Funding Toolkit

Here are some resources for finding funding assistance for children in Nebraska who are deaf or hard of hearing to have access to medical care, technology, and resources. Several organizations have made their applications downloadable and/or available in Spanish. Those are listed below.

Please contact the organization before applying as qualifications may have changed. If you have additions or changes, please contact Sara Peterson.

Links to Applications:

AG Bell Parent and Infant Financial Aid Program: The Parent-Infant Financial Aid Program provides financial aid to families of infants and toddlers ages birth through 3 who have been diagnosed with a moderately-severe to profound hearing loss and who are in pursuit of a spoken language outcome for their child. Grants are awarded to assist with expenses associated with obtaining services such as auditory support services, speech-language therapy, technology, pre-school fees/tuition, etc. Families should be committed to a listening and spoken language approach for their child’s listening, speech, oral communication and cognitive skills. These awards are made one time for the year, generally in the month of December. Award recipients may apply for this program again in future years. Award amounts vary; over the past three years, awards have ranged from $300 to $2,000.

AUDIENT: Reduced cost hearing aids available to those who qualify financially. Audient is presently updating the income qualification charts. Please call our toll-free number for more information: 1-866-956-5400 x2.

First Hand: The child must 18 years of age or younger (19-21 may be considered if they are in a child-like mental state) with a specific health care need that is clinically relevant to the health of the child. Must be no existing insurance coverage for the requested expenses and family must meet financial guidelines. Expenses covered include treatment (medicine, therapy, clinical procedures), equipment (assistive technology, hearing aids, etc), and displacement (some lodging, parking, and transportation fees).

Friends of Man: No age requirement. Application must be submitted by a referring professional. Funds may be used for: Mobility Equipment (prostheses, wheelchairs, van lifts, ramps, home modifications) and/or Medical Equipment and Procedures (Hearing Aids, Dentures, Glasses).

HearU: HearU Nebraska, formerly the Nebraska Children’s Hearing Aid Bank, provides hearing aids to children ages 0-18 with priority to newly identified children ages 0-3 years of age.

HIKE: Children under the age of twenty who are U.S. Citizens and have not received a previous HIKE Award within the last four (4) years and who have been identified as 1) having a need for a hearing aid(s) or an assistive listening device and 2) having a financial need can benefit from HIKE. Considerations include family income, size of household, burdensome medical expenses for the applicant, and the cost of the hearing technology requested.

Kids Connection (CHIP): CHIP is an expansion of Medicaid as health care coverage for qualified children who are without other health insurance and who do not qualify for Medicaid. Federally called the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), it provides the same services covered under Medicaid.

Miracle Ear Children’s Foundation: Applicants must have a hearing loss that requires amplification (hearing aids), children who have a mild or greater hearing loss, adults who have a moderate or greater hearing loss and must not have funding available including but not limited to: insurance, state Medicaid program, VA or vocational rehab, state or local programs, and other charity sources. Families must meet financial guidelines included on application.

NSTEP (NCDHH): Nebraska residents who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, and speech disabled of any age can apply for financial assistance to aid in the purchasing of specialized telephone equipment such as amplifiers, cell phones, signaling devices, TTY/TTs and video phones.

Small Steps in Speech: US Citizens age birth – 22 can apply for funds for future speech therapy sessions, materials workshops, and/or assistive technology devices. SSIS does not provides funds to purchase iPads, however funds may be granted for iPad software applications and an AAC Evaluation is required for software application requests.

Starkey Hear Now: Provides hearing aids to those permanently residing in the U.S. who meet financial criteria. The program is designed to assist those who have no other resource available to them. Hear Now is a program of last resort for funds. website: https://www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org/ cannot find application online?

TPA: For all ages of persons who have deafness or hearing impairment; who will benefit from medical, mechanical, specialized treatment or specialized education and who are unable to provide the funds therefore themselves. Funds may be used to purchase materials, equipment, hearing aid/CI batteries, and other supplies related to hearing loss.

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Scholarships

Scholarships designated for students who are deaf or hard of hearing or students with disabilities are included in a printable version: College Scholarships DHH. This document is updated regularly as new scholarship applications become available, so please check back often!

