College Grants For Autistic Students Dont 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 to allow them to have the opportunity to continue their education.
Applying and searching for grants might feel like a lot of work, but its worth it! The Federal Student Aid recommends that students should start researching for grants after 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 20 Best Scholarships For Autism Students
Autistic students struggle with many different circumstances in life, from living independently to completing recurring tasks like washing clothes to managing homework schedules and the time spent sleeping every day, etc. These elements can lead to these autistic people becoming incredibly stressed and overwhelmed. This contributes to the low number of autistic students with disabilities that graduate college, as established from a study by psychologist Susan W. White on autistic students.
Around 41% of college students with disabilities, including students with Autism, who are enrolled in four-year colleges will graduate with a bachelors degree. Compare that to the non-disabled college students, and it can be seen that non-disabled college students are 18% more likely to graduate with a bachelors degree in those same four-year colleges.
To help graduate high school seniors, undergraduate college students, and graduate students pursue their psychology careers in studying Autism,Bold.org has 20 scholarship opportunities. These scholarships for students can help with financial aid and resources that can ease the burden of financial support.
Autism Scholarship Program Act
- Date Amended: August 1, 2009
Issues
The Autism Scholarship Program Act
Summary
The Autism Scholarship Program creates a scholarship program that provides students with autism the option to attend the public or private elementary or secondary school of their parents choice.
Model Policy
Section 1. The Autism Scholarship Program Act1
Section 2. 2
Program means the Autism Scholarship Program created in this subchapter.
Eligible Student means any elementary or secondary student in the state whose public school district has identified the child as having autism or autism spectrum disorder and who has an Individualized Education Plan in effect for the child, and the child was enrolled in public school in the previous school year or is eligible to enter public school in the school year in which a scholarship is first sought for the child.
Parent includes a guardian, custodian, or other person with authority to act on behalf of the child.
Department means the state Department of Public Instruction or an organization chosen by the state. 3
Resident school district means the public school district in which the student resides.
Participating school means either a public school outside of the resident school district, a school run by another public entity, or any private school that provides education to elementary and/or secondary students that has notified the Department of its intention to participate in the program and comply with the programs requirements. 4
Endnotes
Recommended Reading: Why Do We Light It Up Blue For Autism
Types Of Scholarships For Autism Students
One of the significant benefits of studying autism research and social fields is that because those are branches of psychology, these students have access to any psychology scholarship program that comes from multiple. The students pursuing a career in psychology can join a scholarship program from their colleges psychology department or apply for an autism scholarship elsewhere. Any undergraduate or graduate student will try to obtain a particular scholarship annually.
Achieving In Higher Education With Autism/developmental Disabilities Scholarship

Deadline: March 10th
The Achieving in Higher Education with Autism/Developmental Disabilities Scholarship program is a comprehensive nationwide college support program that helps college students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder , Dyslexia, Learning Differences, and Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities . Current graduating high school seniors and undergraduate college students in the United States with high functioning Autism and Aspergerâs can use the $500 for tuition or textbook expenses.
Contact
While paying for college is rarely simple for anyone today thanks to the rising costs of tuition nationwide, navigating through the complex financial aid process can be much more challenging for students who have been diagnosed with autism. However, since every student has the right to reach their college goals, more and more of these students are depending on extra funding from scholarships and grants to overcome all potential obstacles. Whether you have Autism, Aspergerâs Syndrome, or PDD-NOS, be sure to check out these 25 great scholarships for students on the autism spectrum for learners just like you.
Rankings
Read Also: How To Tell If Someone Has Autism
Autism Care & Treatment
Autism care & treatment also provides autism grants for iPad which has the range from $100 to $5,000. They provide help to those parents and families who have autistic children with special needs. Till now they help up to 1562 families and make sure that every child with special needs gets a better future and environment. Their service is given nationwide so that every child will get benefit from their organization. Along with this, they provide their help via grants for autism for iPad to the families and schools that house children with special needs. So, no one can be left without getting help.
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 Dont Wait to Apply!
Read Also: Is Autism On The Rise
How Grants In Texas Can Help Children With Autism
Having a child with autism will mean extra costs. Many families struggle to pay for the services they need so they can offer their children the care they deserve.
In Texas, there are many grants that can help families who have autistic children. Learn more about what a grant is and which ones may be available to you.
