College Grants for Autistic Students

College Grants for Autistic Students – Overview

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

Autistic students face financial challenges and other obstacles in their pursuit of a college education.

However, the Disabilities Education Act addressed accessibility issues and was revised and amended in 2004 to push for 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! The Federal Student Aid recommends that students should start researching for grants after 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.

Until the end of the 20th century, students impacted with autism had limited educational opportunities.

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://www.flutiefoundation.org/apply-grant.

• Eden Autism Services

Eden 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 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, visit http://www.admissionglobal.com/detail/

• The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) Scholarship Program

The 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 who have been diagnosed with autism for higher functioning, and the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship is available to students with more severe autism diagnoses.

For more information, visit https://researchautism.org/how-we-help/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 specially designed for those with special needs.

• National Center for Learning Disabilities Awards

The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) awards $10,000 to a graduating high school senior with a learning disability. For more information, visit https://www.ncld.org/what-we-do/scholarships/.

• The Autism Society of America

The Autism Society of America offers awards for college students. The CVS/”All Kids Can” awards $1,000 to three individuals with autism accepted by a college or university.

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