How do I apply for a scholarship?
STEP 1
Go to our website www.lookingglass.org/scholarship and print out the Application form. You can also download the form and complete it on your computer. The Scholarship Application has Five Parts:

1. Consent Form
2. Scholarship Application Form
3. Your Essay
4. Request for School Transcripts
5. One Letter of Recommendation form

1. Consent form signed by you. If you are under 18, you must also have a parent sign the form as well. We will not consider any applications that are not accompanied by a signed consent form.
2. Completed scholarship application form questions.
3. A maximum 3 page (725 words) autobiographical essay on the experience or the impact of growing up with a parent with a disability.
   **Please note that we are also asking you to email your essay to us (see Step 4).
4. Official high school or college transcript(s). If you are a college student, we only need your college transcript(s).
5. One letter of recommendation (not from a parent or relative).

All materials must be mailed and postmarked by March 1, 2010 to:
Scholarship Committee
Through the Looking Glass
2198 Sixth Street, Suite 100
Berkeley, CA 94710
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When is the application deadline for the scholarship?
All application materials must be completed and postmarked by March 1, 2010. Any incomplete applications will be disqualified.

Your essay must also be emailed to us by Monday, March 1, 2010 as well. Emailed essays received after March 1, 2010 will disqualify your application.
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Is the scholarship available to students who are already in college?
Yes. In 2010, we are offering a total of ten scholarships to high school seniors and college students. To be eligible, you must meet one of the following conditions:

1. You are a current high school senior planning to attend college in Fall 2010.
2. You previously graduated from high school and will be enrolled in college in Fall 2010. It does not matter what year of college you will be in, as long as you plan to be enrolled in Fall 2010. However, please note that all students applying for these scholarships must be 21 years or younger.

Why is there an age limit on the scholarships? (Scholarships are limited to those 21 years of age or younger).
The federal funding Through the Looking Glass received in order to sponsor this scholarship stipulated this age limit. As a result, the research study that we are conducting is also focusing on this age group.
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Will income, race, ethnicity, or my parents' type of disability or my own disability affect my scholarship chances?
No. The scholarships are based only on the following criteria: Academic performance, community activities and service, letter of recommendation and an essay describing the experience of growing up with a parent with a disability.
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Are there any financial criteria for this scholarship?
No.
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In addition to having a parent with a disability, I also have a disability. Am I eligible for this scholarship?
Yes.
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I previously applied for a scholarship from Through the Looking Glass, but was not selected. Can I apply again?
Yes, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. Your application must be current - that is, you must use all the current 2010 application forms. Also, although we will accept previously submitted essays, we encourage everyone to submit original essays.
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If a parent with a disability is deceased, is the student eligible for this scholarship? If I no longer live with my parent with a disability, am I still eligible for this scholarship?
Yes, especially if your parent was a significant part of your childhood and growing up experiences.
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I am attending or will be attending college or university abroad - am I still eligible for this scholarship?
Only if you are attending this college or university through a study abroad program that is sponsored by a U.S. college or university.
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I have a G.E.D. and am planning to attend college in the Fall. Am I eligible for this scholarship?
Yes, as long as you are pursuing an Associate's Degree or a Bachelor's Degree.
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I am attending or will be attending a two-year college, not a four-year college - am I still eligible for this scholarship?
Yes, if you are pursuing any type of Associate Degree.
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What types of Associate Degrees and Bachelor Degrees are eligible for this scholarship?
All types of Associate Degrees and Bachelor Degrees eligible for this scholarship.
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What are you looking for in the scholarship essays?
We are looking for your story. We are interested in the real-life experiences and honest perspectives of students who have one or both parents with a disability. How did having a parent with a disability impact your life? No two people will have the same perspectives or experiences. There is no right answer to this. Just tell us your story. Also, please make sure you proofread your essay.
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What format should the essay be in?
Your application must include a paper copy of your essay. All essays must be typed, double-spaced and a maximum of three pages (approximately 750 words). We prefer that your essay have 12 point Times New Roman font and have 1 inch margins all around.

