Disability Scholarships

The Johnson Scholarship, funded by the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, is a competitively awarded program, which is available to undergraduate students with disabilities enrolled in a State University System of Florida (SUS) institution. Students must meet the following requirements to be considered for scholarship selection:

• Be a Florida resident for tuition purposes
• Be seeking a first baccalaureate degree
• Complete a Theodore R. and Vivian M. Johnson Scholarship Application
• Meet academic requirements
• Provide documentation of the nature and/or extent of a disability
• Demonstrate financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)/institutional need. Submit a FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA form by the required deadline at fafsa.edu.edu. Confirm that the Federal School Code for your university is designated so that the university has access to your results in assessing a student’s unmet financial need.

Scholarship recipients are recognized at the annual DRC Scholarship Ceremony in September. Johnson Scholarship recipients are expected to attend.

If selected, initial applicants must:

• Complete and return an acceptance form or contact the appropriate institution representative (listed at the end of the application) by the date specified in your notification letter, as failure to return the acceptance form by the specified date will result in forfeiture of the award
• Participate in a Johnson Scholarship orientation (first-time applicants)
• Adhere to the minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average requirement of this program
• Continue to have unmet financial need.
• Attend one workshop per semester (Fall and Spring)
• Submit the following:
  • A completed application form by the deadline
  • A current completed FAFSA to Federal Student Aid and provision for university access to the evaluation completed by Federal Student Aid
  • A current official transcript (students applying as a first-semester freshman should provide their high school transcript) showing a 2.0 grade point average
  • Documentation of disability(ies), not necessary if registered with the DRC
  • Two letters of reference addressing your academic success and potential (not a family member).

If selected, renewal applicants must:

• Complete and return an acceptance form or contact the appropriate institution representative (listed at the end of the application) by the date specified on your notification letter. Failure to return the acceptance form by the specified date will result in forfeiture of the award
• Adhere to the minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average requirement of this program
• Attend one workshop per semester (Fall and Spring)
• Continue to have unmet financial need.

Note: If you receive a Johnson Scholarship, you must still apply for renewal consideration each academic year you desire the award. Johnson Scholarship recipients may qualify for the award while earning their bachelor’s degree.

Application Procedures
If you apply for admission at more than one SUS institution, submit the completed Johnson Scholarship application materials to each university. The application should be sent to the contact person listed at the end of this form. The application, official transcript, disability documentation, personal statement, and letters of reference must be received by the institution(s) no later than the application due date.

Notification
All applicants will be notified of their status as Johnson Scholarship recipients, alternate award candidates, or as students who were not selected. Notification letters will be mailed in July to the permanent address, which is specified on the application form.

Award Payment
After verification of enrollment, the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships will disburse the award on a prorated basis each academic term to eligible Johnson Scholarship recipients. The award is contingent upon the level of funding from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation and the Florida Legislature. If you have questions regarding the disbursement timeline please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.

For Additional Information
Please contact the DRC for more information.
(352) 392-8565
drc@ufsa.ufl.edu

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The fund is available to registered Disability Resource Center students who are enrolled in a degree-seeking program. The award amount will vary depending upon the request.

Please note this scholarship is not intended to reimburse for already purchased items. If awarded, the DRC will purchase the item for the applicant.

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The Deb Richard Foundation Scholarship is a competitively awarded program which is available to students with physical disabilities since birth who are enrolling at the University of Florida. The amount of the scholarship award will vary according to established criteria. The scholarship award may be used to cover the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, books, auxiliary aids, and other educational items. Scholarships are renewable for a maximum of 10 semesters (Fall and Spring semesters only), provided the recipient makes satisfactory academic progress toward a degree and meets minimum performance requirements (a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale). Scholarship recipients must enroll for a minimum of nine credit hours each semester. Applications must include the following:

• A completed application form for the scholarship
• A current High School transcript
• Required: One letter of recommendation addressing the student’s achievements, activities, and/or career goals.
• Preferred: Two letters of recommendations addressing the student’s achievements, activities, and/or career goals.

Renewal applicants must continue to adhere to:

• Minimum enrollment, progress and GPA requirements
• Complete renewal form

Additional information about the Deb Richard Foundation Scholarship, including a history of the program, can be located at the University of Florida Foundation website. Please use the button below to complete the initial or renewal application.

One scholarship recipient will be selected annually in August. 

DEB RICHARD FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

The University of Florida has been selected by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to provide scholarships for undergraduate or graduate students with spinal cord injuries. The Neilsen Scholarship Program (NSP) eliminates barriers to academic success for eligible students by providing funds to create and maintain opportunities to pursue an education in their chosen degree program and lead full lives in and out of the classroom.

The amount of the scholarship will vary according to established criteria. The scholarship award may be used to cover the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, books, personal care attendants, and other educational items.

Only individuals with neurological and functional impairment due to traumatic SCI, degenerative disease primary to the spinal cord (i.e., transverse myelitis), or damage to the spinal cord due to tumors and surgery are eligible for support through this program.

Individuals with spinal dysfunction, paralysis, or pain syndromes caused by other traumatic or primary orthopedic, genetic or developmental disorders are not eligible (e.g., multiple sclerosis, ALS, Chiari malformation or peripheral nerve injury).

Scholarships are renewable for a maximum of eight semesters (Fall and Spring semesters only), provided the recipient makes satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. Scholarship awardees are asked to write a Thank You letter to the scholarship donor.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria:

• Minimum enrollment, progress, and GPA requirements (degree program dependent)
• Currently enrolled or accepted to the University of Florida
• Student must have documented neurological and functional impairment, as stated above
• Student must be registered with the DRC

Applications must include the following:

• A completed scholarship application
• A current unofficial transcript
• Required: One letter of recommendation addressing the student’s achievements, activities, and/or career goals; may not be from a family member

Renewal applicants must continue to adhere to:

• Minimum enrollment, progress, and GPA requirements (degree program dependent)
• Completed renewal form