About 250 million of the country’s population are over the age of fifteen. Of this chunk of the population, 15.2 million relied on some form of assisted mobility, with 3.6 million using wheelchairs. That means that of the population surveyed, 0.7% could not walk without assistance. About 0.2% could not walk without a wheelchair. While these numbers may look small, those needing assistance in mobility actually form a sizable amount of the population.
Young people with physical disabilities are at an inherent disadvantage with their peers, who are unencumbered with such difficulties. Students in wheelchairs, however, will not let their physical issues deter them. These determined students accomplish professional and private goals at the same rate as their fellow physically advantaged students. Several organizations supply scholarships to wheelchair users in order to ensure their academic and financial well-being. These scholarships for wheelchair users include:
1800 Wheelchair Scholarship
Deadline: May 30, 2020
Amount: $500
1800 Wheelchair is one of the most popular and well-reviewed wheelchair sales organizations in the country. They have provided assistance to those who need a helping hand for over twenty years. The company prides themselves on their philanthropy. They see their organization as having societal obligations in addition to existing as a sales outfit. To help those who use their products accomplish their dreams with a bit of help, the company sponsors an annual scholarship open to anyone who faces personal physical challenges.
The criteria are as follows: high school seniors, planning on attending college, who are at least 16 years of age and have at least a 3.0 GPA. The scholarship leans on creativity as well as achievement.
Frederick J. Krause Scholarship
Deadline: November 15, 2020
Amount: $1,000
The American Association of Health and Disability, or AAHD, is perhaps the largest and most well-known organization in the nation that helps those with physical disabilities. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, the AAHD describes itself as a national non-profit “committed to promoting health and wellness initiatives for children and adults with disabilities”. Their programs span from teaching childhood nutrition to working on research for various ailments. But, they are perhaps best known for their initiatives committed to helping young people who need wheelchairs achieve their goals in life.
One of these programs is the Frederick J. Krause Scholarship, which awards $1,000 annually in memory of one of the most distinguished government disability advocates. Mr. Krause’s various accolades include several executive positions on various research committees, as well as years spent in Washington fighting for the well-being of students with learning and physical disabilities. Krause’s legacy continues with the scholarship in his name, open to college students who have overcome physical disabilities to get on track to graduation.
Applicants must be college students who have a disability (defined by the American with Disabilities Act) and those with a history of community service or public health majors will receive preferential consideration. The scholarship committee can award multiple students or only one at their discretion, but if multiple students win, the scholarship splits the $1,000 award.
180 Medical Scholarship Program
Deadline: June 1, 2020
Amount: $1,000
In 1994, a man named Todd Brown was paralyzed from the chest down in a major motor accident. Determined to help those like him who needed a wheelchair to perform daily tasks, Mr. Brown founded 180 Medical, a medical supplies and sales company. Today, 180 Medical serves many people nationwide, and Mr. Brown’s mission to help those in need has been carried out by many fantastic staffers. One of the company’s initiatives is its scholarship program, which provides financial rewards for academic performance to students that have various physical ailments.
180 Medical offers seven $1,000 scholarships to students like Mr. Brown that have goals that cannot be hampered by their physical disabilities. Students must be US citizens who plan to enter a two or four year school. The application requires a doctor’s statement, a college acceptance letter, and a few completed short answer questions. Thanks to the generosity of people like Todd Brown, many students who use wheelchairs for mobility have been able to accomplish their goals.
John Lepping Memorial Scholarship: Education Assistance for Disabled Youth
Deadline: May 1, 2020
Amount: $5,000
The Lep Foundation honors John T. Lepping, a beloved member of the New Jersey community. The foundation’s website goes on to state that Lepping “unselfishly, dedicated much of his adult life to the coaching, mentoring, and support of the youth of the New Brunswick, New Jersey community”. In Lepping’s name, the publicly-supported foundation offers a myriad of scholarships to students of various criteria.
The flagship program is the Lepping Memorial Scholarship, open to students who deal with physical or medical disabilities. Designed to offset the often high cost of treatment for various maladies, the Lepping Scholarship is open to youth in the Tri-State area (NY, NJ, PA) that power through physical impairments to demonstrate high academic prowess. The application must include a doctor’s diagnosis and a filled-out FAFSA form. If a student is accepted for the scholarship, the financial award will be directed to the appropriate school to help ease their transition.
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| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
6.97%-15.03%* Variable
5.99%-14.00%* Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
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VISIT CITIZENS |
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6.37% - 16.70% Variable
4.50% - 15.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT SALLIE MAE |
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4.98% - 16.70% Variable
4.07% - 15.66% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CREDIBLE |
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6.07% - 11.31% Variable
4.39% - 10.39% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT LENDKEY |
 |
6.22% - 16.08% Variable
4.09% - 15.66% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ASCENT |
 |
6.54% - 11.08% Variable
3.95% - 8.01% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ISL |
 |
5.62% - 18.26% Variable
4.11% - 15.90% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT EARNEST |
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4.98% - 12.79% Variable
8.42% - 13.01% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ELFI |