Include your full name at the beginning of the essay. Do not include your address, phone number or other personal contact information on the essay.
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How do I email my essay to you?
First, make sure all your application materials are ready to be mailed to us. It doesn't matter whether you email your essay first or mail your application packet to us first. The important thing is that the deadline for both is March 1, 2010.

When you have finished writing your essay, include a printed copy in your application packet. Then, save the essay as a doc or docx document. Label the essay file using your full name starting with your last name; e.g., Smith, John Michael for an applicant named "John Michael Smith." Do not label the essay as "Through the Looking Glass Essay." Submit your essay as an attachment to your email. Email to: scholarships@lookingglass.org

For example, John Michael Smith is applying for a scholarship. He completes all the application materials and mails it to us. He also emails his essay to scholarships@lookingglass.org. The essay is labeled "Smith, John Michael." The essay is attached (not included in the body of the email). The subject line is "Smith, John Michael."
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Can you offer any suggestions to make my application stronger?
Read and follow all guidelines. Your application will be disqualified if you omit a key step in the guidelines or ignore instructions.

Proofread all your work, including the essay. Responses that are unclear or contain a lot of mistakes distract scholarship reviewers from focusing on the content.

Have someone else read through your completed application before you send it off. Someone else can often identify errors or areas that were missed.

Make sure you sign the consent form (also your parent's signature if you are under age 18).

Send all application materials (application form, consent form, essay, transcripts and letter of recommendation) by March 1, 2010 in one envelope, preferably 9" x 12". The envelope must be postmarked by March 1, 2010.

Make sure you also email us your essay. Not emailing the essay was one of the most common disqualifications in previous years. Email your essay to scholarships@lookingglass.org. Make sure you put your full name, starting with your last name in the subject line e.g., Smith, James Michael.
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What kind of disability does my parent need to have in order for me to be eligible for a scholarship?
These scholarships are open to anyone who has a parent with a disability or medical condition. The specific type of disability or condition includes a wide range of physical, mental, hearing, learning, vision, systemic or intellectual conditions, or combinations of these. The disability or medical condition should be more than a brief or temporary situation (i.e., not a broken leg that lasts a few weeks).
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My parent does not consider himself/herself to have a disability. Our family never refers to my mother (or father) as having a disability. Am I still eligible to apply for this scholarship?
We choose not to define "disability." It could be a one of a wide variety of conditions. Please see our explanation of "parents with disabilities".
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Do I have to fill out the optional survey?
No. Whether or not you fill out the survey will not affect your scholarship chances. The Scholarship Review Committee will not even see the surveys. However, we would like to ask all those applying for scholarships to voluntarily fill out the survey. The information on these surveys will help give others a better picture of those of us who have parents with disabilities. It may also help develop new resources and legislation to improve the lives of families with disabilities.

Please remember, all this information is confidential and will not be shared with anyone outside of the research team at Through the Looking Glass.
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Why should I fill out the survey?
The survey is optional. The reason for the survey and the research study is that there is very little information about anyone who has a parent with a disability or medical condition. This research study has been reviewed and approved by TLG's Institutional Review Board. We're hoping that the information you provide will help us get a better picture of what it's like to have a parent with a disability. But, remember that the answers you give are confidential and your name will never be connected to the research study.
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When is the deadline to complete the survey?
The deadline for completing the survey is May 1, 2010. When we receive your application packet with all the materials and after you've emailed us your essay as well, we will send you an email to let you know that your application is complete. If for some reason you don't have an email address, let us know and we will contact you by phone. In the email, we will also give you a link to the online survey. You can complete the survey any time until May 1, 2010.

Please note, the scholarship application needs to be postmarked by March 1, 2010 - but you have additional time, until May 1, 2010 to complete the survey.
**Please note, the scholarship application needs to be postmarked March 16, 2009 - but you have additional time, until May 1, 2009 to complete the survey.
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Why do I have to sign a consent form?
If you win one of our scholarships, we will publicize your name and essay. By applying for the scholarship, you are agreeing to allow us to do this. You must sign the consent form to be considered for a scholarship. If you are under age 18, your parent must sign the form.

