Opportunities

Awards, Scholarships & Funding

For people with LD

The Marion Huber Learning Through Listening (LTL) Awards

The Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Awards are presented to RFB&D members who are high school seniors with learning disabilities, in recognition of extraordinary leadership, scholarship, enterprise and service to others.

Deadline: March 2, 2009

Offered since 1991, the awards are given to six students who are chosen by a selection committee. RFB&D presents the three top winners $6,000 each and three special honors winners $2,000 each.

For the purposes of this award, a learning disability is defined as a neurological disorder that affects a person's ability to receive, process, store, and/or respond to information, and which affects the person's ability to read standard print.

The candidate must:

Have a specific learning disability (please note visual impairment alone does not indicate eligibility for this award)
Have been registered as an RFB&D member for at least one year, up to and including the period of March 3, 2007 - March 3, 2008 (individually or through a school)
Be a member of the 2008 graduating class of a public or private school or home school in the United States or its territories, including US military installations
Have an overall grade average of B or above (or equivalent), based on grades 10 through 12
Plan to continue formal education beyond high school at either a two- or four-year college or vocational school

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For teachers

ING Unsung Heroes Award

Each year, K-12 educators submit applications for an ING Unsung Heroes grant by describing projects that utilize new teaching methods and techniques that improve learning. Each project is judged on its:

innovative method
creativity
ability to positively influence students

Deadline: April 30, 2009

One hundred finalists will be selected to receive a $2,000 grant, payable to both the winning teacher and his or her school. At least one grant is awarded in each of the 50 states, provided that at least one qualified application was received from each state. Three are selected for additional financial awards of $25,000, $10,000 and $5,000.

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DonorsChoose

Ask for what you need to fund your classroom projects at DonorsChoose. Do you have a project idea, but no hope of getting it funded because of tight budgets? Just write a one page essay describing the activity or program your students need and the exact resources required. Your project will be screened to see if it meets the eligibility requirements. If it does, it will be posted on the website. Potential donors can then choose a project for funding. DonorsChoose wishes to tap your knowledge of what is really needed. The website allows ordinary people with small amounts of money to help you.

Deadline: Teachers can apply throughout the year.

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For children of parents who have disabilities

2009 Through the Looking Glass Scholarship

If your parent has a disability and you believe that growing up in a family that has a disability has made a difference in your life, you may want to apply for a $1,000.00 scholarship. Five are available to high school seniors and five are available for college students.

Selection criteria include academic performance, community activities and service, letters of recommendation and an essay describing the experience of growing up with a parent with a disability.

Deadline: March 16, 2009