Apply For College Scholarships For Autistic Students Dont Wait
It is expensive to attend post-secondary education. The financial burden increases if a child is with autism spectrum disorder. Thats why there are special needs and medical bills that must be addressed in addition to education. Families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder , can apply for grants to help them continue their education.
Although it may seem like a lot of work to apply for grants and search for them, it is well worth it. According to the Federal Student Aid, students should begin looking for grants in their junior year of highschool. Each grant is different and has its own deadlines. Some grant applications require submissions one year prior to the start of college.
You May Like: Do Toddlers With Autism Show Affection
Benefits Of Using Ipads For Autism
Autism is a condition where a child lives in an imaginary world rather than one based on words. Children with disabilities use iPads as assistive devices to create a story or sentence using images. With this program, children can practice communicating with their parents and instructors without feeling frustrated.
The iPad has remarkable features, making it an ideal device for children with autism. Special needs children benefit from autism iPad grants. It is important to understand the benefits of using the iPad for learning before applying for grants.
Grants For Families Living With Autism
Raising a child with autism spectrum disorder can be very expensive. The child may need therapy for speech or social skills, or a specialized summer camp program you might also decide the child in your care would do best in a private school. It is estimated that the lifetime cost for a person with autism averages between $1.4 million and $2.4 million, depending on if the person has an intellectual disability.
Fortunately, grants and scholarships are available for families to offset the financial challenges that come with having a child or other family member with autism. They tend to be very competitive, and many will only pay for specific expenses, usually billed directly to the provider. However, a growing number of foundations are making autism a priority for non-profit grants, which means local organizations that serve families have a better chance of receiving funds than ever before.
Here are the basics about five notable national and regional organizations that provide grants for families who have a child with autism.
Read Also: What Happens When My Autistic Child Turns 18
Autism Care Today Sos Program Application Process
An application process usually takes four weeks. Here are the details:
In your email, the following information must be included:
- Name, address, and age of the child with autism
- Family income as reported in the recent tax forms
- The estimated cost requested should not be more than $5,000
- Describe in 200 words why the request is being made. Make sure to explain why your request needs immediate assistance and not delay the next grant cycle.
In case you do not have access to email, you can call at 1-877-9-ACT-TODAY
Grants for Autistic Children United Healthcare Childrens Foundation Grants
The Organization For Autism Research Scholarship Program For Autistic Students

OAR is a scholarship program administered by theOrganization for Autism Research. It awards over 30 scholarships each year. Therefore, any student with Autism Spectrum Disorder who is enrolled full-time at a US post-secondary institution can apply for the scholarship.
The Schwallie Family Scholarship goes to students diagnosed with autism for higher-functioning. The Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship goes to students diagnosed with severe autism.
Also Check: Does Having Sensory Issues Mean Autism
Additional Funding And Support
Anchor of Hope Foundation
Anchor of Hope Foundation offers financial assistance to individuals who can provide a proof of diagnosis of a developmental disability to help cover the costs of therapy, education, equipment, and other direct needs of the individual not covered by insurance or Medicaid.
Autism Care Today
Autism Care Today is a nonprofit 5013 organization whose mission is to raise awareness and provide treatment services and support to families affected by autism.
Autism Cares Foundation
Autism Cares helps families affected by autism to cover costs associated with critical living expenses such as housing, utilities, car repair, daycare, funeral expenses, and other essential items on a case-by-case basis.
Autism Help Network
The Autism Help Network offers grants and scholarships to families who are experiencing financial difficulty in obtaining schooling, therapy, medical and biomedical treatment.
Autism Rescue Angels
Autism Rescue Angels is a 5013 non-profit striving to provide immediate financial assistance to autism families in the Houston area.
AutismSpeaks Cares
Blooming With Autism
https://www.bloomingwithautism.org/
Friends of Man
Giving Angels Foundation
The Organization For Autism Research 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 the students who have been diagnosed with autism for higher-functioning, and the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship is available to the students with more severe autism diagnoses.
For more information, visit .
Read Also: How To Calm Autistic Tantrums
Autism Grants For Ipads
When it comes to autistic people, iPads are always thought of since they can be used as assistive devices. iPads are quickly becoming the number one choice for people with special needs, thanks to many apps, including Orientation & Mobility apps and high-tech communication applications. They also have an impressive accessibility feature set.
