Aid Programs
Outside Scholarships
Students and families should research other sources of aid on their own through bookstores, libraries, and the internet. A list of publications is included in the Appendix to this book. The following is information received from private organizations. SFA cannot guarantee results from these sources.
You may contact SFA at S-107 Criser Hall to see if application forms are available, since the organizations listed here sometimes send forms to us during their main application period. Some downloadable scholarship applications are available at: www.sfa.ufl.edu/programs/disabilities.
- American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
American Foundation for the Blind, Scholarship Committee, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001, (212) 502-7661, TDD (212) 502-7662, E-mail: afbinfo@afb.net; Web: www.afb.org. AFB administers a scholarship program for deserving students. Each year individuals who are legally blind or visually impaired can apply for financial awards to support their post-secondary/graduate education. AFB awards scholarships of from $500 to $2,500 to legally blind individuals for undergraduate, graduate, and vocational study. Applicants must provide evidence of legal blindness, letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and an essay. Application deadline: March 31. Theodore R. and Vivian M. Johnson Scholarship Program, Disability Resource Center, Building 0020 (Reid Hall), P. O. Box 114085, Gainesville, FL 32611; (352) 392-8565 (v), (352) 392-8570 (f), or (800) 955-8771 (FRS); www.dso.ufl.edu/drc. - The Theodore R. and Vivian M. Johnson Scholarship Program
established by the Theodore R. and V. M. Johnson Foundation, is designed to assist undergraduates with disabling conditions who attend any of the nine institutions within the State University System of Florida. The amount of each scholarship is $3,500 per academic year, and the award may be used to cover the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, books and auxiliary aids such as notetakers, tutors, etc. Scholarships are renewable for a maximum of twelve semesters, provided the recipient makes satisfactory academic progress toward a degree and meets minimum performance requirements. Award recipients must enroll for a minimum of nine credit hours each semester, and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Scholarships are based on documented severity of a disabling condition and demonstrated financial need. - National Federation of the Blind
805 Fifth Ave., Grinnell, IA 50112; (641) 236-3366; www.nfb.org. Awards range from $3,000-$12,000 and are for high-achieving individuals who are legally blind, and are enrolled in a post-high school degree program.
Deadline: March 31. - Rita O'Connell Scholarship Fund
Disability Resource Center, Bldg. 0020 (Reid Hall), P. O. Box 114085-4085, (352) 392-8565 (v), (352) 392-8570 (f), or (800) 955-8771 (FRS); www.dso.ufl.edu/scholarships/uwc; and UF Foundation Web site: www.uff.ufl.edu/Scholarships/GeneralUniversity.asp. Individuals with hearing impairments may contact the Florida Relay Service by dialing 711. Applicants for this endowed scholarship must be female students who have a physical or cognitive disability registered with the Dean of Students Office; selection is based on academic performance and involvement in university activities. This is not a need-based scholarship, and it is highly competitive. Applications are made available in the spring semester. Refer to the Dean of Students Office Web site for application information and due dates. - Pfizer Epilepsy Scholarship Award
Pfizer c/o Eden Communications, 515 Valley St., Suite 200, Maplewood, NJ 07040; 1-800-292-7373, www.epilepsy-scholarship.com. 25 awards of $3,000 are available to students who are under a physician's care for epilepsy. To enter, you must be a good student who participates in activities outside of school; a high school senior who has applied to college or a freshman, sophomore, or junior in college, or a college senior who has applied to graduate school. Deadline: March 1, 2007. - Deb Richard Foundation Scholarship
Disability Resource Center, Bldg. 0020 (Reid Hall), P. O. Box 114085-4085, (352) 392-8565 (v), (352) 392-8570 (f), or (800) 955-8771 (FRS); www.dso.ufl.edu/scholarships/debrichard.php. This a competitively awarded program available to first semester freshman with disabilities who enroll at UF. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate financial need by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA no later than April 15. Applicants must also provide documentation of the nature and/or extent of a disability. The disability must be in one or more of the following classifications: hearing impairment, physical impairment; or visual impairment. For more information on application and eligibility, contact the Disability Resource Center. - Christopher M. Squitieri Grant Fund (endowed)
Disability Resource Center, Bldg. 0020 (Reid Hall), P. O. Box 114085-4085, (352) 392-8565 (v), (352) 392-8570 (f), or (800) 955-8771 (FRS); UF Foundation Web site: www.uff.ufl.edu/Scholarships/GeneralUniversity.asp. Eligibility criteria include: being registered with the Dean of Students Office as a student with a disability; must be currently enrolled at UF for at least six credit hours and have a minimum 2.0 undergraduate or 3.0 graduate overall academic grade point average; part- or full-time deaf graduate students interested in research on sign language and/or the deaf community (whether in linguistics, psychology, anthropology, or other fields), or a deaf graduate student who is developing a special project on these topics. Applicants must also complete the application form and a letter of application including reasons why they would be a good candidate for the scholarship, how the award would be used, and why they have looked to the Squitieri Grant for funding and not some other source. - ISA - International Society of Automation scholarship, Jacksonville Section, Rich Reiter, P. O. Drawer 1517, Brunswick, GA 31521-1517, e-mail: rreiter@herc.com. To be eligible for an award - one $1,000 scholarship or two $2,000 scholarships, applicants must have a significant interest in the instrument and controls discipline and be enrolled in an instrumentation, science, engineering, or electronics programs. Deadline: October 1.