Apply For Our Autism Scholarship

Spring 2026

‘Making A Difference For Autism Scholarship’ Requirements

Apply for our autism scholarship here.

Want to support Kerry Magro’s Scholarship Program? Kerry has helped provide 150 scholarships for students with autism over the past 11 years. Pay it forward by supporting the program and joining our community here.

Eligibility

All high school students with autism attending a post-secondary program in the 2026–2027 academic year may apply. In addition, all current college students with autism who will be attending a post-secondary program during the 2026–2027 academic year are also eligible. This scholarship has no geographic restrictions and is open to students in the U.S. and internationally. Graduate and doctoral students are also welcome to apply, provided they are enrolled during the 2026–2027 academic year.

Applicants who were selected in a previous year or who were not selected may reapply, as long as they are still attending a post-secondary program during the 2026–2027 academic year. All reapplications must include a new, original application and essay.

Scholarship Award

The winning applicant will receive a $500 scholarship to be used toward post-secondary education expenses.

Application Deadline

All scholarship applications must be fully completed and submitted no later than Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 12:00 AM (Midnight) EST.

After submitting your application, if you do not receive a confirmation email within 72 hours, please message us via the KFM Making A Difference Facebook page so we can assist.

Requirements for Application

Part 1: Cover Letter (Must Include)

  • Short Bio (250 words or less)

  • Postsecondary Program accepted into or currently attending

  • Autism Diagnosis (e.g., Asperger’s, PDD-NOS, ASD, and age of diagnosis)

  • Full Name

  • Address

  • Phone Number

  • Email Address

Part 2: Resume

Part 3: Letter of Reference

The letter must be a formal recommendation addressed to:

“Dear KFM Making A Difference Scholarship Committee”

Please include a contact email and/or phone number for follow-up questions.

Part 4: Essay Submission

To complete the essay portion, applicants must submit:

  • At least 3 high-resolution photos (personal, childhood, family, or action photos)

  • A title no longer than 70 characters (including spaces)

  • A 2–4 sentence byline introducing yourself

  • An essay in Microsoft Word format, between 750–1,000 words, describing your experience growing up on the autism spectrum

Essays should aim to educate, inspire, and/or motivate the autism community. Creativity and authenticity are strongly encouraged.

Applicants are encouraged to review essays written by scholarship founder Kerry Magro about his own autism journey, including:

Original Work & AI Policy

All essays and written materials submitted must be the applicant’s own original work. The use of artificial intelligence tools or automated writing assistance (including but not limited to ChatGPT or similar technologies) is strictly prohibited. Submissions found to be generated, substantially edited, or assisted by AI may be disqualified at the sole discretion of KFM Making A Difference.

Publication & Editing Notice

Once received, essays will be published on Kerrymagro.com for public viewing. Essays may be lightly edited for grammar, clarity, formatting, or title length, but edits will not alter the meaning or lived experience of the applicant.

By submitting this application, you agree to allow KFM Making A Difference to potentially publish your name, essay, and photos as part of a future book highlighting members of the autism community. If you prefer not to have your name used, we are happy to publish your essay using a pseudonym and stock image.

Before publication, applicants will be required to sign and return the Essay Consent and Release Form.

Selection of Scholarship Recipients

The decision on scholarship recipients is made at the sole discretion of KFM Making A Difference. Selection is based on multiple factors, including but not limited to the quality, authenticity, creativity, and impact of the essay.

As part of the selection process, we also consider the level of online interest an essay receives once published, such as pageviews and social media shares. Online engagement is one factor among many and does not outweigh the substance or lived experience shared in an applicant’s story.

Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to share their essay once it is live to help amplify autistic voices and raise awareness within the community. Applicants will receive an email with a link to their published essay.

Support the Scholarship Program

This scholarship would not be possible without the support of our community. You can help sustain the program by donating to the scholarship fund or by starting a Facebook fundraiser to encourage friends and family to give.

Kerry Magro, an autistic professional speaker and best-selling author, founded this scholarship to uplift and amplify autistic voices. Referrals for speaking engagements are one of the highest compliments. If you know a school, company, or organization that could benefit from Kerry’s work, please email KerryPublicSpeaker@gmail.com.

Learn more at Kerrymagro.com, or follow Kerry on Facebook and Instagram.

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