Getting an education is becoming more and more expensive every day, and it’s rare for a student to be able to afford the cost of tuition, other fees, housing, and course materials without at least some help from an external funding source. Of course, federal student aid is available, but for some students that won’t be enough.
The good news is that scholarships and grants are available, and even better, some of these are designed specifically for students with different needs. As a student diagnosed with autism, or the parent of a child who has autism and wants to enter further study, you’ll be glad to know that additional financial support can be found if you’re looking in the right places.
The scholarships that you’ll find contained in this list are geared specifically towards students who have an autism spectrum diagnosis, with some including other disabilities too. Others are available for non-disabled students who either currently work in a position that improves the lives of those with disabilities, or who wish to enter such a career in future. So, without any hesitation, here is our list of the top 22 scholarships for students with autism.
The 22 Best Scholarships for Students on the Autism Spectrum
University or college scholarships are a useful way to cover the costs of your education. These awards help you to pay for your degree through either a one-time check, or through renewable, yearly payments. They’re not the same as student loans, which have to be repaid, so it absolutely makes sense to do your research on what scholarships you might be entitled to.
How Scholarships Work
Scholarships won’t come looking for you; you’ll have to make an application to be considered for any funding. If you’re accepted for a scholarship, then payments may be made directly to your college or university, or made out as a check in your name. If they’re paid directly to you, while you can spend this money on anything, you’d be wise to prioritize essential purchases—for example, tuition, course books, stationary, housing and accommodation costs, and food.
With the high cost of education, if there’s a possibility for you to be awarded additional financial aid, then you should absolutely ensure that you apply for any scholarships or grants to which you may be entitled. And while there are many scholarships and grants that any student can apply for, there are also a whole host of scholarships designed for people who live with disabilities. We’ve rounded up a list of 22 of the top scholarships for students with an autism spectrum diagnosis. In most cases, you’ll have to have been diagnosed with a mental or physical disability to qualify for these financial awards, meaning you might just face less competition from other applicants when compared to traditional scholarships.
1. Fred J. Epstein Youth Achievement Award
Made possible by a company known as ‘Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities’, The Fred J. Epstein Youth Achievement Award celebrates the accomplishments of young people with learning disabilities and ADHD. To apply, you’ll need to submit a personal statement describing how you’ve dealt with the challenges associated with your disability. You’ll also need to evidence this, as well as providing a high-resolution photo of yourself.
Deadline for application: January
Amount: $1,000
2. The Disability Awareness Scholarship
To promote disability awareness, the website MilitaryVALoan.com offers one student a scholarship worth $1,000. In order to be considered, applicants need to write and submit an essay of 500 to 1000 words. The subject of the essay is around overcoming disability and achieving something great; you can write about yourself or somebody you know who has a disability. Eligibility requires you to be 17 years of age or older, as well as either be enrolled in a current undergraduate or graduate school, or accepted to such a program.
Deadline for application: January
Amount: $1,000
3. The Google Lime Scholarship
This Google scholarship is provided by a nonprofit organization known as Lime Connect, who partners with leading corporations across the U.S. and Canada. High-performing graduate or undergraduate students who are studying towards a computer science or IT-related degree may be eligible, providing they have a disability—which may be visible or invisible, promoting awareness for the fact that not all disabilities are visible. For U.S. students, the maximum scholarship that may be awarded is $10,000 and for residents of Canada, $5,000 is available. However, unlike the Disability Awareness Scholarship, more than one student each year may receive the award.
Deadline for application: January
Amount: $10,000
4. The Adults with Autism Scholarship
Autism Delaware offers a $1,000 scholarship award for adult-age students who want to further their education beyond the secondary level. To be eligible for this award, you’ll need to have had an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, as well as have either a high school diploma or a GED. You must also have been accepted onto a course at a college, trade school, university, or community college, or have been accepted into a vocational training course. As part of your application, you’ll need to provide a substantial level of supporting information. You’ll need to write a cover letter that highlights your career ambitions, submitting it alongside your high school or GED transcript, two letters of recommendation, evidence of your ASD diagnosis, and a resume. You should also write a letter that outlines the support system you have in place and how it will help you to achieve success in your studies.
