Financial Aid) are kept abreast of what the other is
doing. The process is not a simple one; it takes time and requires a
constant determined effort by both offices and the student. Often a
student's aid package is recalculated several times as any new information
is provided by either office.
The disabled student's best advice in the quest for financial assistance is
to contact as early as possible both the VR agency where the student is a
client and the Financial Aid Office of the institution that the student
plans to attend to be sure to meet their deadlines. The institution will
determine the student's eligibility for student financial assistance and
develop an award package. Meanwhile, VR will also determine the
student's extra needs as related to his handicap and, if possible, award
funds. Whatever is not covered by the VR Agency can be recalculated by the
institution into the student's expenses and, if funds allow, the student's
award may be increased. It should be noted that even with excellent
cooperation between the Financial Aid officer and the Vocational
Rehabilitation counselor, there still may be remaining need for additional
family contribution or loans.
IS FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE FOR GRADUATE STUDY?
The increasing importance of graduate or professional study as part of
the educational process has caused concern over the availability of funds
for graduate study. After a student completes an undergraduate degree
program, he or she is no longer eligible for many sources of federal and
state funds. Other programs may serve graduate students, but only after all
undergraduates have been served. Almost all VR agencies refuse to fund post
baccalaureate training, because there is the expectation of employability
after completion of a technical or community college or undergraduate
degree program. Students who are pursuing a second bachelor's degree also
find problems in obtaining funding unless exceptional circumstances
prevail. Most students, regardless of disability, find themselves
financing their graduate study without VR assistance using the traditional
routes of institutional scholarships in the field of study, part-time or
alternate semester employment, loans, savings, assistantships, and family
contribution as the primary routes to the graduate degree.
ARE THERE OTHER POSSIBLE SOURCES FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?
State Programs
Most states now have some form of student assistance. These programs
vary by state . To find out the details of state grants and loans students
should contact their high school counselor or college Financial Aid
administrator. A listing of state grant and loan agencies is included
in the Student Guide - Five Federal Financial Aid Programs (contact
address is included in the Resource list on page ----) or request a
State Resources List for your state from HEATH.
Private Scholarships
A variety of unique situations, which may have nothing to do with
disability, may make a student eligible for private scholarships. They
may include parents' place or type of work, military experience, ethnic
background; student's career goals; religious affiliation; extracurricular
activities, etc. Such scholarships may be researched by purchasing or
borrowing books about financial aid from a school or public library.
Several of these are mentioned in the bibliography at the end of this
paper.
Private Scholarship Information
There are very few scholarships available for persons whose unique
situation is disability. Since there is not a central list of scholarships
for disabled students, HEATH staff has surveyed organizations and
foundations across the country and developed a listing of organizations
which do provide scholarships for persons with particular disabilities.
Note that the amount of money from one of the disability scholarships may
be token and ceremonial rather than substantial. Disability organization
scholarships are generally $500 to $1000 per year.
The following organizations are known to offer national scholarships.
American Council National Federation of
of the Blind the Blind
1010 Vermont Ave, Suite 110, NW Peggy Pinder
Washington, DC 20005 814 4th Ave., 2nd Floor
Grinell, IA 50112
American Foundation for the Blind Lifecare Scholarship
15 West 16th Street for Respirator-Dependant
New York, NY 10011 505 Central Ave.
Boulder, CO 80301
Recording for the Blind Alexander Graham Bell
20 Rozelle Road Association of the Deaf
Princeton, NJ 08540 3417 Volta Place, N.W.
Washington, DC 20007
National Association of the Deaf
Stokoe Scholarship (graduate)
814 Thayer Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
State Chapters of the following organizations may offer scholarships at the
state or local level. Contact these national offices for the address of
the group nearest you.
