Financial Aid Available to Students with Disabilities

Under certain circumstances DSS is able to work with the Office of Student Financial Aid to make sure the accommodations you qualify for coordinate with the rules required to receive the level of financial aid available to you.

The University of Washington Tacoma's Office of Student Financial Aid (located in the Office of Enrollment Services, GWP 102) works with DSS in order to accommodate qualified students with diagnostically documented disabilities who want to take a reduced credit load and still maintain eligibility for financial aid services. In order to receive this accommodation, a student must first go through the process required to qualify for assistance from DSS.

Once the student is registered with DSS and it has been determined that taking a reduced credit load would be a reasonable accommodation, the Disability Support Services Manager then writes a letter to the Office of Student Financial Aid supporting the student's request for a reduced credit load. Each student has an individual relationship with Financial Aid and in rare instances there may be extenuating circumstances under which this request may be denied. Also, taking a reduced credit load may reduce the amount of Financial Aid income the student receives for the quarter. Therefore this may not be a desirable accommodation. It is strongly encouraged that you discuss any questions and concerns about this process with your Financial Aid advisor and the Disability Support Services Manager.

The Office of Student Financial Aid website has links to grants, scholarships and other information aimed specifically for, or that otherwise may be useful to students with disabilities. Be sure to ask your Financial Aid advisor for assistance with researching the availability of grant and scholarship monies.

In early 2006,Pierce County Association of the Blind generously endowed Disability Support Services at UWT with scholarship money specifically for UWT students with vision impairment who are legally blind. Please direct all inquiries about this scholarship (including how to become a donor) to the DSS Office.

If a student needs disability accommodations to help with the financial aid process, please contact the DSS Office.

For further information, please contact Financial Aid.

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