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.
Grant amounts: $100 to $5,000
Who is eligible: Priority is given to families with multiple autistic children, military families, and those with an annual income under $100,000.
Expenses covered include:
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) Speech and occupational therapy Biomedical testing Nutritional supplements Assistive technologies (iPads, communication apps) Safety equipment (safety fencing, GPS tracking devices, and autism service dogs) Social skills groups Disability summer camps
Expenses not covered include:
Transportation requests (cars, car repair, transportation passes, air travel)Hyperbaric oxygen therapyPersonal needs (rent, utilities, family vacations)
Grant amounts: Varies
Who is eligible:
Children under age 16 who have a social security numberChildren who are covered by a commercial health plan, either through a parent’s employer or purchased individually (secondary insurance through Medicaid or CHIP is allowed)Families whose annual income is $55,000 or less for a family of two; $85,000 or less for a family of three; $115,000 or less for a family of four; or $145,000 or less for a family of five or more
Expenses covered include: Treatments, equipment, and services prescribed by a medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) or doctor of audiology (AuD) only
Expenses not covered: The following treatments and services are among the list of grant exclusions:
Social skills therapyElectronic devices, such as tablets and laptopsSummer camp programs
Grant amounts: Up to $1,500
Who is eligible: Families earning an annual net income of less than $50,000
Expenses covered include:
Biomedical treatmentsSupplementsTherapy services
Expenses not covered include:
Respite care Toys or electronic devices Vacation expenses
Grant amounts: $50 to $500
Who is eligible: Families living in New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine), with priority given to families with an income at or under $44,100 for a family of four
Expenses covered include:
Occupational therapy Adaptive swimming lessons Puzzles and games Respite care Books and videos Sensory integration therapy Music classes/instruments
Expenses not covered include:
Medical expensesTravel expenses
Grant amounts: Up to $2,000, or $3,000 if the grant would benefit more than one family member with autism
Who is eligible: Families in New England who are in need of financial assistance for their family member(s) with autism.
Expenses covered include:
Respite care Recreational programs Educational evaluations Computer software Communication needs Therapies Camp tuition Safety-related items
Expenses not covered include:
Medical expensesTravel expenses
Autism Support Network Outreach Autism Services Network Autism Speaks The Autism Community in Action
Read through the entire application first. Gather everything you’ll need, such as tax statements and IEPs. Consider making a checklist so you don’t forget anything, and make sure you don’t miss the deadline. Choose wisely. Most autism organizations will only provide funding for specific types of therapies and services, so don’t bother to fill out an application that may not provide what you need. Make a personal connection. Some applications may ask for information about your child and why you are seeking the services they cover. Consider including a photo of your child and/or a recommendation letter (some applications don’t require them but will still accept them). Try again if you don’t succeed the first time. It’s impossible for organizations to grant financial help to every family that applies. The next time you apply, you may be among the families that receive aid.
