Free ChatGPT Plus? Yes, If You’re a Student or Have a Disability (Here’s How)
- Lori Ryan
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
College students just got a big AI upgrade thanks to OpenAI. But if you're not a student, don’t scroll away. There might be a way for you to get ChatGPT Plus for free, too (and it came from someone in the audience at my last session!).
ChatGPT Plus is now FREE for college students through May (just in time for finals.)
So if you’ve got a student in your life (like my son, who’s finishing law school), give them a little nudge. With this free access, they can use GPT-4 for deep research, upload and analyze files, get help organizing their thoughts, and message way more often. All for zero dollars. And if you've already paid, they'll give you a two month credit. Here's where to claim the offer: https://chatgpt.com/students
What if you're not a student?
Good news there, too.
Thanks to a smart and generous audience member at last week’s MSSA (Minnesota Social Service Association) Annual Conference, I learned about this hidden gem:
Minnesota has a program that can cover the $20/month ChatGPT Plus fee as a reasonable accommodation for folks with disabilities.
It’s called the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund, and it’s designed to help people with conditions like ADHD, Dyslexia, and other learning or mental health needs get tools that make work more manageable.
There’s $1.6 million in funding available each year. And yes, ChatGPT qualifies.
Here’s the link to apply: MN Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund
Let that sink in. AI as an accommodation.Not just for efficiency, but for equity.
Now back to the MSSA Conference...
At MSSA, I had the privilege of presenting alongside Shannon Seaver, NBCT and G. Michael Jahnl to a room of 300+ social service professionals. Not one empty seat. (Which is both humbling and a little adrenaline-spiking.)
These folks? They’re carrying 2 to 5 times the caseload they should be. They’re buried in documentation. They show up anyway, because they care, even when they’re running on fumes.
We weren’t there to sell some silver bullet.We were there to share relief. Some real, practical ways ChatGPT could support their work without compromising HIPAA or professionalism.
Here’s what we walked through:
How to use ChatGPT to write more professional, anonymized case notes
Translating documents and conversations into multiple languages—even Pig Latin, for a little fun
Creating role-play scenarios to speed up training
Reviewing AI output with a human lens—because it’s not just what you put in, it’s how you interpret what comes out
Using AI as a learning and accessibility tool, especially for workers with disabilities
We also showed off a custom GPT that asks about your job role and gives tailored ways to try AI safely and meaningfully.
After the session, one attendee came up to us and said:
This is the first time I’ve felt comfortable talking about how I’m already using AI.
That’s the moment. That’s why I do this.
That’s it. That’s why I do this.
Because when people feel safe to learn out loud and exchange ideas, the magic happens.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're a college student, a social worker, a nonprofit leader, or just someone trying to keep up with life, incorporating AI into your day-to-day can make a difference.
It's also good to keep in mind that changes are happening fast. Don’t be surprised if you encounter hiccups (or suddenly get a new feature without warning).
Just this week, OpenAI released a new voice in ChatGPT named "Monday". It sounds as unenthusiastic as you feel at the beginning of a work week.
Between free access for students, state-funded options for accessibility, and surprise upgrades like “Monday,” it’s clear:
AI is becoming more human, more available, and more useful by the day.
Start where you are. Ask a question. See what happens.
And if you’re not sure where to begin, I'm here to help!
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