Eligibility
- Open to all autistic adults 18 years of age or older who are eligible to work in the United States.
- Have a documented medical or educational autism diagnosis
- The selected certification program must start at least 90 days after application submission and be able to be completed within approximately 1 year of the award date
- Preference will be given to applicants registered on the Hire Autism website
Please refer to this checklist to ensure you meet the requirements and that your program is eligible for the Synchrony Tech Scholarship.
Application
We exclusively use an online application system. Click here to access the application portal. Our scholarship application contains basic contact information, date of diagnosis, certification/program information, and four short essay questions. One letter of recommendation from a non-relative is required. Applicants are expected to complete the applications on their own.
Scholarship applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. However, priority review dates are May 1 and October 1, 2024.
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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 to include:
- 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 documents contain all the information OAR needs.
Note: Based on the timing of changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria for autism spectrum diagnoses, applicants may have received their diagnoses based on the criteria for either the DSM-IV or DSM-5. Either is acceptable. There is no need for an applicant diagnosed under DSM-IV to obtain a subsequent diagnosis under DSM-5 criteria. Applicants with DSM-IV diagnoses of Asperger syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder, or PDD-NOS are eligible to apply.
Review
The Tech Scholarship Review Committee is comprised of OAR and Synchrony staff members. Each complete application is reviewed. Incomplete submissions are disqualified.
Reviewers base their evaluation and recommendations on the personal story as conveyed by the applicant in their essay responses. More specifically, they seek to understand an applicant’s future aspirations and how the scholarship will help them advance their career or professional goals.
