The hunt for a neurodivergent-friendly scholarship

Over the last couple of months, I've been searching for scholarships so I can take my masters in inclusive education—a program that Philippine universities don't offer yet. My dream is to design and deliver this very curriculum someday, but first I need to educate myself. And schools abroad are expensive.

The process of finding a scholarship has been nothing short of frustrating, and I have never understood more the oft-repeated sentiment that the world isn't built for neurodivergents.

Just consider the fact that one of the requirements—not criteria, mind you, but requirements—is usually outstanding grades. That immediately boxes out people like me, who have faced learning challenges during our contentious stays within such rigid institutions as the academe.

And if you've been diagnosed as an adult, like I have? Well, you can't very well go back in time and teach your child-avatar the coping mechanisms that help you succeed today.

The irony that I'm trying to learn inclusive education whilst being summarily excluded from it is not lost on me.

Here's some inclusivity advice for scholarship organizations and academic institutions:

• Remove grade requirements from initial screenings. Grades are just one of many indicators, and alone, they're a poor metric for likelihood of success.
  

• Consider professional achievements and networking capabilities. Many neurodivergents find their niche after graduation. Still more develop strong relationships with individuals who share their advocacies and are easy to mobilize.
  

• Fix your darn websites, and make them responsive. Nothing screams "WE DO NOT WANT YOU HERE" louder than the aversion to templates and overall lack of content organization I've seen on most landing pages. So many times, I couldn't find crucial information, and I was forced to use email links and contact forms that no one ever responded to. Not a single one of my inquiries regarding disability accommodations or program clarifications was answered. Not one.
  

• Post your DEI statements on every course page. Diversity, equity, and inclusion shouldn't be buzzwords for your About pages. They should be beacons of hope and reassurance for those who have faced systemic challenges and have overcome unimaginable odds to get to a place where they can be brave enough to apply. They should be pledges to which you can be held accountable.
  

• And please, hire writers. Writers know how to simplify, reorganize, and massage content to where it needs to be. Logically chunked content benefits everyone, but it is critical for those who have reading and comprehension challenges.

I've learned to navigate a lot of difficulties due to my ADHD. Heck, I've even learned to leverage the thing. It would be amazing if I were given the chance to help others do the same.