According to the American Dyslexia Association, nearly one in ten Americans are afflicted with dyslexia, a common learning disability that affects one’s ability to read, write and spell. Contrary to the belief of some, dyslexia does not correlate with IQ or intelligence. Successful dyslexics are abundant, including scientists such as Galileo Galilei and Albert Einstein, businessmen like Steve Jobs, and artists like Pablo Picasso.
The condition doesn’t even necessarily prevent one from becoming a successful writer—just look at Noel Gallagher, the lead guitarist of Oasis, and the songwriter behind “Wonderwall,” “Don’t Look Back In Anger,” and many more hit songs. If you’re dyslexic, it’s true that you’ll face a more difficult path while learning than your peers, but if you have a support system, you can add your name to the list of luminaries above. Here’s a partial list of dyslexia scholarships to ease the pressures:
Anne Ford & Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarships
Deadline: TBD for 2021 (More info Fall 2020)
Amount: $5,000; $10,000
The National Center for Learning Disabilities, one of the nation’s leading foundations for dyslexia, sponsors this pair of scholarships. The NCLD pride themselves on their reputation, with a 100% “Accountability and Transparency” rating from the philanthropic watchdog group CharityNavigator. The Anne Ford Scholarship was founded in 2002 for students heading to four-year institutions, and the Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship followed seven years later.
The latter, made possible by a donation from Anne’s daughter Allegra, applies to students who seek to attend “a two-year community college, a vocational or technical training program, or a specialized program.” Both scholarships are open to high school seniors with documented learning disabilities that participate in community service and demonstrate financial need. The Anne Ford scholarship is renewable over four years, while the Allegra Ford Thomas scholarship is a one-time award of $2,500.
Karina Eide Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: March 1, 2020
Amount: $2,500
Although nearly everyone knows of dyslexia’s existence, there are many misconceptions about the condition and its negative side effects. To combat this issue, organizations such as the Dyslexic Advantage seek to educate the community at large about the condition and the realities faced by those who have it. One of their efforts at this goal is the Karina Eide Memorial Scholarship, offered annually to dyslexic college freshmen that aspire to continue their education. The award is open to students who attend both two and four-year schools, as long as they’ve completed at least one semester (or term) of education. In 2016, fifteen students received the award from schools that included California State University, Troy, and Cornell.
Google Lime Scholarship
Deadline: TBD for 2021
Amount: $10,000
In 2008, Google partnered with Lime Connect to create the Google Lime Scholarship, which supports students with disabilities pursuing computer science. The Google Lime Scholarship understands that many students have an invisible disability, and encourages every student to apply.
Currently, only undergraduate and graduate students may apply. Both U.S. and Canadian students qualify for this scholarship, though the scholarship awards Canadian students $5,000 instead of $10,000. Students must also be in good academic standing and studying in a field related to computer science or computer engineering.
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| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
6.97%-15.03%* Variable
5.99%-14.00%* Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CITIZENS |
 |
6.37% - 16.70% Variable
4.50% - 15.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT SALLIE MAE |
 |
4.98% - 16.70% Variable
4.07% - 15.66% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CREDIBLE |
 |
6.07% - 11.31% Variable
4.39% - 10.39% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT LENDKEY |
 |
6.22% - 16.08% Variable
4.09% - 15.66% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ASCENT |
 |
6.54% - 11.08% Variable
3.95% - 8.01% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ISL |
 |
5.62% - 18.26% Variable
4.11% - 15.90% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT EARNEST |
 |
4.98% - 12.79% Variable
8.42% - 13.01% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ELFI |
