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Awards and Grants

The Division administers several awards, grant, and loan programs that recognize excellence in the field of learning disabilities and help promote activities to support the goals of the organization.

Awards

Samuel A. Kirk Awards

Recognizes excellence in professional journal articles that have been published in Learning Disabilities Research and Practice. For more information, please contact us.

Federal Policy-Making Award

Recognizes a policy-maker who has made significant contributions to policies promoting services for students with learning disabilities. As many as three awards can be given annually. Applications are due January 15th of each year.
Federal Policy-Making Award Nomination Information (PDF document requires Acrobat Reader).

Annual Dissertation Award

Encourages excellence in doctoral level research and recognizes quality research that contributes to the field of learning disabilities. The Award consists of:

1. A $500 cash award.
2. Up to an additional $500 for travel to receive the award at the CEC Annual Convention
3. Free one-year membership in CEC and DLD
4. An opportunity to present the research at the CEC Annual Convention.
5. An invitation to submit the research for publication in the Division journal, Learning Disabilities Research & Practice

Applications for the award must be received no later than January 15th of each year. The recipient will be selected and notified by March 15th.
Click here for application requirements.
Click here to read about previous dissertation award recipients.

Jeannette E. Fleischner Awards For Outstanding Contribution to the Field of LD

Honors those who advance the field of learning disabilities through direct services, policy development, community service, research and/or organizational leadership. As many as three awards can be given annually to recognize a variety of types of contributions. The award consists of travel expenses for presentation of the award at the DLD National Conference. Applications for this award are due January 15th of each year.
Fleischner Award Nomination Information (PDF document requires Acrobat Reader).

Marva Collins Diversity Award

The Marva Collins Diversity Award honors a special education teacher who makes a significant impact in the education of children and youths with Learning Disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The award consists of a $200 stipend and free registration to the DLD National Conference. Nominations for this award are due August 30th of each year.
Download a nomination form (PDF document requires Acrobat Reader).
Read about previous winners here

Outstanding Educator of the Year Award

Outstanding Educator-of-the-Year Awards are designed to recognize outstanding professionals who serve students with specific learning disabilities. Nominees may be special educators, general educators, administrators, or other educators who have spent at least 5 years serving students with learning disabilities at any grade level. The award consists of: (a) a $200 stipend, (b) a free registration to the DLD National Conference for the year they are receiving the award OR the following year, and (c) a commemorative plaque. Nomination and three letters of support are due August 30th annually.

Roads Scholarships

DLD provides stipends to full-time undergraduate and graduate students to help defray costs for attending the DLD annual fall conference, "Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice." For students this is an excellent way to become informed and involved. Download the application here and learn more about the conference here.

Grants and Loans

Candace S. Bos Innovative Project Grants

Grants to support teachers and support personnel of students with learning disabilities as they develop creative projects to enhance instruction, curriculum, action research, and service delivery. DLD allots a yearly total of $5,000 for support, funding individual projects from $100 to $1,000. Applicants must be members of DLD. Applications are due May 20 of each year. Awards are made by August 1.
Download the Innovative Project Grants application form (PDF document requires Acrobat Reader).
To read about previous award recipients, click here.

DLD Assisted Regional Conferences

Regional consortia composed of 2-7 DLD subdivisions are eligible for interest-free loans up to $5,000 to support regional conferences. The Professional Development, Standards, and Ethics Committee of DLD will provide organizational support to regional subdivisions that receive the loans.
Download the DLD Regional Conference Loan application (PDF document requires Acrobat Reader).

DLD Subdivision Conference Loans

DLD has interest-free loans up to $5,000 to assist local subdivisions in conducting conferences. These interest-free loans provide subdivisions with the financial assistance that will allow them to have conferences based on the members’ needs. The Professional Development, Standards, and Ethics Committee of DLD will provide organizational support for subdivisions that use interest-free loans to finance their conferences.
Download the DLD Subdivision Conference Loan application (PDF document requires Acrobat Reader).