Thanks to generous donors and fundraising efforts, TACA is proud to offer medical scholarships to help families pursue functional medicine treatment for their children with autism.

Purpose

The TACA Family Scholarship Fund is designed to support families who need financial assistance to begin or continue medical treatment with a qualified professional. We understand the financial burden that can come with an autism diagnosis, and we’re here to help.

This is a competitive scholarship, and we receive more applications than we can fund. We thoroughly review and vet each submission, and priority is given to families who meet all eligibility requirements. We encourage families to read the guidelines carefully and submit a complete application to be considered.

What the Scholarship Covers

TACA National Medical Scholarships offer financial assistance to eligible families for out-of-pocket costs related to care from:

• Medical doctors specializing in autism and trained through:
  o MAPS (Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs)
  o IFM (Institute for Functional Medicine)
  o LLMD (Lyme-Literate Medical Doctors)
• Naturopathic doctors specializing in autism care

Please note: Awards vary depending on donor funding.

Application Deadline

• Deadline to Apply: June 13, 2025 at 12 PM PDT
• Notification Date: On or before August 1, 2025

Eligibility Requirements

To apply, families must:

1. Have a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or PDD-NOS
2. Choose a functional medicine doctor (see qualifying certifications above)
3. Be actively involved with TACA for at least 6 months prior to applying
4. Have attended at least two TACA events in the past year
   • Includes: Virtual Support Events, Virtual Learning Events or the in-person National Autism Conference
5. Be a member of the TACA Hope & Help for Autism Facebook group
6. Have a combined annual household income equal to or less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level
   • Applicants above this level may be considered, but priority is given to those within the limit

How It works

Before applying:

✅ Choose your doctor

✅ Confirm they are accepting new patients (unless continuing existing care)

✅ Determine if telehealth is an option if preferred

❗️ If you’re unsure of your doctor choice, please do not apply yet.

• We recommend connecting with your local TACA Community or the Hope & Help Facebook Group to research and find a provider that best fits your child’s needs.

Important Notes

If awarded:

• One check will be issued directly to the doctor’s office
• Funds cannot be used for:
  • Labs or supplements billed separately
  • New patient registration, membership, or concierge fees
  • Travel or accommodation costs
  • Past appointments or services
• In some cases, if the doctor’s office can bill labs or supplements internally, those costs may be covered
• Funds cannot be split between doctors or transferred after the award

📩 Questions? Email us at: scholarships@tacanow.org

📝 Ready to Apply?

Please read the full application carefully before submitting. Use the red button below to access the scholarship application.