College Scholarships for People With ADHD

Do you have ADHD and wonder if there are scholarships available for college? Use these tips for looking for scholarship opportunities, including those for people with ADHD.

Searching for Scholarships

When searching for ADHD scholarships for college, you may want to widen your search to include scholarships available for people with disabilities in general. You may also want to explore private scholarships that have nothing to do with ADHD.

For example, you might be eligible for scholarships depending on your study interests and career goals, ethnic background, religious affiliation, extracurricular activities, military experience, and your parents’ place of employment. If you are employed or volunteering, ask your company if they offer scholarships.

The financial aid office at the colleges you are considering is often the best resource for scholarship information. Financial aid counselors will be familiar with local, state, and private sources of funding. You can also try general scholarship search tools online, such as:

• College Board's Scholarship Search
• Fast Web
• Peterson’s Scholarship Search
• Scholarships.com
• U.S. Department of Labor's Scholarship Finder

Your local state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency is another resource that may be able to assist in your scholarship search. You can find the contact information for your state VR office online.

Many organizations also offer scholarships. If you or a parent is involved with any of these groups, investigate scholarship opportunities:

• Boy Scouts of America
• Elks Club
• Girl Scouts of the United States of America
• Kiwanis Club
• Lions Club
• Rotary International

Major labor unions such as the AFL-CIO and Teamsters offer scholarships for members and their children. Your church or synagogue may even have scholarships. Check with your local chamber of commerce to see what they may have available as well.

List of ADHD Scholarships

The following are scholarship programs that have been available to students with ADHD. Requirements and availability can change yearly. Check websites for current details.

Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarships

The Anne Ford Scholarship is a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500/year over four years) granted to a graduating high school senior with a documented learning disability or ADHD diagnosis who will be enrolled in a full-time bachelor’s degree program.

The Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship is a $5,000 scholarship awarded over two years ($2,500 each year) to a graduating high school senior with documented ADHD or a learning disability who will be enrolled in a two-year community college, a vocational or technical training program, or a specialized program for students with learning disabilities.

Fred J. Epstein Youth Achievement Award

This $1,000 award recognizes the strengths and accomplishments of young people with learning disabilities and ADHD. It is given to a student 19 or younger who "has demonstrated initiative, talent, and determination resulting in a notable accomplishment in any field—including art, music, science, math, athletics, or community service." Honorable mentions are also awarded.

Incight Scholarship

The Incight Scholarship is an award for students with physical, learning, cognitive, hearing, or visual disabilities who are residents of Washington, Oregon, or California.

Johnson Scholarship

The Johnson Scholarship Foundation does not give money to individuals directly but instead runs the Johnson Scholarship program through State University System of Florida (SUS) institutions. The Johnson Scholarship is a competitively awarded program available to undergraduate students with disabilities with financial needs.

Scholarships for Kids With Other Learning Disabilities

There are other scholarships available to students coping with other learning disabilities, but not ADHD alone. As many kids with ADHD are dealing with other learning disabilities, the following options may also be available.

Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa

The Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa awards scholarships to Iowa high school seniors with language-related learning disabilities. Students must have a demonstrated financial need and plan to pursue a visual arts career.

Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Award

Each year Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Awards are given to six high school seniors with dyslexia and other reading-related learning disabilities who plan to continue their education after graduation. The top three winners receive $6,000 each. There also are three special honors winners that receive $2,000 each.

P. Buckley Moss Endowed Scholarship

Scholarships are awarded to at least one high school senior with financial needs, a certified specific language-related learning disability, and artistic talent who plan to have a visual arts career.

Ralph G. Norman Scholarship Award

Available to Arkansas residents only, the Ralph G. Norman Scholarship fund was established to assist young adults with learning disabilities so they may obtain success in furthering their education. This $2,500 scholarship is awarded based on the applicant's commitment to higher education, self-advocacy skills, and community involvement.