While a regular student has few communication problems in class, the Deaf/HoH student can face huge obstacles that can affect his or her ability to function adequately in the educational atmosphere. Missing just a few key sentences in a lecture, for example, could mean the difference between a passing or a failing grade.

For this reason, the Deaf/HoH student needs to ensure they are getting all the information being given out to all students, and that they are not missing any of it. While hearing students can understand verbally given instructions with ease, the Deaf/HoH student has to have a way for these verbal instructions to be given to them in a non-verbal form.

Whether it's an interpreter using sign language, or assistive note-taking, or specially printed materials, the educational instruction must be taken from it's verbal form in sound waves moving through the air and transformed into a medium that the Deaf/HoH student can understand. That's where the scholarships set aside especially for Deaf/HoH students come in.

These scholarships are targeted to support students who have serious hearing loss. Since the idea is to provide supplemental educational support for those students that need the most help in functioning in a university environment, those students with only moderate hearing loss are often excluded so that only those student's with no hearing at all or severely limited hearing can receive benefits.

All in all, a Deaf/HoH person that wants to pursue higher education does have resources to pursue in meeting his or her special needs in functioning in a university environment. Many college/university registrars and deans will be more than happy to show prospective students what amount of aid is available to meet their needs.

[Edit]1 Australia

* AFS Diversity Scholarship Program for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired (http://www.afs.org.au/aus_en/view/4995)

Deaf Children Australia together with AFS International is sponsoring the AFS Diversity Scholarship Program for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired. This full scholarship will allow one lucky student to spend a year in Oslo, Norway departing in August 2008!

The scholarship funds the entire AFS participation fee to Norway. It covers: √ Return travel from your home right to the door of your host family √ Orientation and enrichment activities during the stay √ Medical costs incurred during the visit, except for pre-existing conditions, dental and eye care

Who is eligible? A high school student who is: √ Deaf or hearing impaired √ Attending secondary school and aged 15.8 – 18.8 on departure in August 2008 √ Mature enough to meet the challenges of life in another country as a member of a family and community √ Able to demonstrate through academic records a willingness to work consistently √ In good health

Apply via the AFS website (http://www.afs.org.au/aus_en/view/4995) before March 31, 2008.

* The Deafness Forum Post-Secondary Educational Scholarships (http://www.deafnessforum.org.au/index.php?q=educational-scholarships)

Deafness Forum provide educational scholarships to facilitate the participation of people who are Deaf or people who have a hearing impairment in post secondary education.

Deafness Forum, each year deliver these scholarships to:

• Provide financial assistance to Deaf and hearing impaired people to enhance their participation in further education
• Increase the number of Deaf and hearing impaired students in further education
• And in particular to increase education opportunities for Deaf and hearing impaired students from the indigenous community, regional communities and non-English speaking backgrounds.

Applications are due around February each year.

* Kenneth W Tribe Scholarship (http://www.deafsocietynsw.org.au/index.htm)

The Deaf Society of NSW (http://www.deafsocietynsw.org.au/index.htm) awards this scholarship to people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment, for study that will lead to improved employment outcomes. The scholarships are awarded twice yearly and can be up to $5000. Closing dates are the 30th of June and the 31st of December. For more information on applying, please contact: Deaf Society of NSW, Phone toll free: 1800 893 855 Voice, 1800 893 885 TTY Email: info@deafsociety.com

* Royal Institute of Deaf and Blind Students Scholarships (http://www.ridbc.org.au/renwick/courses/scholarships.asp)

The Royal Institute of Deaf and Blind Children offer number of scholarships each year. They are not limited to d/Deaf and Hard of hearing people, but all scholarships lead to a post graduate qualification in the education of children who have either hearing or vision impairment. Courses are conducted by the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children’s Renwick Centre which is affiliated the University of Newcastle, NSW. All degrees offered are awarded by the University of Newcastle. Closing dates for all applications are around November each year.

[Edit]2 New Zealand

*Quota International of Takapuna Scholarship for Deaf People

Purpose: to assist a deaf person (hearing loss of 60 dB or more in better ear) whose home or study base is in Auckland, in gaining an educational qualification. Must be attending an approved course at a tertiary institution, preferably as a full-time student. Amount: up to $1000 available per year

Closing date 31 March How to apply: application forms and information are available from: Quota International of Takapuna , PO Box 33 1487, Takapuna, North Shore City Phone: 09 419 0055 Fax: 09 418 0332

*Sir Roy McKenzie Deaf Scholarship

Purpose of Award : to encourage and enable more deaf students to achieve a tertiary qualification by studying at Victoria University of Wellington. Number of Scholarships offered each year: 2 undergraduate scholarships of $3000 per year 2 post-graduate scholarships of $5000 per year: Tenure: scholarship tenable for 1 or 2 years. If tenable for 2 years, the second year's funding will be dependent on passes in the first year. Eligibility Criteria: applicants to have hearing loss of 70 DB or greater in better ear (i.e.severely deaf). The scholarships are available for undergraduate study leading to a degree, at second year or above and for postgraduate study leading to a diploma or degree. Any field of study will be considered, but at post-graduate level preference will be given to study in a field that contributes in some way to the development of Deaf people. Successful applicants will have a proven record of academic ability and the potential to benefit from the proposed course of study.

