Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has reintroduced legislation aimed at expanding access to federal financial aid for college students with disabilities who need to take reduced course loads as an accommodation.
The Higher Education Grant Flexibility Act would allow students with disabilities who are approved by their colleges or universities to take fewer courses to remain eligible for the same amount of certain federal financial aid as full-time students.
“For students with disabilities, higher education can open the doors to new opportunities, from civic participation to good-paying jobs and economic security,” Van Hollen stated in a release.
“But many of these students still face unfair barriers to earning their degrees,” he said. “This legislation will help ensure students with disabilities can access the financial resources to seek higher education – supporting their success in school and beyond.”
The legislation has received support from Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii; Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Alex Padilla, D-Calif.; and Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M.
The bill has been introduced in the Senate but has not yet come up for a vote.