Deadline for application: March
Amount: $1,000
5. Autism Society of Iowa Chapter
While limited to only those students based in Iowa, there are several scholarships available through the Autism Society of Iowa Chapter. The Zach Paulsen Memorial Scholarship is tailored towards students studying for a technical qualification—including automotive technology, marine technology, plumbing & heating, and motorcycle technology—while the chapter’s general scholarship is available to any students studying outside of these areas. They also offer the Sue Baker Memorial Scholarship for a student whose professional goals involve working in the field of autism following completion of their post-secondary education. Finally, there is the Robert and Clarice Burkgren Honorable Scholarship, which is designed for existing graduates who are studying towards an advanced degree that involves supporting those with ASD diagnoses.
Deadline for application: March
Amount: $500
6. Incight Educational Scholarships
This is a nonprofit organization that focuses on support and empowerment for those with disabilities, with an emphasis on employment, education and training, and maintaining independence. There are usually around one hundred scholarships or up to $500 available per academic year for students who have a documented disability, though eligibility doesn’t limit the award to only those with autism—students with any disability that’s officially recognized, such as within the DSM-V or ADA, are eligible to apply. In addition to having a recognized disability, you should also be enrolled in post-secondary education at the time of your application and subsequently through the eligibility period that follows.
Deadline for application: March
Amount: $500
7. P. Buckley Moss Endowed Scholarship
The P. Buckley Moss Foundation offers this scholarship exclusively to students who have learning disabilities and want to enter a career in the field of visual arts. The scholarships, which award up to $1,000 per successful applicant, are potentially renewable each academic year, with up to four years of funding available. Eligibility states that you must be a graduating high school senior with a verified disability, as well as be in financial need. You must also have been accepted into a visual arts-related course in a four-year college or university, or a two-year community college.
Deadline for application: March
Amount: $750
8. Disability Scholarship Program
Established in 2014 by a Michigan-based law firm, this scholarship is designed to help students that have disabilities or injuries and need financial study aid. You can apply regardless of age or disability—autism included—and may receive $1,000 to put towards the cost of your studies. Only one student is accepted by the selection committee each year, with applicants needing to be enrolled at a college or university, have a confirmed disability diagnosis, and have completed at least one semester of classes. For your application, you’ll be expected to submit a typed essay that shows how you’ve tackled and overcome a personal challenge in your life.
Deadline for application: April
Amount: $1,000
9. The NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship
Despite the name, this scholarship isn’t offered directly by NBC. Rather, it’s awarded by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) thanks to contributions from NBCUniversal. The scholarship is open to students who are studying towards a media or communications-based degree. If you’re an undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior, or you’re in the second year of an associate degree, then you may apply—however, graduates can apply too. An award of $5,625 is made to successful applicants to help pay for tuition and fees. There’s typically more than one scholarship available and potentially as many as ten.
Deadline for application: April
Amount: $5,625
10. The Jacob Trotter Memorial Scholarship (Wisconsin only)
This scholarship was created in memory of Jacob Trotter, a teenager who grew up in the Madison area and who was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To be eligible, you must live in one of the following counties of Wisconsin:
- Columbia
- Crawford
- Dane
- Grant
- Green
- Iowa
- Lafayette
- Richland
- Rock
- Sauk
You should also have a medical diagnosis that falls on the autism spectrum, as well as have been accepted into an accredited post-secondary course of education or a vocational training program. Priority is given to existing members of the autism society of South Central Wisconsin.
Deadline for application: April
Amount: $500
11. The KFM Making a Difference Autism Scholarship
Diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder at the age of 4, Kerry Magro grew up faced with uncertainty. But after an abundance of support, therapy, and love, he’s grown to be a professional speaker, author, and more. He has also created this scholarship program for students with autism, which awards $500 to successful applicants. To make an application, you’ll need to submit your resume alongside two essays, as well as prove a cover letter that includes a bio of 250 words in length.
Deadline for application: May
Amount: $500
12. The Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship
Provided by the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), these $3,000 scholarships are awarded to students across the autism spectrum. Applications are welcomed from those with an autism diagnosis (DSM-IV or later criteria) who are pursuing a full-time course of post-secondary or undergraduate education, or who are enrolled in vocational-technical training. This may be in a four-year undergraduate college or university, a two-year undergraduate college, a trade, technical, or vocational school, or a cooperative life skills program.
Deadline for application: May
Amount: $3,000
13. Schwallie Family Scholarship
Every academic year, there are numerous non-renewable scholarships available from the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), which award $3,000 to each successful applicant. These are made available under the Schwallie Family Scholarship, which was set up thanks to donations from Ed Schwallie, a former board member. As an applicant, you’ll need to have a confirmed diagnosis of autism (DSM-IV) as well as be enrolled on a two-year or four-year program at a college or university. If you’re instead studying towards a vocational program or are enrolled at trade school, you should look at the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship, another source of funding made available by the same organization.
