Kansas State University offers scholarship opportunities to students with disabilities. Scholarship funding is available to students with disabilities through Educational Opportunity Funds, departmental funds and private scholarship funds. K-State students with all types of disabilities including physical, learning, sensory, psychological, and chronic health impairments may be eligible.
All K-State students must complete and submit a K-State Scholarship application each year to be considered for campus scholarships. Apply electronically at the K-State Scholarship Application web page. Students with disabilities should check the box beside the question “I am a student with a disability. I will send further information.” Then click on the hyperlink and follow the directions.
In order to qualify for scholarships, prospective and incoming freshmen students must be admitted to the University and have completed a K-State scholarship application by November 1. The priority date for current students and transfer students is February 1. A brief essay (50 words) describing their disability and how it impacts their lives, any unique circumstances, the need for financial assistance, as well as their future goals, is required. Students currently registered with Disability Support Services who have their disability documentation on file do not need to send additional disability-related documentation. Those who are not registered must provide proof of disability from an appropriate professional. These scholarships are not automatically renewed. The student must apply and submit an essay each year (and ensure disability documentation is on file or provide it).
A Scholarship Committee composed of K-State faculty, graduate students and staff from Disability Support Services screens all applications. The Committee will review each student's essay, grade point average, the individual scholarship requirements and financial need to determine the best candidates for each scholarship.
A good reference tool for students with disabilities seeking scholarships is the book Financial Aid for the Disabled and Their Families, 2008-2010 by Gail A. Schlachter and R. David Weber.
A good online resource can be found on the University of Washington's DO-IT website at http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/financial-aid.html.
Online search engines such as the following can also be helpful: