OAR Scholarship Program

Applicants must choose between one of the following options:

THE LISA HIGGINS HUSSMAN SCHOLARSHIP:

Supports students attending two year universities, life skills or postsecondary programs, or vocational, technical, or trade schools. Hussman applicants typically make up the pool of talented students who face daily challenges related to autism and attend programs that assist in skill-building, job-readiness, and other transition-related skills.

THE SCHWALLIE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP:

Supports students attending two or four year universities. Schwallie applicants typically pursue degrees at four year universities. Many applicants with a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome choose to apply for this program.

PROOF OF DIAGNOSIS

Due to the sensitive nature of medical information and the volume of applications we receive, the application process assumes the applicant has an autism diagnosis from a licensed medical professional. Once we identify finalists, we require each applicant to submit copies of the medical documentation that established their autism diagnosis. This is not part of the application process. Before applying, however, each applicant should review the proof of diagnosis criteria:

• Clearly stated diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
• Diagnosis conducted by a licensed medical professional
• Information about testing or evaluations conducted by the medical professional (ie. CARS, ADOS, Vineland, psychiatric examination)

Please refer to this checklist to ensure that your documentation contains all the information OAR needs.

Note: Based on recent changes in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria for autism spectrum diagnoses, OAR will be asking all scholarship finalists to verify that they meet criteria for either a DSM-IV or DSM-5 diagnosis.

TO APPLY, GO TO:  https://researchautism.smapply.org/

APPLICATION

We exclusively use an online application system. Applicants will select either the Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship. Our scholarship application contains basic contact information, date of diagnosis, proof of enrollment, and three short essay questions. Students are expected to complete the applications on their own.

In the case of applicants for the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship whose written communications skills may be more limited, we require two letters of recommendation. The first letter of recommendation must come from a teacher, counselor, coach, or other non-relative. The second letter letter must come from a parent or guardian in the form of a personal letter of support.

For Schwallie Family Scholarship applicants, one letter of recommendation from a non-relative may be submitted if the applicant chooses to do so.