Scholarship Learning

Disability in single mothers is hard. Aside from the fact that those mothers are left alone to care for their child, the disability has add up to the difficulty. Fortunately, there are already available services and assistance for disabled mothers. A policy is also created to protect the rights of those disabled mothers as well as protecting them from discrimination at work. This policy is known as the American Disabilities Act.

The services and assistance that are provided to disabled single mothers aim to help these mothers to overcome their disability and continue to live life together with their children. Being disabled can either be caused from a physical disability, learning disability, or a mental disability. Based on the Census of the United States of America, approximately forty one million of Americans are disabled. Majority of these disabled people are women, although the welfare reforms continue to push those disabled mothers to work.

Services are provided to Disabled Single Mothers came from TANF and SSI

Usually, the average income for an individual who is not disabled would be $22,000; however, a person with a disability would only earn approximately $12,000. Studies have found out that mothers who are receiving assistance from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or TANF are disabled mothers or mothers who have a disabled child. However, since the reform of the welfare programs, fewer those disabled mothers are getting help from TANF. Aside from that, the Social Security Income that also provides additional assistance to the disabled mothers has set strict standards and criteria, lessening the number of its beneficiaries.

Services provided by the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or TANF would involve case management. This includes application of services from the Social Security Income for the disabled single mother. However, not all caseworkers who are handling the cases for disabled single mothers are aware of these services causing denial of application. The rates of applicants being denied are very high and alarming. The government took action last February 2009 when the National Council for State Legislatures has proposed that the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families office and the Social Security Income office should work together so that everything will work well. However, disabled mothers need to know that the federal law does not allow approval of both services at the same time.

One of the services provided by the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families is to refer the disabled mothers to the Department of Labor, specifically on the One Stop Career Center. Disabled mothers would be able to know which career and fields would be suitable for them to earn money even with the disability. There are also single mother programs that will be referred by One Stop to help those disabled mothers. Aside from that, single mother subsidies will also be provided to ensure that the child will receive proper care and nutrition. Keep in mind that services for those disabled mothers can vary from one state to another. The disabled single mother can check on the local social service agency so that she can check out the lists of services provided in a state.

Testing and Screening Disabled Single Mothers with Learning Disabilities

The single mother and welfare reform programs have not recognized the existence of mothers with learning disabilities. Not until the recent times, screening learning disabilities are done to check the extent of the learning disability of the mother and to check whether the mother is capable of working even with the learning disability. If the case of the disability is just subtle, then the disabled single mother can undergo educational programs or vocational courses that can help her in getting a work. Studies have found out that if the learning disability is recognized, then the chances of being successful are possible.

Many agencies can actually provide various services that a disabled single mother can utilize. There are single mother scholarships that are being offered for single mothers with learning disabilities. They can actually benefit from these scholarship programs because it offers various courses and trainings for handicapped women. Aside from that, if the disabled single mother can no longer support her child, there are single mother adoption options that a single mother can inquire.

By: Lisa R. Harrell

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Single parent families, that are those, which have only one person as the head of the family, are growing in numbers every year. Such families are usually the result of parental breakup and unwanted pregnancies. More than men, women are the ones who get into this difficult situation. They are not only required to feed the family but also support everyone emotionally.

Single mom families are commonly seen in areas wherein unemployment is rampant. A lot of times teenage single mothers are forced to stop their education and start earning because otherwise no one would take care of their kids. Due to unfinished schooling, such single mothers have a lower income capacity.

Several government, state, and various universities and colleges offer scholarship to single parents especially to female single parents who are determined to improve their earning potential. These colleges fund for their dorm fees, tuition fees and other related educational expenses.

One of the major reasons for offering scholarships to single parents is to pave the way for increasing income potential of single families. Most universities share the same global vision of giving hope and improving confidence of the single parents by offering scholarship programs.

Scholarship for single parents usually covers the tuition fees, books and other related educational expenses of the eligible candidates. Some source of scholarships for single parents also provided restrictions to those who want to avail the scholarships.

Any scholarship for single parent is offered to those single parent students who have at least one dependent child and who desperately need financial help. So, if the single parent gets married during the terms of the scholarship, her grant can get revoked.

Those single parent students who get specific support from their families, such as willingness to take care of kids while the parents are in school, may avail of full time class scholarships. For those single parents who cannot leave their children (such as in case of disabled or mentally challenged kids) may avail of single parent scholarships that offer part-time class load requirements.

Single parent students covered by scholarships for single parents are being trained to enhance their skills on writing, interpersonal communication and computer. Single parent students are also taught of the learning techniques for success and career exploration.

Many scholarship programs for single parents require that students pass their examination with a minimum grade. Just to give an example, a single parent may be required a passing grade of 3.0 grade-point averages while other students require a 2.5 GPA. There are other scholarships that ask for repayment too when the single parents finish their education.

Some scholarships for single parents have very strict attendance requirements. It is advised to look for scholarships that provide convenience and flexibility because all the single parents play double roles at their home.

As such, there are many courses and programs that single parent may choose from. But mostly, the scholarships are extended to the following courses: accounting course, business courses, computer courses, interior design, health services and office management. Depending on individual strengths and skills, single parents can select appropriate courses.

Single parents who have the desire to continue their education but lack the financial aid may search for scholarships for single parents online at the websites of universities and colleges or even government websites. You may also call or visit some colleges to check if they are offering scholarship for a single parent like you.

The scholarships for single parents are offered by many governments and states too. In case of state scholarships, single parents are granted the amount of tuition, books and dorm for two years until they finish their graduate program.

Single parents who decide to pursue their education must explain to their children the benefit of finishing their studies. Enlighten your children’s mind that before you achieve the success both of you must sacrifice for your time will be divided between your studies, work and them.

There are scholarships for single parent students, which not only help the parents but also their children. This kind of scholarship program facilitates services for their students by taking care of the children while the parent students are in school. These kinds of scholarships are limited depending on the funds of the donors of the scholarships.

Such kind of scholarship benefits not only the single parents but also their children. The services offered for children typically aim at educating and preparing children for pre-school and public school. Children from the age of 12 months of age can avail this facility throughout their school life.

It’s up to every individual single parent to understand and take advantage of scholarship programs.

By: Jenny Magnier

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