Disability Access

Office of Disability Access

ADA/504 Resources

Am I Qualified for Assistance?

DA Forms -

- Request for Interpreter

- Request for Transcriber

- Request for Adapted Materials

DA Student Rights & Responsibilities

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services

Documentation

Financial Assistance

General Information

Transition to Post-Secondary Education

Transportation and Parking

Types of Service 

dis-Ability Access
College Funding Strategies for Students with Disabilities

Attending college can be an exciting and enriching experience. It can also be a costly one. In addition to tuition, fees, books, and supplies, other expenses to think about include room and board, health insurance, transportation, and spending money. Don't let the costs scare you. You can meet college costs through a combination of financial aid and other outside funding resources.

Financial aid is available to help students and their families pay for or supplement payment of educational expenses after high school.  The staff of the Financial Aid office at Western Piedmont Community College can tell you about student aid available from the federal government, our state, the school itself, and other sources.

Additionally, there are some sources of help that are specifically targeted to disabled students.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS)

SSI is a program that pays monthly benefits to people with low incomes and limited assets who are sixty-five years of age or older, are blind, or have other disabilities. Children can qualify if they meet Social Security's definition of disability for SSI children and if their income and assets fall within the eligibility limits.

As its name implies, Supplemental Security Income supplements a person's income up to a certain level. The level varies from one state to another and may increase each year to reflect changes in cost-of-living. Your local Social Security office can tell you about SSI benefit levels in your state.

Parent income and assets are considered when deciding if a child under eighteen qualifies for SSI. This applies to children who live at home or who are away at school but return home occasionally and are subject to parental control. When a child turns eighteen, parent income and assets are no longer considered when determining eligibility for SSI. Therefore, a child who was not eligible for SSI before his or her eighteenth birthday may become eligible at age eighteen.

The Social Security Administration may also approve a Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS), in which a student is able to set aside income and resources that are being used toward a specific vocational goal (such as college tuition) and still receive SSI payments. However, be aware that earnings from employment may affect SSI benefits.

For more information on SSI and PASS, contact your local Social Security Administration office or consult http://www.ssa.gov/disability.

North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

The North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) office helps people with disabilities prepare for, obtain and retain employment. Vocational rehabilitation programs are custom-designed for each individual. Typically, you may be eligible for services if a VR counselor determines that you meet the following three conditions:

• You have a physical or mental disability.  The VR counselor must verify the disability by getting copies of medical records, or by having you complete tests, examinations, or evaluations to verify the disability.

• Your disability prevents you from getting or keeping a job.

• You require vocational rehabilitation services to get or keep a job that matches your strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and choices.