Deadline for application: May
Amount: $3,000
14. Kelly Law Team Autism Scholarship
Two annual awards of up to $1,000 are available from the Kelly Law Team Autism Scholarship fund. If you’re between the ages of 16 and 30 and have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, then you’re eligible to apply, provided that you’ll be using the funds to enroll in a program of secondary-education. This might include trade schools, colleges, community colleges, and so on. To make an application, you’ll need to complete a form, as well as providing a 600 – 850 word essay that highlights your personal experience in overcoming adversity or a significant obstacle.
Deadline for application: June
Amount: $1,000
15. Mays Mission Scholarship
This long-standing institution has been supporting those with disabilities for more than three decades. As part of this support, the Mays Mission Scholarship awards 7 students who have mental or physical disabilities with scholarships of varying amounts. Requirements for this funding are fairly broad, requiring you to have a score of 18 or higher on the A.C.T or a minimum of 870 on the S.A.T, as well as be enrolled in a four-year undergraduate degree. You’ll also need to provide evidence of your enrollment for every semester in addition to submitting grades, maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.3, and sending an update to the Mission that details your progress and grades, any obstacles you’ve faced, successes you’ve had, and your general life on campus.
Deadline for application: June
Amount: Variable
16. Avonte Oquendo Memorial Scholarship for Autism
Avonte Oquendo was diagnosed with autism at a fairly early age, disappearing from school in 2013 when he was just 14 years old. This scholarship, offered by the Perecman Firm, was set up in memory of Avonte and can be awarded to high-performing students who meet the two key eligibility requirements. Firstly, you or a member of your family must have had an autism diagnosis, and secondly, you must be a current student of an accredited college or university—this can either be on an undergraduate or postgraduate course of study. Alongside your application, you’ll need to provide a 500 word essay on a topic specified by the Perecman Firm.
Deadline for application: July
Amount: $1,000
17. AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability
Each year, one student who is currently pursuing a course of undergraduate or graduate education can receive this award. However, to be eligible, you must be studying in a field that’s related to health and disability, such as disability studies or policies, public health, health education, special education, and so on. Essentially, you should be in a course of study that leads towards a career in improving the quality of life for those who have disabilities. The award offers up to $1,000 and applications must be made by November of each academic year.
Deadline for application: November
Amount: $1,000
18. Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship
This $2,500 scholarship is made possible by The National Center for Learning Disabilities, and offers a one-time, non-renewable payment. Eligibility asks that applications are made by graduating high school seniors who will be progressing onto a two-year community college course, a vocational training course, or a specialized course of study for students who have learning disabilities in the following fall. There is an element of needs-assessment to the application process, as the scholarship favors those who are in financial need. You’ll also need to be able to articulate your disability and the impact that autism has on your life.
Deadline for application: December
Amount: $2,500
19. Anne Ford Scholarship
Like the Allegra Ford Scholarship, this award is offered by The National Center for Learning Disabilities. However, rather than being a one-time award, this scholarship offers funding of $2,500 each year for four consecutive years of study—totaling $10,000. Therefore, it’s offered to applicants who will be enrolled in a full-time bachelor’s degree in the following fall. In order to be eligible, you will need to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a diagnosed learning disability, including autism, as well as being able to demonstrate your financial need, as above. You will also need to be a U.S. citizen.
Deadline for application: December
Amount: $10,000
20. BMO Capital Markets Lime Connect Equity Through Education Scholarship
As with the above scholarship, this award offers one of the greatest financial sums available for students with learning disabilities—$10,000. Both undergraduate and graduate students in both Canada and the U.S. may apply, provided that you have a learning disability (visible or invisible). However, your course of study must fall within the fields of business, engineering, physics and math, or statistics (or some other related areas). If your intention is to study within the area of financial services, then your application may have an edge over other applicants. For successful applicants from Canada, the award is half of that given to U.S. citizens, so $5,000.
Deadline for application: October
Amount: $5,000 in Canada; $10,000 in the U.S.
21. Science Graduate Student Grant Fund
The Foundation for Science and Disability, or FSD, offers one student a $1,000 scholarship each academic year. It’s geared towards promoting the study of science, math, and engineering-based programs, as well as some other areas like medical and dental. If you’re a graduate or undergraduate student pursuing a course in one of these areas of study, then you’re eligible to apply, provided that you can source two letters of recommendation to submit with your application. You will also be expected to include a 250 word personal essay that highlights your career ambitions after graduation.
