The Colorado Springs Down Syndrome Association has established a scholarship fund to aid our members in meeting certain financial obligations in selected areas of interest and concern. Although our budget does not allow CSDSA to provide full funding in any one category, the goal is to provide some funding for as many families as possible in the selected areas.

Funding will be available in the following areas:

1. EDUCATION
Seminars
Conferences
Educational equipment

2. MEDICAL SERVICES
Treatment (i.e. M.D., D.O., D.D.S.)
Equipment
Therapy
Private/home care (not respite)

3. RECREATION
Camps
Athletics
Equipment

4. TRUST ASSISTANCE SCHOLARSHIP

5. HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

To qualify for the available funding, an applicant must be a current member of CSDSA and reside in southern Colorado. Only one application may be submitted per quarter of each year in any one of the three categories. Funding will be available on a first come first serve basis. Once the funding has been exhausted, no additional funding will be available until the following year, contingent on available proceeds. Priority will be given to those applicants who have not applied and received proceeds earlier in the year. Consideration will also be given to whether an applicant is receiving funding from other sources for the particular request. No prepayment of funds will be allowed. Payment will be in the form of either reimbursement with proof of payment being submitted to the CSDSA subcommittee, or proceeds being forwarded directly to the provider of the item or service being purchased.

Each specific area will have additional conditions which are as follows:

EDUCATION: Information will need to be provided to the scholarship fund subcommittee concerning the item to be purchased or the conference or seminar to be attended. Payment for a conference or seminar will be made in the name of the sponsor and forwarded to the applicant, at which point the applicant will be responsible for sending in the money and registration.

If the conference/seminar is canceled or the proceeds are otherwise refunded, the proceeds would be returned to CSDSA.

Upon request, the applicant would need to provide documentation or explanations of the items to be purchased, or the conference/seminars to be attended and how they assist an individual with Down Syndrome within the applicant's family.

Proceeds available for educational purposes would be limited to $500.00 per family, per year.

MEDICAL SERVICES: Funding would not be available for the payment of insurance premiums. Upon request, documentation or medical records would need to be submitted to the scholarship fund subcommittee explaining the type of treatment, care or equipment being requested, and its relationship to assisting the applicant with Down Syndrome.

The application would request insurance information to ascertain the type of insurance carried, type of payment required by the applicant, and whether the applicant is receiving funding from other sources. Proceeds for medical services would be limited to $700.00 per family, per year.

RECREATION: Upon request, documentation would need to be submitted to the scholarship fund subcommittee providing information on the item to be purchased or the activity to be attended. Additionally, an explanation will be requested as to how the proposed funding would assist or benefit the applicant with Down Syndrome.

Proceeds for recreational purposes would be limited to $500.00 per family, per year.

TRUST ASSISTANCE SCHOLARSHIP: Up to $300.00 will be available for assistance in the establishment of an estate planning private trust for the specific benefit of a family member with Down syndrome. Applicants must have been a member of CSDSA for at least one year and reside in southern Colorado. Applicant may only submit one application per calendar year and this scholarship may not be used as a funding mechanism for the trust. (CSDSA funding for this program will be an aggregate amount of $3000.00 per year.)

HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP: Applicants must submit a transcript verifying the completion of 24 credit hours of education beyond high school and be enrolled in an accredited teaching program. Applicant must be recommended, in writing, by a current member of CSDSA. All applications must be accompanied by a letter explaining how the applicant’s future education would make a positive difference or impact for a child with Down syndrome. Each approved applicant will be eligible to apply twice per calendar year for a maximum of $500.00 per school year. (Total CSDSA funding of $2000.00 will be made available for this program per year.)

CSDSA is excited to provide scholarships for its members. We realize we cannot make a dramatic impact in funding the needs of our members, but we hope we can at least make a difference.

We would greatly appreciate your response and input on this scholarship fund and any recommendations you may have concerning how it could better serve our members. If you have any questions, please call the phone line at 633-1133 and a committee member will get back to you as soon as possible.

Applications for funding can be found in some newsletters, at membership meetings, in new parent packets or by clicking here to print a copy of the Scholarship Fund Application.

Please mail your application to:

CSDSA
P.O. Box 2364
Colo. Springs, CO 80901