ACLD Spina Bifida Association
4156 Library Road of Americia
Pittsburgh, PA 15234 343 South Dearborn, Suite 317
Chicago, IL 60604
Foundation for United Cerebral Palsy
Science & the Handicapped Association
c/o S.P. Stearner 66 East 34th Street
154 Juliet Court New York, NY 10016
Clarenden Hills, IL 60514
Epilepsy Foundation
4251 Garden City Drive
Landover, MD 20785
Many of the following service organizations offer combinations of local,
state or national scholarships. For further information, contact them at
the addresses below, or locally. Other civic or service groups may also
offer scholarships or grants in your local area. The local reference
librarian or United Way contact person can assist you in finding local
resources.
American Business Woman's Association Kiwanis International
Scholarship Counselor 3636 Woodview Trace
ABWA National Headquarters Indianapolis, IN 46268
9100 Ward Parkway
P.O. Box 8728 Lions International
Kansas City, MO 64114 300 22nd Street
Oakbrook, IL 60570
Soroptimist International of the National 4-H Council
Americas Youth Citizenship Award 7100 Connecticut Avenue
1616 Walnut Street Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Philadelphia, PA 19103
The Rotary Foundation Scholarships
1600 Ridge Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
Other private sources of financial aid that the HEATH Resource Center
is aware of exist at the campus level. Staff suggests students first
contact the Financial Aid Office and Disabled Student Services Office at
the schools they plan to attend (or are considering) for information.
Those offices know about such local grants as, for example, the Braverman
Scholarship at the University of Iowa; Olney Scholarship in Aiken County,
South Carolina; Smith Scholarship at the University of Wyoming; Fowler, Phi
Sigma Delta and Delta Chi Scholarships at Penn State; Charlotte Newcombe
grants at some colleges in the middle Atlantic states--all designated for
students with disabilities.
Supplemental Security Income
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal program set up to provide
financial assistance to the aged, blind, and disabled who have little or no
income and resources. The amount of SSI payment is dependent upon the
income and resources of the client. (If the student is under l8, some of
the parent's income and resources will be included.) The student should be
aware that earnings from work-study or other work may affect SSI
benefits. If the Social Security Administration approves a Plan for
Achieving Self Support, the student would be able to set aside income and
resources that are being used toward a specific vocational goal (tuition,
savings for equipment or other needs) and continue to receive SSI
payments. Plans can be developed by Vocational Rehabilitation counselors,
public or private social agencies or groups, anyone assisting the student,
or the student himself. For more information regarding SSI and the Plan
for Achieving Self Support contact the local Social Security Administration
office.
Social Security Benefits
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program allows workers
and eligible dependents to receive monthly cash benefits because of
a period of disability. If the student has been employed, he may file
based on his own work record. If the parents of a disabled student have
filed for Social Security or if a parent is deceased, the student may also
qualify for dependents' benefits based on the parent's work record. For
further information on the student provisions and eligibility requirements
of the various Social Security programs, contact the local Social Security
Administration office.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES?
Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Centers , and Special Services
for Disadvantaged Students
The Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Centers are federally
funded programs located at various sites across the country. Some are
part of a postsecondary institution and some have been established as part
of a private or public organization. These programs were set up to provide
counseling and other services to disadvantaged and disabled students. One
of the responsibilities of the program is to help place students and
sometimes help to negotiate financial assistance with the postsecondary
institution. Many colleges also have federally funded programs of services
for disadvantaged students, including students with disabilities. These
programs provide some services, academic assistance, and may provide
financial assistance as well. Because each program is individualized to a
specific campus, check with the campus of your choice to determine if
there is a Special Services Program, and what services are offered.
For more information on the location of Talent Search, Educational
Opportunity Centers, and Special Services Programs, contact Chief, Special
Services Branch, Division of Student Services Programs, Box 23772, L'Enfant
Plaza Station, Washington, D.C. 20026-3772. (202) 245-2165 (for information
on program location only).
In general, the best resource for all students, including those with
disabilities, is the Financial Aid Officer at the colleges being
considered. The Financial Aid Officer has been trained to understand
and explain the complex system of Financial Aid. In addition, the Financial
Aid Officer will be familiar with local, state, and private sources of
funding, and able to tie these together with institutional resources to
create the most advantageous financial aid package for the student.
However, any problems encountered in applying to a school, or in completing
the financial aid application in a thorough and timely manner, could
adversely impact the quality of any financial aid package for which a
student may be eligible. Students may apply to and "shop" among several
colleges for the most advantageous combination of academic excellence and
financial aid available. Due to the lead times involved in the
college/financial aid process, "smart shoppers" will begin the process of
looking for a school, and preparing to apply for financial aid up to two
years in advance of high school graduation.
Entrepreneurs in many cities have established scholarship search services
businesses which have information about thousands of scholarships
nationwide and which provide--for a fee--lists of those appropriate for
individual clients. These services usually charge a fee ranging from $40
to $75, and can be found in the yellow pages or from a long distance
information operator in various large cities (San Francisco, New York,
Houston and others) under names such as Scholarship Information Service or
Scholarship Search. As with any other service for which there is a fee,
callers should request a written list of exactly what they will get for
their investment and what has been the experience of the business in
identifying scholarships for disabled students. In a telephone survey
of such places in several cities, HEATH staff found that some are
computerized, others are operated by individual researchers. None of the
computerized search services contacted had specific descriptors for
handicaps; thus the computer cannot list scholarships specifically intended
for students with general or specific disabilities. The computer will,
however, list funds available to students by geographical area, interest,
school attending, professional, civic, or religious affiliations. Most of
these services do not have a large database of disability-related
information, but could prove a useful resource for some students. They
often offer assistance (for an additional fee) in college selection and
preparation of the financial aid application.
The National Scholarship Service and Fund for Negro Students offers a free
scholarship search to black students. Contact NSSFNS, 1501 Broadway, Suite
611, New York, NY l0036 phone (212)840-3l70 or NSSFNS, 965 Martin Luther
King, Jr. Drive, Northwest, Atlanta, GA 303l4 phone (404) 577-3990.
The Foundation Center, with headquarters in Washington, DC and New York and
cooperating collections in nearly 100 cities across the country can be a
useful resource. The Foundation Center has a volume of listings called
Foundation Grants for Individuals arranged in broad categories. It can be
used there or purchased for $l5. To find the address of the nearest
cooperating collection call (800) 424-9836 toll free. (No information other
than address can be given over the telephone.)
Since the process of finding suitable sources of financial aid takes
time and since scholarship applications must usually meet specific
deadlines, students are urged to begin their search for financial aid
early.
SELECTED RESOURCES
Applying for Financial Aid is a four page newspaper developed by the
American College Testing Service which covers the basic information
which students and parents need to know. Sample calculations are provided
as are sources of financial aid. Applying for Financial Aid is available
in college finanical aid offices or can be obtained by requesting it from
ACT, 2201 North Dodge Street, PO Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243.
COLLEGE COSTS at Selected Colleges and Universities includes a summary of
costs of tuition, fees, board and room at some American campuses.
Available at no cost through New York Life Insurance Co., Rm. 1107, 5l
Madison Avenue, New York, NY 100l0, or any New York Life Agent.
DON'T MISS OUT by Robert Leider. Revised annually. Contains twenty-three
chapters and includes federal, state, college, private, and local sources
of financial aid as well as special sections for women and
minorities. Available by prepaying $4.00 plus 50 cents for postage and
handling to Octameron Associates, Inc. PO Box 3437. Alexandria, VA 22302.
Early Planning for College, A Guide for Parents has been prepared by
Coopers and Lybrand and published by the American Association of State
Colleges and Universities to assist families whose income may make them
ineligible for traditional financial aid. While the focus of the booklet
is on starting when the child is young to build a college fund using legal
tax strategies, the authors also address those who initiate a fund when
their children are teenagers. Early Planning for College Cost is available
by prepaying $2.00 to American Association of State Colleges and
Universities, One Dupont Circle, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036.