Deadline for application: December
Amount: $1,000
22. Will Rogers Memorial Scholarship Fund
This $2,000 scholarship is made possible by The University of Texas and is limited to those who will be studying at the institution specifically. To be eligible for the award, you may be a disabled individual, or a non-disabled student who intends on working in a field that improves the lives of those with disabilities. Due to competition, financial need may be taken into consideration when applications are assessed for eligibility.
Deadline for application: February
Amount: Variable
Advice on Applying for Scholarships
So, now you know that there’s a whole range of scholarships out there that could give you the funding you need to support you while you pursue a course of higher education. However, it’s important to make sure everything on your application is correct, as any mistakes could be costly and result in you losing out on financial support. So, before you submit your application for any of the above scholarships, here’s some advice for you to follow.
1. Print your application and double-check everything
The application form, otherwise known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is long and complicated. You may be asked for supplementary information, such as tax statements, so it’s important that you double-check the requirements asked of you and ensure that you include everything needed when you make your application. The same applies for if you are making a scholarship application, as many of the scholarships available to you as a student with autism will ask that you provide personal statements, letters of recommendation, a copy of your resume, and so on. Missing one of the required documents could mean that you’re deemed ineligible, even if you’re not.
Aside from reviewing your application again once you think you’ve finished it, you should also carefully read the requirements of any financial support that you’re applying for. These scholarship applications are often extremely lengthy and you don’t want to reach the end of an application only to realize that your chosen course of study isn’t supported by the scholarship award.
2. Keep deadlines in mind
On our list of the top 20 scholarships available for students with autism, we’ve also listed the application deadline so that you know the date by which you’ll have to make your application. While some scholarships are made available year-round, all of those on our list have specific deadlines and you’ll be unable to apply for funding if you miss the cutoff date for your academic year. Bear in mind that if you’re asked to gather a lot of supplementary information for an application, you should give yourself as much time as possible. Obtaining letters of recommendation and other information from third-parties can take longer than you might expect.
3. Don’t embellish anything on your application
The support offered by these scholarships is specifically designed to help those who have disabilities—or in some cases, to help those who will go into a field of work that improves the lives of those who have disabilities. Therefore, it’s in your interest to be concise and honest when asked to describe your autism and the impact that it has on your life. If you’re asked to write an essay, bear the word count in mind and provide only the most important information, but don’t hold anything back and don’t embellish anything. Be honest and upfront about your challenges and personal successes.
4. Consider letters of recommendation for every application
Whereas some scholarships might ask for you to provide a letter of recommendation—or even two—there are also awards that won’t ask for any recommendations. However, these supporting documents tend to strengthen your case and we would encourage you to provide them even in cases where you haven’t been asked. These letters might come from family friends or family members, or from professionals involved in your support network, such as therapists and physicians.
5. Have another pair of eyes review your application
Even if you’ve triple-checked everything on your application and the supporting documentation, it doesn’t hurt to have another person look over it before it is submitted. They can check for any problems with spelling or grammar, and ensure that you haven’t missed any supplementary information that you’re being asked to provide. Remember, if you miss the deadline, then you might miss out on funding, and you don’t want to have to submit the application more than once.
6. Save your applications for future use
If your application is not successful, then don’t throw away the answers that you gave or the documentation that you collected as part of the application. Even if you didn’t get accepted for funding, you can try again in subsequent years as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria for the award. Just because you didn’t manage to secure funding one year, it doesn’t mean that you’ll never be awarded the scholarship. Remember, some awards are means-tested and you may face stiffer competition one year than the following year.
Other Sources of Funding
Every year, students across the U.S. apply for federal financial aid from the government to help cover the costs of getting an education, and as a student with autism, you’re no different. In each academic year, the government sets aside more than $120 billion in grants, low-interest loans, and work-study funding. And every year, more than 13 million students who apply via the FAFSA receive this money towards their studies. The process involved with applying for federal student aid starts by filling out an application form called the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
What’s more, educational institutions across the United States use information taken from the FAFSA to work out which students should be awarded other forms of financial aid. This might include the institution’s own grants and scholarships, some of which you may qualify for without even realizing that they exist.
- You don’t need to pay anything to submit the FAFSA, so there’s really no reason to avoid doing it.
