Who can I contact to find out if there are any organizations or programs to help disabled students pay for college?

College and university financial aid offices likely have information on monetary assistance opportunities for students with disabilities.

Other possible sources of information include organizations that are dedicated to helping people with particular disabilities, along with 211 referral services such as Southwest Louisiana’s 310info.org — its phone number: 310-INFO — and the U.S. government’s online clearinghouse for disability information, disability.gov.

Additionally, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance and the U.S. government’s Federal Student Aid office can offer information on various loan and grant opportunities.

LOSFA’s number is 800-259-5626; its website is at www.osfa.la.gov.

The federal aid website is at http://studentaid.ed.gov. The phone number for the Federal Student Aid Information Center is 800-4-FED-AID; the TTY number is 800-730-8913.

The call center is available 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 7 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.

It’s closed on all federal holidays except those marking the birthdays of Martin Luther King Jr. and President George Washington.

By popular demand: tips on what to tip

Could you rerun the scale for how much you’re supposed to tip when you go to a restaurant or get a massage?

Sure.

A few of the tipping guidelines, which The Informer found at EmilyPost.com and first ran in December:

Takeout — 10 percent for extra service, such as curb delivery, or for large, complicated orders; there’s no obligation to tip otherwise.

Delivery — 10 percent to 15 percent; $2 to $5 for pizza “depending on the size of the order and difficulty of delivery,” the site reads.

Wait service in sit-down situations — 15 percent to 20 percent of before-tax amount.

Wait service in buffet situations — 10 percent of before-tax amount.

Bartender — $1 to $2 a drink or 15 percent to 20 percent of the final tab.

Hair salon — 15 percent to 20 percent, split among those who provided the services.

Manicurist — 15 percent to 20 percent.

Facial, waxing or massage — 15 percent to 20 percent.

Taxi drivers — 15 percent to 20 percent of the fare (a dollar at the least) and $2 for the first bag and $1 for each additional bag.

The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com

(mgnonline.com)