Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Aid
Q: Is membership required to apply for any of the financial aid or scholarship programs?
A: No, membership in the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell), while not required, is strongly encouraged.
Q: What does membership in AG Bell provide?
A: The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) is a lifelong resource, support network and advocate for listening, learning, talking and living independently with hearing loss. Through publications, advocacy, training, scholarships and financial aid, AG Bell promotes the use of spoken language and hearing technology. Headquartered in Washington, D.C. with chapters located in the United States and a network of international affiliates, AG Bell’s global presence provides its members and the public with the support they need – close to home. With over a century of service, AG Bell supports its mission: Advocating Independence through Listening and Talking!
Q: How do I become a member of AG Bell?
A: You can join online with our Membership Application or you can contact the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 202-337-5220 (voice), 202-337-5221 (TTY) or 202-337-8314 (fax).
Q: Are individuals diagnosed with conductive hearing loss eligible to apply for financial aid or scholarship programs?
A: Yes, if the individual meets the hearing loss criteria of 55 dB or more for Financial Aid programs and 60dB or more for College Scholarships. Conductive hearing loss is impairment of hearing due to the failure of sound waves to reach the inner ear through the normal air conduction channels of the outer and middle ear.
Q: If an applicant has normal hearing in one ear, would he or she qualify?
A: No, individuals with unilateral hearing loss are not eligible. The hearing loss must average 55 dB (60dB for College Scholarship applicants) or greater in the better hearing ear in the speech frequencies of 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz.
Q: Is it necessary to submit an audiological report or recent MAPping report with my application?
A: Yes, these reports document that the applicant has been diagnosed with a moderate-to-profound hearing loss.
Q: How do I interpret my audiogram?
A: The audiogram is a graph showing the results of the pure-tone-hearing tests. Once the audiogram is completed, the audiologist computes the pure tone average for the better ear. It is the average of the hearing thresholds at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz., which are considered to be the major frequencies for speech.
Formula for calculating the PTA:
On the unaided audiogram, look at the results for the better hearing ear at 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz and add those three numbers together, then divide that total by three. The result is the Pure Tone Average.
Q: Can I still apply if I do not know an AG Bell member?
A: Yes, if you do not know an AG Bell member, please provide a recommendation from a therapeutic or educational recommender.
Q: How do I get a financial aid or scholarship application?
A: Applications are available online by downloading the printable forms from each award's Web page.
Q: What if I do not have access to the Internet?
A: We recommend that you try your local library or your child’s educational program. If you still do not have access to the Internet, you may request an application, IN WRITING via e-mail to financialaid@agbell.org or by mailing a letter, including your postal address and the name of the financial aid or scholarship program about which you are inquiring to: Application Request, AG Bell, 3417 Volta Place, NW, Washington, DC 20007.
Q: Can I apply for any of these programs anytime of the year?
A: No, applications are only available during specific times of the year. The AG Bell Web site is updated regularly with information about the Financial Aid and Scholarship programs.
Q: The application asks that one of the recommenders be a member of AG Bell. How do I locate a member of AG Bell?
A: AG Bell has a large and diverse international membership of parents, health and education professionals and persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and who use speech as their primary method of communication. It is likely that there are AG Bell members in your community. Please see the "Tips on Locating an AG Bell Recommender."
Q: If an applicant still meets the eligibility requirements for a program, can he or she reapply in subsequent years?
A: Yes, if the applicant meets all of the eligibility requirements, they may reapply in following years. The exception is the College Scholarship awards – if an applicant has received two scholarship awards, they may not reapply.
Q: What if the applicant does not meet ALL of the eligibility requirements of a financial aid or scholarship program?
A: If the applicant does not meet all of the eligibility requirements listed for AG Bell’s financial aid or scholarship program, he or she is not eligible for that award. We provide a listing of Additional Resources for Financial Aid offered by other organizations.
Q: Are the financial aid programs open to international applicants?
