The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 plays a crucial role in ensuring equitable access to higher education. For students with disabilities, this landmark legislation recognizes that their educational journeys may differ in pace and structure compared to their non-disabled peers. Higher Education Services Corporations and institutions are adapting to these needs, particularly concerning financial aid and scholarship eligibility. One significant example is the Excelsior Scholarship, which maintains its availability for students with disabilities even if they require more time to complete their degree.
Under the ADA, students with disabilities are permitted to take longer to earn their associate or bachelor’s degree while still retaining eligibility for the Excelsior Scholarship. This provision is vital for students whose disabilities necessitate part-time enrollment, defined as less than 30 credits per year or its equivalent, or those who need to temporarily suspend their studies due to their disability. To avail of this flexibility, students with qualified disabilities who are studying less than full-time must formally register with their college’s office for students with disabilities. This registration ensures that the institution is aware of their needs and can provide appropriate support and accommodations, aligning with the higher education services corporation’s goals of inclusive education.
It is important to note a distinction regarding changes in academic paths. Neither students with disabilities nor those without disabilities can maintain or regain the Excelsior Scholarship if delays in degree completion arise from changing majors or transferring to a different college. An exception is made only when such changes are a direct consequence of functional limitations resulting from the disability. This emphasizes that the flexibility is specifically intended to accommodate disability-related needs, not general academic changes. Higher education services corporations generally administer these scholarship programs and must ensure fair and consistent application of these rules.
Specifically, students who have lost college credits due to a change in major or college transfer may be considered for scholarship reinstatement only under particular circumstances. Medical documentation is required to clearly demonstrate that (1) the student transferred colleges due to their disability or medical condition (for instance, needing to be cared for at home and thus transferring to a local college) and (ii) changed majors, if necessary, because their previous major was not available at the new institution. Alternatively, consideration is given if (2) the student’s disability or medical condition was first diagnosed after enrolling in college and choosing a major, and this condition limits their ability to continue at that college or in that major, leading to credit loss. These stipulations ensure that the Excelsior Scholarship, and by extension, higher education services corporation policies, are appropriately supporting students whose academic paths are genuinely impacted by disability.
Learn more about your rights under the Americans with Disability Act of 1990.
