Be curious. Explore. Question. Challenge the status quo. Try the unfamiliar as well as the tried and true – and your academic experience will pay big dividends.
Students in the REACH Program are eligible for some federal financial aid (e.g., Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and Federal Work-Study programs).
Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Assistance
The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation may provide financial assistance. Check with your local agency for more information as regulations vary by state.
Veteran-Focused Federal Financial Assistance
The REACH Program is an approved program for VA Benefits. For more information, please contact the College of Charleston Office of Financial Assistance and Veteran’s Affairs at 843.953.5540 and ask for Scott.
Student Loans
Federal student and parent loans are not available.
Breaking news: South Carolina Student Loan Coporation approves private lending options for students attending CTP programs* in South Carolina.
Click on the drop downs to read more about each scholarship opportunity.
Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Disability Scholarship Program
The Buckfire Law Firm offers one $1000 scholarship to any student of any age with any type of disability. Applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled at an accredited college or university within the US, must have a disability diagnosis, and must have completed at least one semester of classes at an accredited college or university. The deadline to apply is April 1. More information, including how to apply, can be found here.
The CTP Scholarship
The SC Legislature passed the Appropriations Act which increased the CTP Scholarship up to $10,000 for the 2022-23 academic year.
disABLEDperson, Inc. Scholarships
disABLEDperson, Inc. offers various scholarship opportunities throughout the year for students who are currently enrolled in school and can provide proof of enrollment. Additional information is available on their website.
Gemm Learning offers two $1000 scholarships per year (one per semester) to undergraduate students with dyslexia and/or auditory processing disorder. Applicants are required to submit an essay and proof of college enrollment. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2020. For more information, application instructions, and past winning essays, visit their website.
The Google Lime Scholarship
Google has partnered with Lime Connect, a nonprofit organization that supports students with disabilities while they pursue education and promising organization that supports students with disabilities while they work toward their academic goals in the field of computer science. Selected students will receive $10,000 for the 2020-2021 school year. Additional information can be found on their website.
National Garage Door Atlanta Asthma and Allergy Scholarship
National Garage Door Atlanta is awarding one $1000 scholarship to a student diagnosed with asthma or suffer from any type of allergy; who are accepted to or enrolled in, an accredited undergraduate or graduate program at a collge or university in the United States; and carry a minimum 3.0 GPA. Additional information can be found on their website.
NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarships
The NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Scholarship will offer eight (8) scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities who are interested in pursuing a career in the communications, media, or entertainment industry. Each recipient will receive $5,625 to help cover the cost of education at their current college or university. More information can be found here.
The O'Neill Tabani Enrichment Fund
The mission of the O’Neill Tabani Enrichment Fund is to offer financial assistance to young adults with Down syndrome – 18 and older – who are continuing to enrich their lives by taking classes or enrolling in postsecondary educational programs. Read more and download the application here.
REACH Program Scholarships
REACH Program Scholarships are supplemental and based on need. This scholarship opportunity is made possible by funds raised at our annual fundraising efforts. Applications are available here.
Ruby's Rainbow Scholarship
Ruby's Rainbow awards scholarships to individuals with Down syndrome seeking higher education or post-secondary enrichment classes. The scholarship application for Fall 2020 is now open. Applications are due by April 19, 2020. Additional information and the scholarship application can be found here.
The Springboard Foundation Scholarship
The Springboard Foundation, a non-profit affiliate of Springboard Consulting, is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships to full-time college students who have documented disabilities of any type deemed to be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These scholarships are given as one-time awards in the amount of $1,500. The rules for eligibility are contained in the Application document. The Springboard Foundation is pleased to provide this opportunity to several promising students each year, based on available funds. Additional information and the scholarship application can be found on their website.
Study.com College Scholarship for High School Seniors
Study.com is excited to be awarding a $500 scholarship to an individual high school senior that is about to go to college.
Sallie Mae Rolls Out Parent Loans to Pay for College
The Washington Post
By Danielle Douglas-Gabriel | April 26 at 3:42 PM As parents face the prospect of paying for college this fall, Sallie Mae is offering a new option for those considering borrowing to cover costs. The private lender said Tuesday that it is now providing parent loans at a lower cost than the government. Sallie Mae joins an expanding market of companies promoting alternatives to the federal Parent Plus loan, one of the government’s most profitable student aid programs. The federal program has comeRead the full story