Scholarships & Awards

Our annual scholarships and awards celebrate the work and achievements of students and leaders working to create more equitable futures for those with learning disabilities and attention issues

Anne Ford Scholar­ship

Anne Ford Scholarship

The Anne Ford Scholarship grants $10,000 to a high school senior enrolling in a full-time bachelor’s degree program. The funds will be disbursed evenly over four years. Qualified applicants must have a documented learning disability (LD) and/or ADHD, and has a completed FASFA application.

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Allegra Ford Thomas Scholar­ship

Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship

The Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship is a $5,000 scholarship awarded over two years ($2,500 each year) to a graduating high school senior who will enroll 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. Students must have a documented learning disability (LD) and/or ADHD.

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Everyday Cham­pion Award

Everyday Champion Award

Educators and administrators are instrumental in advancing the learning accessibility rights movement for students with learning disabilities and attention issues. Recognizing that disability rights are central to this movement, the Everyday Champion Award honors individuals that consistently demonstrate resilience and innovation to ensure students with learning disabilities and attention issues receive equitable education and support.

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FAQs

To be eligible for our scholarships, you must have documentation of a “specific learning disability” (LD) such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia and/or documentation of a diagnosis of ADHD. You are welcome to apply if you have a specific learning disability and/or ADHD and other disorders that impact learning as long as you provide current documentation of LD and/or ADHD.

You should only apply for one scholarship. Please select the scholarship that best fits your post-high-school plan. If you plan to attend a four-year college, apply for the Anne Ford Scholarship. If you plan to attend a two-year community college, vocational/technical training program, or specialized program for students with LD, apply for the Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship.

To be eligible for our scholarships, you must have documentation of a “specific learning disability” (LD) such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia and/or documentation of a diagnosis of ADHD. You are welcome to apply if you have a specific learning disability and/or ADHD in addition to other disorders that impact learning, as long as you provide current documentation of LD and/or ADHD.

Yes, students must submit their current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for either scholarship.

Please submit your most recent IEP, 504 plan, or assessment/evaluation report. You may also submit a letter from a school administrator noting your learning disability and any accommodations you receive in school. If you have a diagnosis of ADHD, you can submit verification of the diagnosis from the physician who treats you.

If you have questions about whether your documentation is sufficient, please email us at info@ncld.org.

No. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors intending to enroll in a post-secondary program in the fall following graduation.

Check out SwiftStudent to understand the financial aid appeal process to request money for costs related to your disability.