Grant to help disabled students pay for schooling
The Utah Assistive Technology Foundation recently received a grant for $254,196, to help disabled students.
The loan is for disabled students who need money for help assistive devices, and for other school-related causes.
The foundation applied through USU, and was given the grant from the U.S. Department of Education, through the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, said Marilyn Hammond, director of the Utah Assistive Technology Foundation.
“[A loan] is very beneficial because it’s interest free,” Hammond said.
The loans from the grant are distributed through Zion’s Bank, and students who qualify for a loan can get up to $2,300 paid on their loan’s interest. They are either low or zero-interest loans, Hammond said.
“It helps people get technology they may not have been able to get,” Hammond said.
Hammond said many students who are blind or deaf use the money for tools to help them study. Hammond said one student was given a machine that translated his notes to Braille.
Sachin Pavithran, a graduated USU student currently working at USU’s Center for Persons with Disabilities, said, “I got a two-year loan that was zero percent interest.”
Pavithran said he was pleased they had such a program for students.
The foundation is also the only program in the nation to provide no-interest loans.
Providing the only low and zero interest loansin the nation is something the foundation does for students, Hammond said.
Last year 108 loans were approved for students, Hammond said.
After receiving a loan, students are able to have a two-to-five-year general period to pay back their loans.
A student goes about applying for one of these loans by calling 797-2025, or 1-800-524-5152. A student can find more information about loans and the program at www.uats.org.
Loans take about a week to process and are given to students with no minimum or maximum income requirements.
“It’s a great program for children and adults with disabilities,” Hammond said.
-amysueh@cc.usu.edu