The consent form also asks you to consider whether or not you will fill out our optional research survey. The information on these surveys is confidential, and will not be shared with anyone outside of the project researchers. The Scholarship Reviewers will not see the information on the surveys. If you consent to fill out the survey, but later decide you don't want to do it, you have that option. You can also skip over any questions on the survey by answering "Prefer not to answer."
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What happens to the information I filled out in the application or on the survey? How can I find out about this research?
The research team at Through the Looking Glass will summarize the findings from their study surveys in a report and at least one article. No scholarship applicant's name or other identifying information will ever be included in these research publications. This is a three year project, so the report and the articles won't be completed until 2011 or later. However, we will let people know how they can get a copy of the report or article on our website.
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When will I find out whether or not I won a scholarship?
We will announce the winners in Fall 2010. Depending on the number of applications, this will be approximately October 1. The winners will be contacted directly, and the results announced on our website.

Please do not have your parent or teacher contact us to ask about the status of your application. We will email you directly when we receive your completed application. If you have any questions, either see our website information or contact us yourself.
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Will scholarships be offered again in future years?
Yes. Scholarships will be offered 2011. Previous winners are not eligible, but anyone else is eligible to apply again except for current and former staff and Board members of Through the Looking Glass and their families. After 2011, Through the Looking Glass does not have any federal funding that is committed to continuing these scholarships. However, depending on available donations and other grant funding, we may be able to continue scholarships after 2011. We also encourage anyone who wants to contribute to this scholarship program to make a donation. Individual donors can make a difference whether or not we can offer more scholarships or whether these scholarships continue after 2011. Please see our Donations page for more information.
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Do you know of any scholarships for students who are already in college?
We have a couple suggestions:

• Obtain a copy of a scholarship directory from your local library. People can usually apply for scholarships under different categories (ancestry, faith, economic status, sports played, etc.).


• If you have been volunteering or involved with a particular organization, ask if the organization has any scholarships.


• Search the Internet or contact organizations that are directly related to your parent's disability. Some may offer scholarships specifically for family members.


• If your parent has MS, you may be eligible for a scholarship. National M.S. Society


• If your parent is a Paralyzed Veteran, you may be eligible for a scholarship. Paralyzed Veterans of America

Do you know of any scholarships for students with disabilities?
We have a couple suggestions:

• Contact a local, state or national organization that is specifically related to the student's disability; perhaps they may have their own scholarships


• Incight's yearly Scholarship Apllication - For students entering and attending college. Can be renewed annually for up to four years. This scholarship is available nationally for any trade school, college or university within the United States.


• University of Washington: College Funding Strategies for Students with Disabilities


• Proyecto Visión's Scholarship Opportunities - Includes scholarships that are specifically aimed at Latinos and students with disabilities. Includes scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies. Most of them are available nationwide.


• San Francisco State University: Disability Programs and Resource Center Scholarship Compilation - This page was last updated in March 2006.


• The International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet (ICDRI): Resources for Students with Disabilities in Need of Financial Assistance


• Financial Aid for the Disabled & Their Families, 2008-2010. This is posted by TLG for informational purposes.


• List of Disability Scholarships at Disaboom.com - Disaboom.com lists a number of scholarships for people with disabilities, ranging from financial aid for students with learning disabilities to scholarships for disabled veterans to grants for students with vision loss, hearing loss, and mobility impairments, among others.


• Free College Scholarship Search & Financial Aid Information - Scholarships.com

How can someone make a donation for future scholarships?
We encourage anyone who wants to contribute to this scholarship program to make a donation. Individual donors can make a difference whether or not we can offer more scholarships or whether these scholarships continue after 2011. Please see our Donations page for more information.
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2010 SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES