Financial Aid Assistance and Resources for Persons with Disabilities

Vocational and Educational Services for Persons with Disabilities

• VESID : VESID's Web pages for program information and VESID branch office locations.
• Reader's Aid: The purpose of the Reader's Aid Program is to provide payments to readers, notetakers and interpreters for students who are blind or deaf and matriculated in an institution of higher education. The Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) is responsible for the program. The program is administered at Empire State College by the Student Accounts office. For more information about the Reader's Aid Program, contact the Student Accounts office at www.esc.edu/asksa or the Empire State College Student Information Center at 518 587-2100 or 800 847-3000.
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB) : Information on scholarships available to persons who are legally blind.

Part-time Tap Eligibility for Students with Disabilities

ADA Part-Time TAP : General information and requirements for ADA Part-Time TAP.

NYS Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities

New York State Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (CQCAPD): The advocate's web pages for information on technology-related assistance for persons with disabilities, Americans with Disabilities Act, links to other sites for persons with disabilities and the like.

Other Sources of Student Financial Aid for Persons with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid office has a variety of information resources available online for the blind and visually impaired. Details about these options are below.

Student Aid Guide

The U.S. Department of Education provides an audio overview of the Department's federal student aid programs including:

• Eligibility criteria
• Application procedures
• Loan repayment options
• Deferment and cancellation provisions

The audio highlights also provide information on nonfederal sources of aid.

The audio highlights are also available in a CD format. The free CD can be played on any audio player. It contains information on federal student aid programs, application procedures, eligibility criteria, loan repayment and the like. To request a CD, call the Federal Student Information Center at 1 800-4-FED-AID.

Braille Publications

The following federal student aid publications are currently available online through the use of a screen reader. They are also available in Braille through the Federal Student Aid Information Center toll free at 1 800-4-FED-AID.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Students use the FAFSA to apply for the federal student aid programs administered by the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid office. The Braille FAFSA itself cannot be submitted. Students may use a Braille FAFSA as a reference aid. (Note that the online version of the FAFSA is accessible to screen readers.)
• The Student Guide : This is the most comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Grants, loans and workstudy are the three major forms of student financial aid available through the Department's Federal Student Aid office. The guide tells you about the programs and how to apply for them.
• Funding Your Education: This is an introductory publication for students not yet enrolled in a postsecondary school. It provides general information about the U.S. Department of Education's federal student financial aid programs and how to apply for them.
• Repaying Your Student Loans: This publication explains available repayment options on the department's federal student loans so that borrowers can avoid repayment problems and successfully manage and repay their debts.

Federal TTY Numbers

Several major call centers have toll-free TTY numbers for deaf and hearing-impaired students. Teletypewriter access is available during the "operator-services" hours of operation. Students may contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800 730-8913. The center provides general information on the federal student aid programs administered by the Department of Education and also assists students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students also may call 800 730-8913 for help applying electronically.