School-Age Financial Aid Program

Overview

The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) School-Age Financial Aid program is for students ages 6 to 21 years who are registered or currently enrolled in a parochial, private or independent (not public) school in a mainstream setting. Awards are intended to reduce educational costs such as tuition, room and board, books, equipment, auditory and speech language support services, academic tutoring, transportation, and other school-related expenses.

This program is not applicable for students who are being homeschooled, or those who attend public school, or are in college.

The 2010 program is now closed; the deadline was May 27, 2010. 

Update

On August 6, 2010, letters were mailed to all eligible applicants to let them know know whether or not they were selected to receive an award.

2010 School-Age Financial Aid Program Eligibility Criteria (criteria may be adjusted for the 2011 program)

In order to be eligible for this program, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• The child’s bilateral hearing loss must have been diagnosed before the child’s fourth birthday.
• The child’s hearing loss must be in the moderate to profound range.  This means that applicants must have an unaided Pure-Tone Average (PTA) of 55 dB or greater in the better-hearing ear in the speech frequencies of 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz.  Children with cochlear implants meet this eligibility requirement.  Unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss does not qualify.

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.  To be eligible for this award, the child’s PTA must be 55 dB or greater.

• Spoken communication must be the child’s primary mode of communication.
• The child must be at least 6 years of age and not older than 21 years of age as of December 31, 2010.
• The child must be enrolled or registered in a full-time parochial, independent or private school in which he/she participates in a mainstream educational program.  (Public school, oral schools, home school & post-secondary students do not meet the criteria.)
• The child must reside in the United States (including territories) or in Canada.
• Parents/guardians need to clearly indicate financial need.

Note: While membership in AG Bell is not required, preference may be given to AG Bell members.