Scholarships for Students with Tourette Syndrome in 2025/2026

Scholarships for Students with Tourette Syndrome

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Tourette Syndrome (TS), named after French neurologist Georges Gilles de la Tourette, is a genetically based neurological condition that causes physical and vocal tics, involuntary movements, and utterances, due to its impact on the basal ganglia in the brain. Despite being initially perceived as a psychiatric problem, TS is now recognized as an organic condition, but the historical stigma associated with its unusual symptoms persists.

The severity of TS varies among individuals and determines whether it is classified as a disability. As a result, some individuals who have obtained disability classification due to TS may be eligible for scholarships that are not available to other TS patients.

Scholarships for College Students with TS

The New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders The New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders (NJCTS) is an advocacy group that provides education about TS and referrals to agencies that support children with TS (which typically manifests in childhood) and their families in leading normal lives. Each year, the organization sponsors the NJCTS Children’s Scholarship for high school seniors in New Jersey who have received a TS diagnosis.

The scholarship considers various aspects of applicants’ lives, including academic history, personal references, the quality and content of the required essay, and any talents (an audio or video recording may be submitted). The judges aim to encourage candidates who have overcome the challenges posed by TS to achieve their goals in college or trade school.

Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University (WIU) offers the Chad Stovall Memorial Scholarship of $500 in honor of a deceased student with TS. This scholarship is open to students diagnosed with TS, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or attention deficit disorder.

To be eligible, applicants must provide a diagnosis of one of the specified disorders. Students in any year of college can apply, and financial need will be considered. A reference letter from a WIU staff member or faculty member is required. For more information about the award, you can contact WIU’s Disability Resource Center.

Scholarships for Camps for TS Patients

Like many special needs camps, camps for children with TS often offer financial assistance to families in need. The camps listed below are examples, but not an exhaustive list, of such organizations.

Tourette Syndrome Camping Organization (TSCO)

TSCO hosts the Tourette Syndrome Camp USA every year in Illinois, which welcomes both children with TS and those without TS. While the camp structure is slightly modified to accommodate TS patients, no therapeutic assistance is provided as the goal is to provide a typical camp experience.

TSCO is sensitive to families with financial needs and provides detailed information on pricing (dependent on the rate charged by the YMCA camp where the camp takes place). Requests for assistance are kept confidential, and TSCO works with each family to ensure that no child who wants to attend the camp is denied due to financial challenges.

Tourette Syndrome Association of Texas

The Tourette Syndrome Association of Texas generously funds its Camp du Ballon Rouge (Red Balloon Camp) entirely through donations, allowing children with TS to attend the camp free of charge. The camp takes place over one weekend each year and includes over a hundred children and medical staff.

Donors can contribute $100 for “virtual red balloons” that represent the actual balloons released by children at the camp, each containing a wish.

Camp Twitch and Shout

Camp Twitch and Shout is a one-week summer camp for children between the ages of seven and 16 who have been diagnosed with TS. There is also a Leadership Training option for junior counselors aged 16 to 18. The camp’s director is a TS patient who understands the challenges children who suffer from TS can face in social situations, and the camp provides both full and partial scholarships to families who would otherwise be unable to send their children.

FAQs about scholarships for students with Tourette Syndrome in the 2025/2026 academic cycle:

Which scholarships specifically target students diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in 2025/2026?

• NJCTS Youth Scholarship Program: Administered by the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders, this award is available to high school seniors in New Jersey. Criteria include academic achievement, community involvement, and an essay (with optional video or talent component). Deadline: March 10, 2025.NJCTS

• ScholasTIC Tourette’s Supporters Scholarship: Offers six scholarships of $1,000 each in 2025. Open to graduating U.S. high school seniors with Tourette’s syndrome. Applications due April 1, 2025; winners announced in August.Jotform

• Dollars 4 Tic Scholars: Previously active, but as of October 2023, this foundation is no longer accepting applications.dollars4ticscholars.org

Are there scholarships open to students with Tourette Syndrome beyond these specific programs?

Absolutely! The Tourette Association of America highlights additional pathways:

• Broader disability scholarships (e.g., via Bold.org, disability-focused programs, etc.)

• Scholarships intended for students with learning disabilities, ADHD, or physical disabilities—conditions that often co-occur with TS

For example, Bold.org offers disability-specific scholarships ranging from $500 to $10,000, with rolling deadlines and minimal-essay options.

Other wider-focused opportunities include programs like the Microsoft Disability Scholarship, Anne Ford Scholarship, among others.

What are typical eligibility requirements and application materials?

For TS-specific scholarships like NJCTS and ScholasTIC, expect to provide:

• Proof of TS diagnosis

• Academic transcripts

• Essays or personal statements (detailing your TS journey, resilience, or community involvement).

ScholasTIC also looks at GPA improvement, future promise, and financial need. NJCTS emphasizes academic achievement, community involvement, and talent or essay quality.

How much funding is available through TS-specific scholarships?

• NJCTS: Award amounts vary based on fund availability.

• ScholasTIC: Provides six scholarships of $1,000 each in 2025.

• Dollars 4 Tic: Historically offered $1,000, but is now closed.

Broader scholarships (like Bold.org) offer awards up to $10,000, depending on the specific program.

When are the key deadlines for these opportunities in 2025?