Grants can aid autistic communities and allow for social change.
When Applying for a Grant, Consider the Following:
· Do you have the time and energy to produce a grant proposal and follow through
with the plan?
· Do you fit the requirements for the grant?
· Does your plan reflect the giving organization's values, goals, and overall strategy?
· Will services continue once the grant money ends?
· Why do you or why does your organization need the grant?
· Are you or your personnel qualified?
· Can you demonstrate positive results from previous efforts?
Keep in mind that funding organizations look for organizations with well-defined strategies and clear short-term and/or long-term objectives.
Here are Five Entities that Give to the Autism Community for Assistance and Research:
The first four are for individuals and families, the fourth and fifth assist non-profits and organizations, and the sixth is for researchers:
1. ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment)
“ACT Today! provides grants ranging between $100 - $5,000 to individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. ACT Today! funds support treatments, assessments, and needed support for families. Act Today also offers grants to military families.”
2. Department of Education
The US Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) provides grants to organizations and scholarships to individuals for educational purposes. Many grants are offered for educational purposes from PreK to higher education, personal use, technology, and more. To find a program, search here:
3. Autism Rescue Angels
The Angels distribute funds to help families cover “costs associated with diagnosis and evaluations, therapies, respite care, medication, and emergency medical needs.
4. Autism Research Texas (ART)
Autism Research Texas (ART) currently funds two programs, a scholarship for the higher education or job training of autistics in Texas, and a grant to help organizations or schools that benefit autistics in the state of Texas. In the future, ART hopes to offer grants for research purposes to fund studies in crucial areas such as etiologies, clinical applications, disparities, and adulthood transitions.
5. Autism Speaks
The Autism Speaks Local Impact Grant provides significant funding to organizations providing services to autistics, families, teachers, therapists, and caregivers.
Non-profits can apply for funding up to $5,000 through the Autism Speaks Local Impact Grant Program at https://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-grants-service-providers
The goal of Autism Speaks community-based grant program is to:
· Reach many autistics with measurable results.
· Support education and training, recreation and community activities, and summer camps.
· Support sensory equipment and supportive technology.
· Include people with different needs.
6. National Institutes of Health
The NIH Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) Program funds large-scale, interdisciplinary autism spectrum research aimed at its causes and treatments. To speed up autism research, NIH created the National Database for Autism (NDA). The NDA shares de-identified data from many research studies to accelerate research and offer a collaboration of efforts.
Conclusion
Funding gaps exist for individuals and organizations within the autism community. These gaps may be filled with available funds through grants and scholarships. More grants are needed to meet the overwhelming demand and to create innovative services for autistics.
