American Association on Health and Disability Scholarship Program 2013-2014
The mission of the American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) is to contribute to national, state, and local efforts to promote health and wellness in people with disabilities and identify effective intervention strategies that reduce health disparities between people with disabilities and the general population. AAHD accomplishes its mission through research, education and advocacy at the national, state and community level.
In 2008, AAHD launched the Disability and Health Journal (DHJO), the first peer reviewed, scientific, scholarly and multidisciplinary journal that focuses on health promotion and wellness for people with disabilities. In 2009, AAHD created the AAHD Scholarship Program, which supports students with disabilities pursuing higher education. Preference is given to students who plan to pursue undergraduate/graduate studies in the field of public health, health promotion, disability studies, to include disability policy and disability research. Royalties from the DHJO and private donations fund the AAHD Scholarship Program.
Funds are limited and we anticipate that scholarships will be competitive. Scholarships will be limited to under $1,000. The AAHD Board of Directors Scholarship Committee will evaluate each of the applicants and make a decision in December of each calendar year. The 2013 AAHD Scholarship Award will be awarded January, 2014. It is the discretion of the Scholarship Committee to determine how many scholarships will be awarded each year and the amount of each scholarship.
The AAHD board and staff are excited to be able to offer this program and support the efforts and dedication of students who have chosen to pursue higher education in the disability and health fields.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM CRITERIA
Applicant must be enrolled as a full time in an undergraduate school (freshman or greater status) or be enrolled part time or full time in a graduate school, and have a documented disability and provide documentation of their disability. (Applicants who have not yet graduated from high school will not be considered.)
Applicant must be a US citizen or legal resident living in the US and enrolled in an accredited United States university.
Preference will be given to students majoring in public health, disability studies, disability research, health promotion or a field related to disability and health.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
■Applicant must provide a Personal Statement (maximum 3 pages, double spaced), including brief personal history, educational/career goals, extra-curricular activities, and reasons why they should be selected by the AAHD Scholarship Committee. This statement must be written solely by the applicant
■Applicant must provide two (2) Letters of Recommendation (One must be from a teacher or academic advisor). Letters may be sent by U. S. mail or by email attachment as pdf and should include the signature of the teacher or advisor, and the name of student should appear in the subject line of the email.
■Applicant must provide an official copy of college transcript, which should be mailed to AAHD in a sealed envelope.
■Applicant must agree to allow AAHD to use their name, picture and/or story in future scholarship materials.
Please attach your application, supporting materials, etc. and email to: scholarship@aahd.us. Place “2013-14 Scholarship” in subject line. (Please use MS Word for your personal statement and MS Word, if at all possible, and/or PDF for all other documents that are emailed as attachments). If this is not possible, please mail documents to:
Scholarship Committee
American Association on Health and Disability
110 N. Washington Street, Suite 328-J
Rockville, MD 20850
Only completed applications will be considered and must postmarked and/or received by email no later than November 15, 2013.