A: Financial Aid is available to residents of the United States (including U.S. territories) and Canada who also meet all of the additional eligibility requirements.
Q: Do you offer other financial aid resources?
A: AG Bell provides a listing of Additional Resources for Financial Aid offered by other organizations.
Q: How much are the awards or scholarships?
A: It depends on the program; awards can range from $500 to $5,000.
Q: Do AG Bell’s programs support funding for organizations?
A: No, support is available only to individuals, not organizations.
Q: What does it mean to demonstrate financial need?
A: While the financial aid programs are designed to serve those who are “most in need,” we do not have a set scale for income (due to individual circumstances); however, families who receive an award typically have an annual income in the $20,000 to $40,000 range.
Q: Can I fax my application?
A: No, faxed applications will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Q: Should I photocopy my application forms?
A: Yes, we encourage you to have a copy of your application forms for your records. Your application will not be returned to you under any circumstances.
Q: What is prelingual deafness?
A: It refers to hearing loss, which occurs before the child develops language.
Q: What is postlingual deafness?
A: Postlingual deafness is hearing loss acquired after first learning a language.
Q: What does decibel (dB) mean?
A: Decibel is the unit of measurement for the loudness or volume (intensity) of sound; the higher the dB, the louder the sound.
Q: What is the scale of hearing loss?
A: The following numerical values are based on the average of the hearing loss at three frequencies: 500 Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz, in the better hearing ear.
Normal Hearing (-10 dB to 15 dB)
Slight loss (16 dB to 25 dB)
Mild loss (26 dB to 30 dB)
Moderate (31 dB to 50 dB)
Moderate/Severe (51 dB to 70 dB)
Severe loss (71 dB to 90 dB)
Profound loss (91 dB or more)
Q: How will I know that my application has been received?
A: If you provide an e-mail address on your application, about a week after the deadline we will send you an email to let you know that your application has been received. Telephone calls to check on the status of an application will not be accepted.
Q: What if my application packet (including supporting materials) arrive after the deadline, even if I made every effort to mail it on time?
A: No applications or supporting materials will be accepted or considered after the established deadline. AG Bell cannot accept responsibility for delivery or mail delays, problems or failures on the part of delivery services and outside of AG Bell control. Please do not contact AG Bell seeking an exception to this rule.
Q: What happens once I send in my application for review?
A: The Financial Aid and Scholarship Team screens and processes the application for final review by the applicable financial aid or scholarship committee.
Q: Who has access to the information that I provide in my application forms?
A: Only the Financial Aid and Scholarship team at AG Bell and the review committees have access to your information. This information remains confidential and is used only for the selection process.
Q: How will I know if I was selected for an award?
A: Both recipients and non-recipients will be notified by a letter mailed to the postal address provided by the applicant.
Q: How are the decisions for the awards made?
A: Committees comprised of AG Bell members with experience related to the award categories evaluate the application materials and make the award decisions. All committee decisions are final.
Q: If I am selected for an award, how can I use the funds?
A: The receipt of a financial aid or scholarship award is intended to be used according to the specifications of the particular award that you received. We do ask for a written report on how the funds were used and the benefits that you received.
Q: Will the funds cover all of my expenses?
A: No, funds will only be used to reduce costs.
Q: Do you offer a scholarship to students who are in law school or in a masters/doctoral program?
A: The George H. Nofer scholarship offers a $5,000 scholarship to a graduate student who is accepted to an accredited law school or masters/doctoral program in public policy as a full-time first year rising graduate student, but has not yet enrolled, and has a minimum 3.0 undergraduate cumulative grade point average.
Q: Is the George H. Scholarship renewable?
A: Recipients of the George H. Nofer Scholarship Award who have completed at least nine (9) credit hours with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 may apply for a renewed scholarship in their second and third year of study.
For more information, contact us at:
financialaid@agbell.org (Email)
202-337-5220 (Voice)
202-337-5221 (TTY)
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