College Grants for Autistic Students

Written by: Victoria Abigail Friedland
I am a medical student who dedicated herself helping individuals and non profit organizations for finding medical grants for medical bills, medical treatment, medical education, research and medical equipment.
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Updated by: Andrea Morales G.
Expertise: Fact Checker / Validator
Experience: 12 Years
With an extensive background spanning over ten years as a validation manager in the demanding and precise field of Cybersecurity, Andrea has adeptly transitioned her skills to the healthcare sector. In her current role, she leverages her experience in rigorous data analysis and verification to enhance the accuracy and reliability of healthcare information. As a detail-oriented fact-checker, Andrea scrutinizes every claim in our healthcare articles, ensuring they are thoroughly vetted against the latest medical research and guidelines. Her commitment to clear, precise, and unambiguous communication is pivotal in our mission to deliver trustworthy and evidence-based health content to our audience. Andrea's unique blend of cybersecurity rigor and healthcare focus positions her as a key asset in upholding the highest standards of informational integrity in the health and wellness space.
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College Grants for Autistic Students – Overview

College grants for autistic students are a form of financial assistance used to cover tuition costs.

Autistic students face financial challenges and other obstacles in pursuing a college education.

However, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), primarily addresses accessibility issues and ensures improved access for disabled students at colleges and universities across the United States.

While physical accessibility to higher education has been addressed, the matter of funding remains an obstacle for many disabled students.

College grants for autistic students can provide part of the solution and are available from several varied sources.

College Grants for Autistic Students – Don’t Wait to Apply!

Post-secondary education is highly costly, and the financial burden becomes even greater with a child being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

Besides education, there are also special care and medical bills that need to be dealt with. Many grants are available to families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to allow them to have the opportunity to continue their education.

Applying and searching for grants might feel like a lot of work, but it’s worth it! It is advisable by the U.S. Department of Education, for students to start researching for grants during their junior year of high school.

Every grant has different rules and deadlines. Some even require submissions a year before starting college.

College Grants for Autistic Students – Where to Apply?

The transition from high school to college is fraught for students with autism.

In addition to the challenges that every college student faces, young adults with autism spectrum disorders must develop unique skills, navigate a brand-new social landscape, and work hard to ensure that their learning styles are accommodated.

Educational opportunities for students with autism have expanded significantly over the past few decades, though limitations still existed at the end of the 20th century.

Since then, more educational options have opened up, along with financial aid programs focused on helping students diagnosed with a variety of disabilities.

  • Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism

Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism aims to help all those dealing with autism. This foundation helps families affected with autism by working to increase awareness and also provides education grants.

Some funding is institutional, awarded to schools, and assistance helps college students directly, providing money for tuition and other education expenses.

For more information, visit https://flutiefoundation.org/helping-communities/autism-community-impact-grant/.

  • Eden Autism Services

Eden Autism Services provides a lifetime of support to improve the lives of people with autism. It is a valuable resource for autism training and education.

The group awards funding through programs like the Charles H. Hoens, Jr. Scholars Program.

Every year, worth $1000, grants are awarded to the applicant with autism who has been approved to attend a post-secondary college, trade, or vocational school.

For more information on Eden Autism Services, visit https://edenautism.org/.

  • Organization for Autism Research (OAR) Scholarship Program

Organization for Autism Research operates the OAR scholarship program, which grants over 30 scholarships annually.

The scholarship is available to any student diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder pursuing full-time studies at a post-secondary institution in the United States.

The Schwallie Family Scholarship is offered to students diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder attending two or four-year universities, while the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship supports those attending programs requiring less than four years.

For more information, visit https://researchautism.org/self-advocates/postsecondary-scholarships/.

  • MyGOAL Family and Enrichment Grants

MyGOAL is an ASD advocacy organization. It offers Enrichment Grants to families of an individual with ASD. This grant is specifically for those pursuing education in programs designed for those with special needs.

  • National Center for Learning Disabilities Awards

The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) offers the Anne Ford Scholarship, which awards $10,000 over four years to a graduating high school senior with a documented learning disability and/or ADHD who is pursuing undergraduate education. For more information, visit https://www.ncld.org/scholarships-awards/.

  • The Autism Society of America

The Autism Society of America does not directly offer the CVS/’All Kids Can’ awards. Instead, CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation provide scholarships through various partners, including schools and nonprofits.

Conclusion

College grants for autistic students help to fund the cost of a college education.

Besides several organizations, various colleges, universities, and technical schools specialize in providing higher educational opportunities for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

These colleges also offer an array of grants to help offset their tuition costs.

So, if autism is part of your life, consider student-specific support to enhance other forms of financial assistance for college.

See Also

Grants for Mental Health Programs

Hardship Grants for Single Mothers

Student Loan Forgiveness for Healthcare Workers

Current Version
May 2, 2024
Updated By
Andrea Morales G.
March 2, 2021
Written By
Victoria Abigail Friedland

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