According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, a leading organization representing U.S. citizens with hearing loss, 17 percent of American adults have some degree of hearing loss. Those with significant or complete hearing loss made significant progress toward equal treatment under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975, which required schools to provide mobility and accessibility to disabled Americans. In addition, a number of organizations and institutions provide grants specifically for hearing impaired people, helping those with hearing loss obtain general funding as well as academic scholarships.
Eligibility
When looking for grant monies, read scholarship and grant descriptions carefully to see how they define eligibility for their programs. For example, some scholarships are available only to those who have been fully hearing impaired since birth, while others set a specific range of your total amount of hearing loss. Scholarships also may favor students who communicate through a certain means--for example, through speech or through sign language--or could focus on students who have been educated in mainstream education programs.
Services and Equipment
If you are in search of funding to defer equipment costs, check into grants offered by the Travelers Protective Association of America Scholarship Trust for the Deaf and Near Deaf. The association has funding available specifically for those who need financial support for devices, medical treatment and educational aids.
Scholarships from Colleges
Some colleges, such as George Washington University and Western Michigan University, now offer special funding for students with disabilities. Other schools offer funding for disabled students who follow a particular course of study. For example, Western Michigan University provides fellowships for disabled students in the field of rehabilitation science.
Scholarships from Organizations
Individuals with hearing impairments planning to pursue higher education can apply for a number of outside scholarships. The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will consider you for a number of different scholarships they offer, including the Elsie M. Bell Grosvenor Scholarship for study in the D.C. area and the $5,000 Lucille B. Abt Scholarship for applicants who communicate through speech and lip reading; you need only submit a single application. The National Fraternal Society of the Deaf also awards $1,000 scholarships to current and prospective students, but applicants must be members of the organization.
Colleges and Universities for the Hearing Impaired
Other colleges, such as Gallaudet University, are specific institutions of higher learning for people who are hearing impaired and offer significant financial aid to prospective students. The National Technical Institute for the Deaf is housed at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and thanks to federal funding all NTID students pay lower tuition.