Financial Aids for the Disabled and Their Dependents by Reference Services
Press is a comprehensive listing of financial aids programs established
primarily for disabled individuals or their dependents. In addition to the
five main sections of the directory, Scholarships, Fellowships, Loans, Gra-
nts-In-Aid, and Awards/Prizes, the volume contains current information on
educational benefits by states as well as an extensive annotated
bibliography of general financial aid resources. Available by prepaying
$30 to Reference Service Press, 3540 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 310, Los
Angeles, CA 90010.
MEETING COLLEGE COSTS: A GUIDE FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS describes sources
of student financial aid, procedures for determining the financial need of
applicants, and the work of the College Scholarship Service. Copies
are sent to each secondary school in September and are available from local
guidance counselors. For additional copies contact The College Board, PO
Box 886, New York, New York 10101.
NEED A LIFT? To Educational Opportunities, Careers, Loans, Scholarships,
Employment; 35th edition American Legion is an annual publication covering
sources of financial aid and the financial aid process. Special emphasis is
given to programs for children of deceased or disabled veterans, but is
designed to be of service to all students. Available by prepaying $1.00 to
the American Legion National Emblem Sales, P.O. Box 1050, Indianapolis, IN
46206 or your local American Legion post.
THE STUDENT GUIDE: FIVE FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS is a Department of
Education publication which can be ordered by writing to Federal Student
Aid Programs, Department DEA-86, Pueblo, CO 8l009. Free. Specify print or
record edition.
PRE-COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID CHECKLIST
During the Junior year of High School
o Complete the college pre-selection process.
o Investigate financial aid opportunities with your high school counselor.
o Write to college(s) of your choice for application and financial
aid forms.
o Begin the application process with Vocational Rehabilitation and/or
Social Security.
o If you are involved in Special Education services at your high school, be
sure that your Individual Educational Plan (IEP) includes
your academic and vocational goals.
o Collect information and document expenses for completing the financial
aid forms.
By the Senior year of High School
o Obtain the appropriate financial aid form for the schools to which
you are applying from your high school counselor. Using the expense
information collected during the last year, and the current year's
estimated income tax information. Complete the FAF, AFSA or FFS.
;
S38o Complete and return to the college(s) all application materials
and the college's financial aid form by the date indicated on the form
(usually February/March).
o Mail the appropriate financial aid form as soon as possible after
January 1, since forms postmarked before then do not count. (Be sure
to check application deadline for each school to which you plan to apply.)
o Keep track of the date on which you sent in the financial aid
forms. You should receive an acknowledgment of receipt of the form
within six weeks and a Student Aid Report(SAR) within six weeks of the
acknowledgment. If you have not received any response within eight weeks,
call the Student Aid center at the number listed on aid
form or institutional booklet.
o When the SAR arrives, send it to the financial aid offices of the
colleges on your list.
o Keep in touch with the college financial aid office during the course of
the application process to verify that they have received your SAR and that
they are processing your aid package.
o If you are a VR client, be sure that your counselor is in touch with the
financial aid offices at the colleges(s) on your list.
Be on time and accurate in filling out the application forms. If possible,
have a third party read them and check for accuracy. Keep at least one
photocopy of each completed form for your own record in case problems
arise.
Prepared by Sue Bardelini and Rhona C. Hartman, January 1982, updated and
expanded by Jay Brill and Rhona C. Hartman, November 1985.
This fact sheet was prepared under contract No. 300-80-0857 and updated
under cooperative agreement No. G0084C3501 with the U.S.Department of
Education awarded to the American Council on Education. The contents do
not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, nor does mention
of products or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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This is the footnote that belongs where the * is.
Some expenses may not be considered in the determination of financial
need. See subheading. "What expenses are considered disability-related?"
OK Julie? if you are indeed handicapped, this is a good
start evcen though there are generic methods here. Now. if you are NOT
disabled I have another file for you. That is up and coming next.