- If you want to continue receiving your funding once you’ve been approved, then you’ll have to submit a new FAFSA before the start of each new academic year.
- You shouldn’t use an email account on your application that you may lose access to—for example, your existing high school email address. Otherwise, you may not be able to access important information relating to your FAFSA in subsequent years.
- You may receive a $1,000 College Board Opportunity Scholarship simply for completing and submitting your FAFSA.
What Funding Can the FAFSA Lead to?
If you submit an application for federal student aid, then you might be eligible for several grants offered by the government. Among the grants offered are the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).
Unlike a loan, the Pell Grant does not have to be repaid under most circumstances. They’re awarded to undergraduate students who are in exceptional financial need and who do not already possess a bachelor’s or graduate degree. While the amount awarded changes from one year to the next, you could receive more than $6,000 towards your studies.
Like the Pell Grant, the FSEOG doesn’t need to be repaid either. You could receive anywhere between $100 and $4,000 towards your education, with the amount awarded depending upon the extent of your financial need. The amount of other financial support you’re receiving might also impact the amount you’re awarded if you’re accepted for FSEOG support.
Advice for Post-Secondary Students With Autism
Successfully completing a post-secondary course of education while dealing with the daily challenges that autism brings can be challenging. We’ve scoured the internet for first-hand accounts of students with autism who have progressed through their studies and successfully graduated with a qualification.
While there’s a great deal of variation and individuality from one graduate to the next, those with ASD tend to excel in attention to detail, long-term memory capabilities, and a strong interest in one or more areas. However, with that there may also be challenges you’ll face. Many of these students talked about issues that are often common to an autism diagnosis, such as greater difficulty with socialization or organization. These can be challenging issues, but they may become even more prominent in a college environment, including:
- Difficulty forming routines and finding it difficult to accept change
- Difficulty understanding and reacting to aspects of social scenarios
- Trouble with self-regulation and difficulty coping with anger or frustration
- Trouble in organizing and planning ahead, or planning for something
What we’ve done is collate some of the advice that we came across from students in a similar position to come up with these tips.
- Get familiar with the campus, professors, and students
When you first set foot on campus, especially if you have any anxiety issues, it can be a daunting experience. If this sounds familiar, then you don’t want to wait until your classes begin to experience these feelings. Before the semester starts, try to get familiar with the campus and where everything is. If there’s an opportunity to meet some of your professors or some of the students in your classes, consider doing so outside of the classroom. By being familiar with your surroundings and the new people you’re going to meet, this should help ease some of that first-day anxiety when you go into a busy lecture hall.
- Choose accommodation that works for you
It might be that you choose to live at home during your studies if your institution is nearby—this can be cheaper too! But if you choose student dorms, be aware that this could mean loud music, students coming and going throughout the night, pranking, and general disruption. If this won’t work for you as a living or study environment, make sure you do your research on the types of dorms available and whether any of them require occupants to be quieter than others. If your dorm has an RA (Resident Assistant), they often help to keep things calmer or point you in the direction of support services and other useful facilities.
- Choose your roommate—if you can
The way that roommates are assigned varies from one college to another. Most institutions have a housing form that you’ll have to complete if you want to live on campus. Sometimes, this form will let you nominate a preferred roommate—if your friend is going to the same college—meaning that there’s a possibility of swaying things in your favor. Other colleges use lifestyle questionnaires that ask about cleanliness, substance use, and socialization, basing assignments on the results. However, some institutions just deny requests for specific roommates, as they believe that part of the experience is meeting new people. If you can choose your roommate, then by all means try; just be wary that you might not be allowed to do so.
- Ask about support networks
Colleges and universities should have a support network in place that’s there to help students who have disabilities. The easiest way to find out how you can access your institution’s support network is to ask. Make sure that it’s at the top of your list when you arrive on campus, before classes start, so that you’ll have access to help should you need it during your time there. Also, make sure that you keep a note of important contacts in your existing network when you set off to college or university, especially if it’s far from home.
- Find strategies for helping you to study
Studying a subject for many hours at a time can be difficult for even the most motivated of students, though you may find it even more challenging. So, you should try to find strategies that could help you stay focused on the task and make it less monotonous. For example, read through your textbooks more than once and highlight important facts that need to be remembered. Consider joining a study group with other people that are studying the same things. Try having a classmate quiz you on the material. Or, ask your lecturer if you’re allowed to record them while they’re teaching so that you can go back to the lecture as needed.