Even though iPads are cheaper than some other traditional assistive devices, they are not necessarily affordable! Here are a few tips you can follow if youre trying to raise money to purchase an iPad for your child.
With the Autism iPad grant, children living with autism can communicate and learn. People with autism have difficulty expressing their emotions and forming words and suffer from communication difficulties. Through these iPad grants for autism, children with autism can take advantage of greater opportunities to improve their cognitive and communication skills.
iPads have revolutionized communications and opened up avenues for autistic children. Children with autism can put words and symbols together to create sentences, thanks to iPad apps for autism. These apps are easy to use, portable, give voice to the voiceless, and allow children to express their ideas. Special education classrooms and individuals are eligible for autism iPad grants to support communication and learning among autistic children.
Prepaid College 529 Plans And Able Accounts
Most people buy 529 plans before their children are diagnosed with an ASD. A 529 plan can still be used towards college as usual but make sure you do not make your ASD child the beneficiary of any 529 Plan, as it will count against their assets for SSI.
There is a new law called the ABLE Act. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 or the ABLE Act of 2014 – Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish tax-exempt ABLE accounts for individuals with a disability to pay certain expenses of such individuals, including expenses for education, housing, transportation, employment support, medical care, and certain life necessities. Defines “individual with a disability” as an individual who is eligible to receive certain supplemental security income benefits under the Social Security Act.
The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 is a tax-advantaged savings program designed for eligible people with disabilities. Also known as 529A ABLE accounts, these funds can be used to help individuals and families pay for qualified disability expenses, such as education, housing, and more. You can learn more about ABLE accounts here.
You May Like: How To Calm An Autistic Child
Grants Available Through Other Organizations
OASN does not offer grants directly to families.
Families residing in the state of FL are eligible for services we provide at our facility, not grants. Grants listed below have not been checked recently. Please contact each organization listed below to ensure they are still offering grants currently.
Autism CaresThis Autism Cares webpage contains a direct link to the registration process for a Financial Support Award. These Awards are granted on a monthly basis to families who have experienced a qualifying event such as loss of employment. The maximum award per family is $1000.
Autism Family Resources GrantsOne-time $500 grants are awarded to families in financial need household income may not exceed $50,000 per year. All funds awarded are paid directly to the vendor or service provider to pay for therapy equipment, safety equipment or services. Email requests for an application along with name, address, phone number and email address to: .
Helping Hands Program, National Autism AssociationProvides families with financial assistance to obtain medically necessary treatments, lab testing, and physician-recommended supplements for their child with autism. This program does not provide funding for ABA or other types of therapy, camp tuition, respite care, fencing, trampolines etc. Funding is extremely limited. Annual net income must not exceed $50,000. Visit NAA for more information.
Financial Aids For Parents Of Children With Autism
There are many aspects of receiving a diagnosis of autism for your child that can feel overwhelming. One of them is how much treatment can cost. Early intervention, therapy, and equipment arent cheap. But there are tons of grants for children with autism that can help ease the financial burden and streamline your focus towards helping your child develop and grow.
Recommended Reading: How To Teach Social Skills To Autism
Organization For Autism Research
The Organization for Autism Research offers the Schwallie Family Scholarship to students who meet the eligibility requirements and have been diagnosed with autism. College scholarships are offered to autistic students in an attempt to minimize the financial burden of attending college. The scholarships can be used for vocational programs, two- and four-year degree programs as well as cooperative life skills programs that teach students how to be more independent and self-reliant. Scholarships are worth $3,000 each. The deadline for entering an application is May 6.
The Organization for Autism Research is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals who have been diagnosed with autism. Ed Schwallie was a Board member of the organization. Through his familys generous donations, the organization can offer these college scholarships for students with autism. The scholarships have helped hundreds of students across the country fulfill their dream of attending college.
Why Consider Autism Scholarships

More than 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder. But 35% of young adults with autism have not had a job or received postgraduate education after leaving high school.
One reason is the high cost of education. A recent study shows it costs more than $8,600 extra per year to educate a student with autism. These costs often pay for support and care giving beyond the classroom.
Another reason may relate to the high stress of . Nonetheless, 29% of autistic youth do take college entrance tests.
While not as likely to pursue a college degree as their peers, many young adults with disabilities do. About 55% enroll in an education program after high school.
If you are one of these college bound students, a scholarship is money you do not have to pay back. It is one way to work towards more independence.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Your Child Tested For Autism