Last Updated on October 9, 2023 by Editorial Team
Pursuing higher education is expensive. It could take a good chunk of your fortune out of your pocket to manage tuition costs, resources, transportation costs, and living. To offset some burdens, students generally seek alternative sources of funding, including grants, loans, and scholarships. Fortunately, For students with learning disabilities such as Dyslexia and Dyscalculia, there are selective scholarship opportunities that may financially support their education.
We searched far and wide for programs and prepared a list of 10 that offer financial aid and scholarships to students with a learning disability. Explore some of the opportunities below. Please note that some of the aids mentioned in this post are not yet open for registration but it is advisable to keep a check on the link to get the latest updates on applications.
List of top 10 financial aids for students with dyslexics
1. Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship
Started in 2009, the Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship is a$5000 financial aid over two years ($2,500 for each year) awarded to a graduating high school senior having a learning disability and/or ADHD by the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Students who will be enrolled in a two-year community college, a vocational or technical training program, or a specialized program for students with LD and/or ADHD in the fall can apply for this scholarship.
In order to be eligible for the Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship, the Applicant must be a US citizen who can provide the most current documentation of an identified learning disability and/or ADHD (e.g., psycho-educational report, neuropsychological evaluation, IEP or 504 plan) and has utilized services, supports and/or accommodations. Other than that, He/She must demonstrate their financial needs by submitting their financial information.
National Center for Learning Disabilities
1220 L Street, NW Ste. 100 Box #168 Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (301) 966-2234
2. Fred J. Epstein Youth Achievement Awards
Fred J. Epstein Youth Achievement is a $1,000 award intended for students with learning disabilities such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, or ADHD. The scholarship is sponsored by Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities. In order to be eligible, the Applicant must provide documentation of an identified learning disability or ADHD. The nominator must provide a personal statement, supporting materials, documented proof of the candidate’s learning disability, and a recent photo of the nominee.
Contact Information
Scholarship Administrator
Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities
38 Kings Highway North
Westport, CT 06880 United States
3. AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship
The American Association on Health and Disability contributes to efforts made at the local, state, and national levels to improve health and education support for the disabled. Frederick J. Krause served in the special education sector as a teacher in 1954 and that stint brought him closer to issues of the disabled.
The qualifying criteria for this scholarship are:
- Students must have enrolled as undergraduate students or have achieved sophomore or above level in the fall of 2023.
- High school students who have achieved sophomore status by scoring AP course credits.
- The disability must be recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act; proper supporting documents are needed for the same.
The scholarship fund amount is $1000. The 2023 scholarship will be awarded in June 2023. The applicants can send in their applications by March 1, 2023.
Contact details
To send a transcript of the most recent submission in college: Scholarship Committee, American Association on Health and Disability,
110 N. Washington Street, Suite 407, Rockville, MD 20850
Email: scholarship@aahd.us for sending two letters of recommendation.
4. Joseph James Morelli Scholarship Fund
Joseph James Morelli Scholarship presents financial support to high school and college students with
dyslexia, dysgraphia, and/or dyscalculia who wish to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The Fund is supported by a Scholarship Committee and an Advisory Committee. In 2018, the Fund awarded a total of $50,000 in scholarships to 38 students around the country, including 5 Park City High School graduates.
In order to apply, the Applicant must provide a recommendation letter from a teacher, counselor, or other school personnel, the most current documentation of a learning disability, and a recent transcript (official or unofficial). The scholarship amount will range from $500 to $2,500 and must be utilized for tuition costs, test fees, assistive technology solutions, and other resources. To apply, please go to morelli.smapply.io for any updates and recent notifications.
Contact Information
Scholarship Committee,
P.O. Box 681499 Park City, UT 84068
rachel@parkcitycf.org
435-214-7476
5. Ralph D. Norman Scholarship
The Ralph G. Norman Scholarship is a $2,500 financial aid offered by the Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas for individuals with a documented learning disability who will be enrolled in the fall at a university, two-year community college, or a vocational/technical training program. A total number of five awards are presented every year.
In order to be eligible, the Applicant must provide documentation of an identified learning disability such as Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, and ADHD. Students must be ineligible for SSI or SSD funding. The deadline is in early July.
