10 Private Grants for Individuals With Disabilities

Read this guide to learn about private grants for individuals with disabilities grants and more.

People with disabilities encounter a variety of challenges. For these, grants help them cope by providing ready succor. Here, private grants for individuals with disabilities are under focus.

Private Grants for People with Disabilities

If you’re dealing with such a challenge or have a family member who does, you’ll need all the help you can get about grants for people with disabilities.

Luckily, there are many private grants that persons with disabilities can access. These come with a variety of requirements you must meet to be considered.

We’ve included these requirements and different private grant types available for persons with disabilities.

What Qualifies as a Disability? 

If you’re wondering whether you have a disability or are qualified for a disability grant, you only need to consider or revisit the definition of disability.

While definitions may vary due to context, a disability is mainly identified as a condition that alters or limits a person’s ability to carry out or perform daily routines.

In explaining further, a disability may result in conditions like difficulty with walking, bowel or bladder problems, unexplained fatigue, mental health & depression, etc.

Generally, disabilities will interfere with normal functioning or activities. While some disabilities are subtle, others are more evident. A health examination or diagnosis should reveal the exact type of disability.

Why Private Disability Grants are Necessary

Private grants for persons with disabilities are essential for various reasons, ranging from provisioning affected persons with a sense of empowerment.

Private disability grants are also easier to access than similar grants the government offers. Persons with disabilities can live more independently and participate fully in society.

Private grants supplement government grants as such may not be sufficient. In some places, government grants for persons with disabilities may be non-existent.

This results in private grants being the only form of assistance available. Research and advocacy are other areas where private grants for persons with disabilities get utilized.

Categories of Private Grants for People with Disabilities

You must know that private grants for people with deformities are classified into several groups.

We have assistive technology, general, home modification & housing, and rehabilitation & therapy grants. Others are adaptive vehicle & change assistance, travel assistance, and assistance for specific medical conditions.

The agencies sponsoring the listed schemes have specific qualifying standards. All interested applicants must meet those criteria before being issued a grant.

Moreover, they have limits on the amount they provide. Some organizations limit their financial aid to certain countries or states.

Let’s review a few of these categories and some financial aid you can obtain.

Assistive Technology Grants

You can win a few private scholarships in this class as a disabled citizen. Some are the I Got Legs Foundation and Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC).

The Tyler Schrenk Foundation, Wheels of Happiness, and the Demonstrating Independence Program Grant are others.

• I Got Legs Foundation 

This is a charitable organization aimed at helping individuals with disabilities. However, the emphasis is laid on those with physical deformities.

They create chances that will transform the lives of these citizens. Some services they offer include the provision of wheelchairs, vehicles, and slight modifications.

There’s no age limit on who can apply. Interested candidates must be US citizens, demonstrate financial need, and provide appropriate papers.

Because funding is limited, priority will be given to people who require prosthetic treatment or adaptive technologies for their homes or vehicles.

• Wheels of Happiness

You can also count on this charity. The WHO established them to support spinal cord injury survivors. Plus, people with motor disabilities live in disadvantaged areas.

Therefore, they provide such individuals with medical equipment, supplies, scholarships, and psychological help. They also inspire them to become self-reliant and productive.

General Grants

Similarly, several financial aid programs are open under this category. You can choose from Welcome to Friends of Man, Gridiron Heroes, the Be Perfect SCI Foundation, and the Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation.

Others are the High Five Non-Profits Foundation, Horizon Hope Grant, Modest Needs, and Triumph Foundation.

Victoria’s Victory Foundation, PAN Foundation, SCORE, PATH-WAY, and the Ian Burkhart Foundation are additional grants to apply for.

• Welcome to Friends of Man 

This private grant is open to people of all ages with many needs. They provide them with mobility equipment such as prostheses, van lifts, wheelchairs, and home modifications.

Moreover, they offer health care supplies and procedures like hearing aids, dentures, and glasses.

Clothing for children, food, prescriptions, cobra/health insurance, and short-term daycare are some of the basic needs they provide.

• Be Perfect SCI Foundation

You can have access to direct and emotional aid from the BP Foundation. They assist people living with paralysis by offering them financial support to pay for their medical expenses.

They also restore hope and encourage self-reliance through non-traditional methods of exercise-based therapy.

BP promotes and offers scholarships for activity-based therapy at The Perfect Step to qualified recipients.

They also provide supplemental support to those who cannot afford wheelchairs, high medical costs, car adaptations, or general healthcare necessities.

Home Modification and Housing Grants

Under this category, we have Elderly or Disabled Living, the Joseph Groh Foundation, and Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants.

• Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants

Are you seeking loans with no interest? If so, you’ve found the proper site.

Homeowners aged 62 and older with low incomes receive loans for upgrades, repairs, and renovations. You can also take out loans to remove health and safety hazards.

But before you qualify for their loans, you must be a homeowner who occupies the house. Additionally, it would be best not to obtain affordable credit elsewhere.

You can apply if you have a household income that is within the meager limit by count.

• Elderly or Disabled Living

One of its obligations as a non-profit is to reduce the costs linked with housing. Therefore, they provide grants to help the elderly and disabled.

