Scholarships & Resources for Students with Visual Disabilities

• Key #1: Apply early.
  Get started on the application process as soon as possible. You never know when you’re going to have a problem getting a required document (like a school transcript or letter of recommendation) in on time.
  
  And when it comes to scholarships, a missed deadline spells certain doom.
• Key #2: Apply often.
  Put some real time and effort into your scholarship search and don’t be shy about applying. Remember, you’re not limited in the number of scholarships you can win.
• Key #3: Make sure you really meet the eligibility requirements.
  Scholarship programs have specific eligibility requirements that must be met. No fudging allowed.
  
  So, be sure you meet all requirements completely. But when you do, apply away.
• Key #4: Go for the hard ones.
  Don’t be afraid of those scholarship contests that require more work. The fact is that scholarships programs that require a greater effort (in the form of longer essays or completion of a video or special project, for example) typically have fewer applicants.
  
  And fewer applicants means a better chance of winning.
• Key #5: Proofread everything.
  Aside from a missed deadline, nothing will sink your chances of winning a scholarship award faster than spelling errors and bad grammar. So, read everything over — and more than once.
  
  It’s also a very good idea to have a few relatives or friends proofread your stuff, too.

Academic & Career

• Bookshare
  Bookshare provides access to practically any book needed for school by students with disabilities, including blind and visually-impaired readers. Books are accessed in a number of formats, including Braille, audio, large font, and word-level highlighting.
  
  Membership is free to qualifying disabled U.S. students.
• Disability:IN NextGen Leaders Program
  NextGen Leaders is a mentoring program that serves as a bridge to help early career talent with disabilities access the connections, resources, and support they need to thrive in corporate roles. The program is competitive with participants selected by application only.
• Humana College Programs
  Health insurer Humana, Inc., places great emphasis on its support of inclusion and diversity in its work force. Humana offers a variety of summer internship positions for college undergraduates and graduates primarily at its headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.
  
  Additionally, Humana offers full-time entry-level to analyst and consultant-level positions to both recent college graduates and graduate-level students.
• Learning Ally College Success Program
  Learning Ally’s College Success program provides a range of support services to legally blind and visually impaired college students, including articles on accessibility technologies, effective learning, communicating with professors, and more. Members also have access to mentors and in-person and virtual community events.
  
  Membership is free.
• University of Illinois Library: Blind/Visual Impairment Resources
  Created for visually impaired students at the University of Illinois, this site is an excellent source of useful information for college students with visual disabilities everywhere. Included are subsections on web, academic, and reference resources, and common assistive technologies.

Social & Networking

• Blind and Sighted People with iPhones
  Blind and Sighted People with iPhones is a Facebook group specifically devoted to iPhone users, both with or without visual disabilities, where members and visitors can learn about and discuss the world of accessibility potential of their phones.
• Blind and Vision Impaired Social & Support Group
  The Blind and Vision Impaired Social & Support Group is a Facebook group that provides a forum where members with visual disabilities can support each other and “stop the isolation caused by blindness and low vision.”
• Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring (DREAM)
  DREAM is a national student-run organization connecting and supporting students to become effective leaders and advocates for change on their campuses. Through the DREAM website, students can access an array of useful resources and materials.
• Hadley Discussion Groups
  Free platform featuring expert-led virtual discussion groups and workshops in which students can network over shared academic interests, tech tips, and hobbies.
• Lime Connect
  Lime Connect is a global NPO whose goal is to “rebrand” disability through achievement by connecting university students and professionals with disabilities. Programs offered include scholarships, internships, and fellowship programs, recruitment receptions, campus events, and other networking activities.

Advocacy & Diversity

• American Council of the Blind (ACB)
  The ACB is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to advocate for the independence, security, equality, and quality of life of the blind and visually-impaired. Resources for college students include scholarships, peer support, job listings, and useful information and guides.
• Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)
  The AER’s mission is to serve and empower professionals in the improvement of educational and rehabilitative outcomes for blind and visually impaired persons. Membership benefits include scholarship opportunities and access to online discussion groups.
• Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
  AHEAD advocates for “creating welcoming higher education experiences for disabled individuals” through its membership of disability resource professionals, student affairs personnel, and others. AHEAD hosts several special interests groups within its organization, including one for graduate and professional students and one for blind and low vision persons.
• National Center for College Students with Disabilities (NCCSD)
  Federally-funded project of the U.S. Department of Education, The NCCSD provides assistance to disabled students (including those with visual disabilities) and their families through its Clearinghouse and Resource Library, the use of social media, and DREAM, its national student group.
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
  The NFB is the oldest and largest organization of blind and visually-impaired Americans in the nation. The NFB advocates for the blind through a range of services, like its National Association of Blind Students division, and resources, like its Self-Advocacy in Higher Education Toolkit.

Healthcare Education

• American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Student Associate Program
  Open to healthcare management and health services administration students, the AHCE’s Student Associate program sponsors a range of education and career support services, including scholarships, internships, publications, and networking events.
• American Public Health Association (APHA) Student Assembly
  With nearly 7,000 members, the APHA Student Assembly is the largest student organization in the U.S. focused on the development of the next generation of public health professionals. The group provides a variety of services and activities that allow members to gain leadership experience, enhance their educations, and network with peers.
• HOSA – Future Health Professionals
  International nonprofit organization providing a host of leadership development and motivational services geared toward healthcare students on in all fields and on all academic levels. Services include internships, scholarships, in-person events, and online webinars.
• MedScape
  MedScape is a great news and information site for practicing medical professionals and health care students alike. Information can be accessed through the site’s extensive list of individual health care subfield pages.
• National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA)
  Nonprofit organization whose mission is to mentor nursing students preparing for initial licensure as RNs, and to foster the development of students in all levels of nursing academic programs. The NSNA sponsors a range of events and member services and benefits including publications, conferences and conventions, career planning guidance, and more.