Contact Information
Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 23514, Little Rock, AR 72221
info@ldarkansas.org
501-650-4653
6. Bottar Leone Scholarship
Sponsored by the award-winning law firm, Bottar Leone PLLC, the Bottar Leone Scholarship is a $2,500 financial aid awarded twice annually for high school graduates with physical or learning disabilities. The scholarship is intended to fulfill any financial barrier that a student may face during college such as tuition fees, books, tools, etc.
In order to be eligible, the Applicant must be a US citizen with a documented physical or learning disability (students with ADD/ADHD alone are not eligible). Other than this, he must be a high school graduate with a high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.0+ on a 4-point scale (or equivalent). The student must be enrolled full-time at an accredited two-year or four-year university or community college in the United States and must demonstrate financial need for the same.
Applications for the Bottar Leone Scholarship should be postmarked no later than July 1st for the Fall semester, and December 1st for the Spring semester. Follow the link for updates on new registrations:
Contact Information
Bottar Law, PLLC, ATTN: Scholarship,
1600 AXA Tower II, 120 Madison Street,
Syracuse, NY 13202.
7. LEAD Foundation Dottie-Walker Scholarship
LEAD Foundation is a 501c3 organization that aims to support Colorado or Nevada students with a learning disability (i.e. dyslexia, ADHD, perceptual or communicative disability) by sponsoring a one-time $1,500 scholarship. The award is established in honor of Dottie R. Walker. Applications are required to be submitted by March 1 every year.
To qualify for this scholarship, Applicant must:
- Have a documented Specific Learning Disability (SLD) as defined by the LDA.
- Reside in the state of Colorado or Nevada.
- Plan to be enrolled full-time in higher education in the coming year.
Submit:
- A completed application.
- One letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor who is aware of your self-advocacy.
- Official, certified high school transcript.
- Proof of an SLD from a certified professional, IEP, or 504.
Contact Information
P.O. Box 2516, Colorado Springs, CO 80901
director@leadcolorado.org
806-789-2369
8. Marion Huber Learning Through Listening awards
Marion Huber Learning Through Listening awards established in 1991, are offered to high school seniors with learning disabilities who wish to pursue college education. The students are chosen on the basis of their academic achievement, outstanding leadership, and service to others.
The top winners are awarded $6,000 each and the special honors winners are awarded $2,000 each.
Candidates are required to produce a letter of recommendation from a tutor on their academic performance, mention any awards received or extracurricular participated in as well as submit a written and recorded personal narrative on their learning disabilities and the journey so far. You are also expected to exhibit support for Learning Ally as a tool for helping students with learning disabilities.
Applications must be submitted by 31st December 2022 and awards will be announced in early 2023.
Contact Information:
custserv@LearningAlly.org
20 Roszel Road Princeton, NJ 08540 United States
9. P. Buckley Moss Endowed Scholarship
P. Buckley Moss Endowed Scholarship is probably the best program for students with learning disabilities pursuing education in visual arts. The program aims to integrate arts into all educational programs better, with a special focus on children who learn in different ways. High school seniors with artistic talent, documented learning disability (Dyslexia, Dyscalculia), and financial need can apply for this $1,000 (potentially renewable for up to three additional years for a 4-year college ) scholarship.
Contact Information
P. Buckley Moss Society
74 Poplar Grove Lane
Mathews, VA 23109 United States
Phone: (800) 430-1320
10. JCS Newhoff Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to Jewish high school seniors with a documented diagnosed learning disability. Students from the Baltimore Metro Area who are planning to attend an accredited U.S. college or university can apply.
The scholarship is administered by Central Scholarship. In order to be eligible, the Applicant must demonstrate financial need. Moreover, He/She must have good academic potential and involvement in extracurricular activities within the Jewish community.
Contact Information
JCS Newhoff Scholarship
5750 Park Heights Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215
(410) 466-9200
info@jcsbaltimore.org
Conclusion
Dyslexia should never be a roadblock in your dream of a college degree if you desire to get one. As we move towards a more inclusive world, many individuals and institutions have started offering scholarships to students with learning disabilities, realizing their potential to evolve into responsible and productive members of society. A keen eye needs to be kept on these scholarships as they too evolve with different terms and conditions, so that financial aid for those who desire it is just an application away.
An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’,