The funding covers basic needs such as medical bills, internet, electricity, and rent. Mortgages, auto loans, cable, and health insurance are more.

However, applicants must be 55 years of age or older. Additionally, they must be deemed disabled by the FG and qualify for disability benefits.

If you’re a DARS client, you can also be eligible to apply.

Rehabilitation and Therapy Grants 

Much private financial assistance is provided for rehabilitation and therapy purposes.

They include the Chanda Plan Foundation, Dream2Walk, Falling Forward Foundation, Geeting Back Up, MW Fund, Tighten the Drag Foundation, Project Thirty-Four, and Walking with Antony.

Let’s review a couple of them.

• MW Fund

MW mainly provides financial aid for specialized spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation not covered by insurance. They have also supported research initiatives developed for SCI recovery.

Plus, a program that raises awareness about basketball courts with unsafe playing conditions. They also have support projects that can critically improve outdated hazardous facilities.

• Chanda Plan Foundation 

This charity aims to enhance the quality of life for people with physical disabilities. They achieve their aim through direct services and systematic change to access integrative therapies.

Some of their direct services include acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, adaptive exercise, and adaptive yoga. All these services are provided at their various locations worldwide.

Top 10 Private Grants for Persons with Disability

Your search for private grants for individuals with disabilities can be concluded by exploring any of the options listed below.

Some of the best grants for persons with disabilities include The Easterseals Foundation, The Challenged Athletes Foundation, The Kennedy Krieger Institute, and The National Organization on Disability (NOD).

More private grants for persons with disabilities include The Arc of the United States and The Spinal Cord Injury Association of America.

You can explore other private grants like the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, The Abilities Fund,   The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Arcus Foundation.

Let’s discuss each of these private grants further.

i. The Easterseals Foundation

The Easterseals Foundation has a whole range of resources dedicated to helping persons living with disabilities to make their living conditions a lot better.

The grant offered by this private organization caters to in-home assistance needs and challenges associated with aging. You’ll need to explore Easterseal’s grant offering for disabled persons to learn more.

ii. The Challenged Athletes Foundation

As the name implies, the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s grant program targets disabled athletes. It’s an annual grant program you can apply to and covers things like sports expenses and equipment.

Each year, the Challenged Athletes Foundation grant opens from September to November. Check its frequently asked questions page for more detailed information.

iii. The Kennedy Krieger Institute

The Kennedy Krieger Institute has a grant program that caters to various disability conditions.

These conditions include Alexander’s Disease, Bart’s Syndrome, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), etc. You can visit its grant page to learn about its range of services and requirements for accessing its grants.

iv. The National Organization on Disability (NOD)

If you’re looking for private disability grants to apply to, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) offers tons of helpful resources.

Other services include employment tracker, sponsorship, hiring support, digital accessibility compliance, disability employer seal, and sponsorships. For questions and other inquiries, contact NOD directly.

v. The Arc of the United States

Persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities can use The Arc’s range of services.

Besides disability grants offered to qualified candidates, this private grant offers other equally essential services, including resources covering grassroots advocacy, public policy, and annual events.

vi. The Spinal Cord Injury Association of America

This is a ready resource to find private grants for someone with disabilities. Areas of focus under this program include rehabilitation and regeneration.

The Spinal Cord Injury Association of America also caters to conditions like preserving and protecting spinal cord tissue during injury and other disability-related conditions due to spinal cord injury.

vii. Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Take advantage of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation’s grant program for the disabled. Under this program are a variety of resources for military and veterans.

Other aspects of its grant program include caregiving for veterans, access to Reeve Foundation’s support groups, nonprofit funding, help to find a peer mentor, etc.

viii. The Abilities Fund

This is another private grant persons with disabilities can explore to cover disability-related expenses. How does this program work? All the information is available on The Abilities Fund website.

You’ll need to check eligibility requirements, among other relevant information. This disability support program, coupled with others mentioned, offers multiple alternatives to work with.

ix. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society

If you’re dealing with multiple sclerosis, this is one private grant program to consider applying to.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has tons of resources that can prove helpful to persons with this condition to find financing support. To learn more, visit its grant page.

x. The Arcus Foundation

You can explore the Arcus Foundation’s grant provisions for disabilities and other conditions.

What’s the scope of this grant, and what other areas or services are covered? All of these and more can be found on its site. You can also contact the Arcus Foundation directly for inquiries.

Grants for Specific Medical Conditions 

Under this class, several private grants are available. They include ALS and cerebral palsy grants.

These grants are intended to cover a range of ailments, such as muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, spinal muscular atrophy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

We need more time to review each of these private grants we’ve listed. However, there is well-known financial aid available for people with disabilities.

It would be best to get complete details on their available gifts. That way, you can know their eligibility criteria, the application process, and the amount you can win.

These are some of the private grants for individuals with disabilities to try. While some of these grants may be specific to some disability types, others are provided for the whole spectrum of disability conditions.

Your best bet is to find what each type covers. By doing this, you’re able to identify your options.