Section 437, buried deep within the 1,158 page Higher Education Act of 2008, contains provisions that provide greater access to federal financial aid for mentally disabled students.
However, providing the services outlined in the bill may be difficult for Ohio University's Office of Financial Aid, as the new law will increase the number of students eligible for federal aid.
The bill, which was signed into law Aug. 14, allows students with a diagnosed mental disability to receive federal aid that was previously unavailable to mentally disabled students.
Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and work-study assistance will be available to students with mental disabilities beginning next fall, and in addition, mentally disabled students involved in formal transition programs ' meant to bridge the gap in services between high school and college ' or living-skills programs will now qualify for federal financial aid. Physically disabled students are already eligible for federal grants.
According to Abby Webb, an assistant at the Office of Disability Services, there are about 670 physically and mentally disabled students registered with the Office of Institutional Equity this quarter, up from 650 last fall. However, Disability Services does not distinguish between mentally and physically disabled students, so it is unknown how many OU students may now qualify for federal grants and work-study assistance.
Director of Financial Aid Sondra Williams is uncertain how students who now qualify for federal aid will be identified and added that the solution may be adding questions to the FAFSA.
I am unsure on how these students will be identified
Williams said. Perhaps there will be a self identification question on the FAFSA itself or a process that such students need to be registered with our Disability Services office.
Williams added that because no distinction currently exists on the FAFSA form, the Office of Financial Aid has no way of knowing which students have been previously disqualified from receiving aid.
According to Williams, students should be automatically considered for applicable aid once the law's revisions take effect next fall. There will be more clarification on how schools will satisfy this requirement when enactment happens Williams said. -
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Wesley Lowery