Closing date for application: 30 November How to apply: application forms and information are available from: Deaf Decade Trust, P O Box 804, Wellington, Phone: 04 384 6511 Fax: (04) 499 0061, E-mail: lcarmichael@xtra.co.nz or The Scholarships Officer, Victoria University of Wellington PO Box 600, Wellington New Zealand Phone: (04) 463 5113 E-mail: scholarships-office@vuw.ac.nz

*Shirley McKenzie Scholarship

Purpose: to support deaf people to get training, mainly in areas that will contribute in some way to the welfare, education or well being of other deaf people. Eligibility Criteria: must be deaf.

Closing Date: 31 January How to apply: application forms and information are available from: Chief Executive Officer, Deaf Association of NZ, P O Box 15 770, New Lynn Auckland Phone 09 820 5038 Fax: 09 820 5039 TTY 09 820 5036

*AUT Community Partnership Award Scholarship for the Deaf

Purpose: to allow a student who is deaf or has moderate to severe hearing loss attend AUT University Amount: covers tuition fees at AUT University (up to $3,456 per year) for up to 3 years Eligibility Criteria: applicants should be deaf or have moderate to severe hearing loss, must be NZ citizens or permanent residents and must never have studied at AUT before. Study can be either part-time or full-time, and can be for a Certificate, Diploma or Undergraduate Degree at AUT. Scholarship does not cover books, material fees, NZQA, or administration.

Closing Date: 31st October How to apply: application forms and information are available from: Todd Fernie, Recruitment and Training Adviser Disability Resource Service, AUT University Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142 Phone 09 921 9999 X8487 Fax 09 9219849 Email: todd.fernie@aut.ac.nz

*Blue Lagoon Charitable Trust Scholarship

Purpose: to benefit hearing impaired or deaf people in the Tauranga and Mt Maunganui areas Amount: up to $5,000 awarded once a year, may be given solely to one recipient or shared amongst a number of recipients. Eligibility Criteria: applicants can be adults, youth, hearing impaired, deaf, or hearing individuals and must be a New Zealand permanent resident. Applicants that live in the Tauranga/Mt Maunganui area will be given preference and their study must benefit those in this area.

Closing Date: 31st October How to apply: application forms and information are available from: Blue Lagoon Charitable Trust , PO Box 8354, Cherrywood, Tauranga Phone 07 576 1349 Fax 07 576 1370

*Deaf Studies Award

Amount: $1200 Awarded: 6 per year Eligibility Criteria: available to Deaf permanent residents of NZ who intend to study Deaf Studies at Victoria University, Wellington. When giving the awards, the Trust will consider the candidate's potential to succeed in the course, financial need, and commitment to working in the field of Deaf Studies/teaching NZSL.

Closing Date: 1st December How to apply: application forms and information are available from: Deaf Decade Trust, P O Box 804, Wellington, Email: lcarmichael@xtra.co.nz

*Dennis Nathan Educational Trust

Purpose: to assist born deaf people who are over 16 years of age to gain educational, trade or other work training skills. It includes the cost of fees, books, tools and similar training expenses.

Closing Date 28 February How to apply: application forms and information are available from: The Secretary Dennis Nathan Educational Trust for the Deaf c/- Auckland Deaf Society, PO Box 96050, Balmoral, Auckland 1030 Phone 09 6306980

*Dulcie Bowman Memorial Scholarship

Purpose: to encourage hearing-impaired women students at either undergraduate or postgraduate levels. Amount: Two scholarships to a value of $3000 are awarded each year with a tenure of 1 year Eligibility Criteria: women students with a hearing disability who are enrolled full-time for a second or subsequent year of an approved programme of study at Auckland University. Selection shall be made on academic merit assessed on the first year of university study.

