![]() ![]() The key is to remember that parents only get ONE choice either McKay, Gardiner, or Step Up Income Based Scholarship.Ĭheck out the Gardiner Scholarship and see if it’s right for your family.įirst…congratulations □ on getting the Gardiner funds its an amazing opportunity for alternative choices to public school. Some parents want to stay home with their children until kindergarten, if your child had special needs this would be a way to access therapy without maxing out insurance and paying heavily out-of-pocket. There are some complexities but it gives options. When services are available for 5 hours a day then the parent has to pay for and rely on a sitter or be available to care for the child. So, many parents need child care and therapy for their children. There is also a commitment because the scholarship is for services and products, it can be used for tuition. Because it is hard to find therapists, let alone therapists that take the Gardiner Scholarships many parents are not informed. It is pretty much a hidden gem that only certain people will even whisper that they will take that scholarship. I found that getting information about this scholarship is not openly discussed or handed out. McKay is only for students that are kindergarten grade level and up. The parent has more choice on where the dollars are spent and families are able to apply for money before age 5. There is more flexibility with determining and qualifying for the Gardiner Scholarship than McKay. See my previous post about why medical diagnosis is so important. For some parents who have a child that is 3 or 4, this scholarship would allow the child to receive one on one intensive therapy while waiting for an appointment for a developmentally pediatrician. If you do not have a medical diagnosis you can still apply for your child and use your IEP as evidence of a special need or disability. A student can qualify with a medical diagnosis of:Īutism spectrum disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, an intellectual disability, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, Williams syndrome or a high-risk child Students do not need to have an IEP to qualify for the Gardiner Scholarship. There are also benefits to applying for McKay if you have a special needs child that has many services because the Gardiner Scholarship will match the dollar amount of McKay with a matrix score of 254 or 255. There is no complicated matrix, IEP or school district complying your score or remove services. I like that the scholarship averages $10,000 for each child. You also have to select a therapist that accepts Gardiner money. The money does not come to the parent, it does go to the qualifying specialist. As the parent you can use speech therapy, OT, PT, materials or college prepaid account. You are not locked into a private school. The first thing that is different about Gardiner than McKay is that the scholarship amount can be used for tuition or products. flexibility with eligibility and determination.The things that I consider when looking into the Gardiner The Gardiner is another excellent choice when looking for appropriate education for a special needs child. Recently, I discussed the serious business of the McKay Scholarship. The Gardiner is for special needs students with a medical diagnosis. The Gardiner Scholarship (formerly the PLSA) is newly named to Florida as part of the Step Up for Students Scholarship program. From tuition, therapy services to other products or materials that could add up to thousands of dollars that we would not have to spend out of pocket. This would give us additional money that we could use to support our child’s education. The school that we attend takes this scholarship! If we are awarded this scholarship, we will no longer be using the McKay Scholarship based on our IEP. Applications are still being accepted at this time (deadline was listed at June 20, 2020). Update! We are applying for funding from Step Up for Students under the Gardiner Scholarship. ![]()
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