Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Shelley Osterloh Reporting If you have a school age child with a disablity, you -- or rather your child -- may be eligible for a scholarship at a private school.
But the deadline to apply for the Carson Smith Scholarships for children with disablities is July 1st.
Children who are physically or mentally disabled may benefit from specialized training, like kids who have autism and attend the Carmen Pingree school. There are many private schools in Utah that provide education for special needs, but it can be expensive.
Kristi Saunders/ Outreach Coordinator, Carson Smith Scholarship: "Many families had to decide between working two or three jobs and their child's education."
Tuition at the Pingree school is 26-thousand dollars a year, and though there is an endowment that helps, it can be a financial strain for families. Now, parents can apply to the state for scholarship money -- up to 6-thousand dollars -- to help pay for these private schools.
Kristi Saunders/ Outreach Coordinator, Carson Smith Scholarship: "The scholarships open the doors to private schools to families that otherwise might not be able to afford a private school education for their child."
The number of schools that can accept the scholarship money has now doubled. The Carmen Pingree School for children with autism is not one of 26 shools.
The scholarship fund was named for an eight-year old boy who has autism.
Cheryl Smith, Carson's mother: "We are just so grateful for the financial help because without the Carson Smith Scholarship, we wouldn't be able to afford to come to the school."
Cheryl Smith says it's an honor to have the scholarship named after her son, and hopes many parents take advantage of it. She says finding the right education and training for a child with a disability can make a world of difference.
Cheryl Smith, Carson's mother: "I didn't choose for Carson to have autism. But I need to be able to choose what helps him the most now."
To receive the full 6-thousand dollar scholarship, parents must apply before July 1st.
The Carson Smith Scholarship is available to Utah school age children who have one or more disabilties which qualify them for an Individual Education Plan.