If you have know of scholarships that should be added, please contact Sara Peterson.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION IS UPDATED AS APPLICATIONS BECOME AVAILABLE

Scholarship: AG Bell College Scholarship Program

For: Senior high school students with a moderate to severe bilateral hearing loss diagnosed before age 4 who use listening and spoken language and are pursuing a degree at an accredited mainstream college or universityYou

Award: Ranges from $1,000 to $10,000

Application: AG Bell

Deadline: Yearly in March

Scholarship: Help America Hear Scholarship

For: Graduating high school seniors who have a hearing loss and require the use of hearing aid(s) or cochlear implants in their daily life

Award: Two state-of-the-art ReSound Hearing Aids (for hearing aid users) and a $1000 scholarship to their college or vocational school of choice

Deadline: Yearly in May, Application will be posted February 1

Application: Help America Hear Scholarship

Scholarship: Sertoma Scholarship for Students who are Hard of Hearing or Deaf

For: High school seniors with a bilateral hearing loss of 40 dB or greater who have a 3.2 GPA and are or will be pursing a bachelor’s degree on a full-time basis

Award: $1,000

Deadline: Yearly in March

Application: Sertoma Scholarship

Scholarship: Microsoft DisAbility Scholarship

For: High school seniors living with a disability with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and who plan to attend a 2 or 4-year college declaring a major in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, legal, or business. Must enroll in full time or half time status and need financial assistance to attend college.

Award: $5,000 - renewable up to 4 years

Deadline: Yearly in March

Application: Microsoft Scholarship

Google and Lime Connect: Google Lime Scholarship

Award: up to $10,000.00

For: A current undergraduate, graduate or PhD student enrolled at a university in the U.S. or Canada who has a visible or invisible disability and pursue a degree in a technical field, and who desires to work in a computer science or related field.

Deadline: Yearly in December

Link: Google Lime Scholarship

Scholarship: Cochlear Vocational Scholarship

For: For students who graduated spring 2022 or prior who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing with a Nucleus Cochlear Implant who demonstrate commitment to the Cochlear ideals of leadership and humanity, and who are enrolled technical school during the 2022/2023

Award: $2,000 per year for up to two years (paid at the completion of each year), assuming the scholarship recipient maintains a 2.5 GPA or better

Deadline: September 30

Application: Cochlear Vocational Scholarship

Scholarship: Cochlear Academic Scholarships

For: Graduating high school seniors who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing using a Cochelar Nucelus, Baha or Osia device who demonstrate commitment to the Cochlear ideals of leadership and humanity, and who will be an undergraduate or graduate student in an accredited college, university, or technical school during the 2022-2023 school year

Award: $2,000 per year for up to four years (paid at the completion of each year), assuming the scholarship recipient maintains a 2.5 GPA or better

Deadline: Yearly in September

Application: Cochlear Academic Scholarships

Scholarship: Nancy J Bloch Leadership & Advocacy Scholarship

For: Qualifying deaf and hard of hearing students who seek to uphold the mission and values of the NAD during their internship at the NAD headquarters. Preference will be given to students pursuing law, government policy, non-profit management, or related degrees.

Award: Grant stipends: The number of stipends provided each year are given on a funds available basis.

Deadline: Unsure if this is still an active scholarship

Application: NAD Scholarship

Scholarship: RIT SpiRIT Writing Contest

For: High School Sophomore and Junior students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Award: Your choice of a scholarship and travel expenses to the Explore Your Future (EYF) program at NTID, or $500 cash

Deadline: Yearly in March

Application: SpiRIT Writing Contest

Scholarship: Law Offices of David A. Black Scholarship

For: A citizen of the United States with a 40dB (or greater) bilateral hearing loss

Award: Two $1,000 scholarships

Deadline: Unsure if this is still an active scholarship

Application: David A Black Scholarship

Scholarship: Nebraska State Grange Deaf Education & Awareness Scholarship

Award: $500 (renewable over 4 years for up to $2,000)

For: An undergraduate or graduate student meeting one of the following criteria:

1. Showing disability of profound hearing impairment in both ears

2. Seeking a career in Deaf Education

• Applicant must be a Nebraska Resident and a graduate from an accredited High School.

• Applicant must show proof of hearing loss by audiology documentation (if applicable).

• Applicant must provide verification of enrollment as a full time (12 credit hours) student into an institution of higher learning in a course of study to assist the deaf or hearing impaired.

• Proof of scholastic ability is required. Applicant must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

• Scholarship will be paid to the college or university on behalf of the student at the beginning of the second semester of continued enrollment. Scholarship may be renewed by application over four years of continued enrollment, however, no individual may receive more than an accumulated total of $2,000.00.

Deadline: yearly in March

Scholarship: Nebraska State Grange Deaf Education & Awareness Scholarship

Various Scholarships – Other Scholarship Opportunities

Several scholarship opportunities are listed on these websites:

National Scholarships for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Scholarships.org for DHH