Closing Dates 30 June & 1 November How to apply: Application is made by letter to: Scholarships and Financial Support Office University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1020 Room 123 Level 1, The Clock Tower Building, 22 Princes Street, Auckland City Campus Phone 09 373-7599 ext 87494 Email: scholarships@auckland.ac.nz

*M G Martin Charitable Trust

In association with The Hearing Association (Auckland) Inc. Purpose: the award is to contribute to the costs of attendance at a conference, course or research project on the education of deaf and hearing impaired children. Amount: more than one award may be granted How to apply: information about the trust including closing dates is available from Dr Libby Limbrick Email l.limbrick@auckland.ac.nz Application is made by letter which should include a statement including a budget, an implementation plan, details of potential benefits that would result from receiving the award, a brief CV of the applicant and names of two referees (one from the field of Deaf/hearing impaired education) Applications should be sent to M G Martin Charitable Trust, P.O.Box 4218, Shortland Street, Auckland

*Mary Adeline Allen Scholarship

Amount: up to $2000. More than one scholarship can be awarded. Criteria: available annually to a deaf or hearing impaired student attending a recognised post-secondary educational institution. This scholarship pays for course fees.

Closing date: 31 October How to apply: application forms and information are available from: Kelston Deaf Education Centre, Private Bag 93008, New Lynn, Auckland Phone 09 827 4859 TTY 09 827 9806 Fax 09 827 9819 Email karenb@kdec.school.nz

*NZFDC Advanced Learning Scholarship (includes the Rose Scholarship )

Purpose: to assist deaf/hearing impaired post secondary students attending a recognised educational institute Amount: up to $1000 per person awarded to a number of applicants Criteria: applicants must be deaf/hearing impaired, under the age of 22, NZ residents and they or their parents must be financial members of a member group of the New Zealand Federation for Deaf Children Incorporated.

Closing Date: 1 March How to apply: application forms and information are available from: The Secretary NZ Federation for Deaf Children, P O Box 8038, Kensington, Whangarei Phone 0800 332 324/09 4377200 Fax 09 437 7203 Email admin@deafchildren.org.nz Website: www.deafchildren.org.nz

*Quota International Scholarships & Sheila Drummond Bursary

Purpose: South Pacific Area of Quota International awards annual scholarships of up to $7,000 for persons pursuing careers in the fields of speech and hearing. Eligibility Criteria: scholarships are available to academic or non-academic applicants living in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Awards may be used locally or overseas.

Closing date: 1st March each year How to apply: application forms and information are available from: The Secretary, Quota International Scholarships, PO Box 337, Richmond, Victoria 3121 Australia Email: scholarships@quotaspas.org.au website www.quotaspas.org.au

*NFD Quest for Excellence

A grant of $15,000, awarded annually, to help a deaf or hearing impaired person do post-graduate study.

• NFD Deaf Educational Scholarship

Grants from this fund are made to help deaf and hearing impaired people study a recognised post-secondary course.

• NFD Training & Development Scholarship

Grants from this fund are usually for people to do further training that will benefit deaf and hearing impaired people in New Zealand. Applicants can be hearing, hearing impaired, or deaf.

A portion of the annual scholarship fund is always made to help people studying as interpreters for deaf people.

Applications are also accepted from groups wanting to provide courses or training for others, which will benefit deaf and hearing impaired people.

*NFD Alan Cuthbert Noonan Bequest

Grants from this bequest are made to help deaf and hearing impaired children in the Canterbury province. Applications welcomed from both individuals and groups.

[Edit]3 U.S.A.

Two of the most well known Deaf/HoH scholarships in the U.S.A. are:

* The Alexander Graham Bell Association For The Deaf And Hard of Hearing Scholarship (http://www.agbell.org/DesktopDefault.aspx), and

* The Minnie Pearl Scholarship (http://earfoundation.org/education.asp?content).

In 2007 the AG Bell Assoc. awarded over $93,000 in scholarships to 31 students, some outside the United States. The Minnie Pearl scholarship is given out by the EAR Foundation and is a 4 year scholarship with a total of $10,000.

* Fulbright Grants in Deafness for Italy or Ireland (http://cge.gallaudet.edu/FulbrightScholarship.asp)

There are on-going prestigious Fulbright Grants in Deafness for Italy or Ireland available for graduate students to live and work during the Fall or Spring semester. Applications close around October.

* Gallaudet University Scholarships and Funds (http://support.gallaudet.edu/givingoppty/showall.cfm)

A search on the Gallaudet University website reveals almost 300 scholarships and funds available for a range of criteria.

Aside from private foundations such as AG Bell and the EAR Foundation, many colleges such as Ball State University and Cornell University have special scholarships given to enrolled students that have disabilities.

The U.S. Federal Government also takes into account student disabilities when offering tax-payer funded scholarships and student loans.

Last changed: 19.02.2008 06:16 by Editor -