Scholarships

Adaptive Technology Scholarships are available to current undergraduate and graduate/professional level UW-Madison students approved for services through the McBurney Disability Resource Center. Service approval and enrollment must extend for more than one semester beyond the current semester. The type of technology being requested should be consistent with the accommodation recommendations on the student's McBurney VISA and the student’s disability. The number and amount of scholarships awarded varies and is dependent upon available funding.

• Download Adaptive Technology Scholarship Form (Word document)
• Download Financial Need Addendum (Word document)

• Description of available scholarships
  • General Scholarship Criteria Rating System
  • General Scholarship Eligibility and Application Process Guidelines
• Download Scholarship Application in Microsoft Word Format.
• Download McBurney Scholarship - Financial Need Addendum (must be submitted with the Scholarship Application if you have not applied for financial aid through UW-Madison's Student Financial Services Office)

The McBurney Center administers a variety of scholarships intended to assist the educational advancement of students with disabilities. Applications are available anytime. Deadline is April 15 of each year for the next academic year. Awards are generally distributed in the fall semester, except for the Jessie Ridley scholarship and the Meyerhoff Undergraduate Excellence Awards for Leadership, Service and Scholarship that are distributed in the spring semester. The following scholarship opportunities are available:

Edward D. Morris, John Lyman Cooper, and Ethelmae S. Merriam Academic Scholarships:

Open to University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities. Awards range from $500 to $2,500.

Jessie Ridley Foundation, Inc. Academic Scholarship:

Open to UW-Madison undergraduate and graduate students with physical, sensory, and health impairments who demonstrate financial need. Applicants must also be willing to disclose the specific nature of their disability and their parents'occupations to the donor. Awards generally range from $500 to $2,500. Nominations are made to the Ridley Foundation and they make selections and awards. These scholarships are distributed in the spring of each year.

Delta Gamma Memorial Scholarship:

The Delta Gamma Alumnae Association established this annual scholarship program for UW-Madison students with disabilities. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students, with preference given to students with visual impairments.

Arndt Family Scholarship Fund:

Open to UW-Madison undergraduate students with visual impairments. Applicants must also meet the following criteria: Wisconsin resident, B average, upper fourth of those taking college entrance exams, good character, and economically disadvantaged. This scholarship provides assistance for resident tuition and mandatory fees.

Letters and Science Student Support Fund:

Open to UW-Madison juniors and seniors with learning disabilities or learning differences who have declared a major in the College of Letters and Science.

Wisconsin Experience Accessibility Scholarship:

Open to UW-Madison students with disabilities who have an established record of academic achievement. The fund is intended to promote participation of students with disabilities in the Wisconsin Experience; it supports all types of student experiences including but not limited to tuition support, special study, and study abroad projects. When all other criteria are essentially equal, preference may be given to a student with financial need.

Meyerhoff Undergraduate Excellence Awards for Leadership, Service and Scholarship

Open to UW-Madion junior or senior students who have made outstanding leadership and service contributions to the university community while maintaining strong and consistent academic performance. McBurney selects one of the twenty-six $1,000 award winners. Winners also attend a luncheon and ceremony in May where awards are presented by staff from the Wisconsin Alumni Association, Wisconsin Union, and the Undergraduate Academics Award Office together with the benefactor Harvey "Bud" Meyerhoff.

For additional non-McBurney scholarships for students with disabilities, see the Disaboom Disability Scholarships web page.

Selection criteria for McBurney scholarships include the following:

Financial Need

Criteria to consider are basic needs: money for books, tuition, food, shelter, transportation, attendant care, or to defray disability-related costs. Other factors include adaptive equipment and basic educational tools (print/screen enlarger, wheelchairs, TTYs, etc).

Quality, security, and the applicant's income should be reviewed. Is the applicant independent or supported by the family? Does the disability affect employment opportunities?

Academic Record

Consideration of the following is important:

• credit load
• other obligations
• impact of disability on learning
• class level
• pattern of performance

Education and Career Goals

Is the applicant clear and directed in his/her goals? Are the goals realistic? Review the relationship between class level (Fr vs. Sr) and career plan. Excellent understanding of self and goals gets high marks.

Impact of Disability

The disability is the fulcrum from which all other criteria revolve. How significantly does the disability impact the daily living activities and the educational opportunities of the applicant? Is the disability handicapping?

Co-Curricular

Review the degree and quality of involvement, as well as type of associations and organizations affiliated with. Has the applicant had any leadership responsibilities?

Letters of Recommendation

Outstanding and unequivocal recommendations get high marks. Current and original letters rate higher than historic and general letters.

Eligible applicants must be admitted as degree candidates at UW-Madison.

Scholarship recipients must be enrolled at UW-Madison at the time the scholarship is awarded.

If an applicant is not registered with the McBurney Disability Resource Center, verification of disability is required. Guidelines for documentation can be found on McBurney's web site at www.mcburney.wisc.edu.

Names of applicants are sent to Student Financial Services to determine financial need. Be aware that any scholarships awarded may impact other financial aid.

Names of applicants being recommended for scholarships and the nature of their disabilities may also shared with donors. Some donors also receive information about other financial aid the applicant is receiving.

Previous award recipients are eligible. Each applicant is reviewed individually in relation to his/her current status and need. Being a previous recipient is a neutral factor.

There are no restrictions on use of the scholarship funds unless otherwise indicated. Consideration is given to applicants indicating a need to defray education costs or for the purchase of disability-related adaptive technology.