The Neurodiverse Kidlit Scholarship

This scholarship is open to all who identify as neurodivergent (self-diagnosis is fine).

Being neurodivergent in publishing has its unique challenges. It’s hard enough to decode the language of the neurotypical world, let alone the additional subtleties and nuances of publishing etiquette. For many of us in the Neurodiverse Kidlit Collective, it’s taken years, embarrassing faux pas emails, and multiple agents to gain an understanding and sense of confidence in this world–not to mention so many incredible, patient mentors who have believed in our neurodivergent characters!

Whether we grew up with a diagnosis or not, we know we are different. And with difficulty forming relationships, often the first glimpse we get into someone similar to us is through books. Unfortunately, until recently, those stories have been told by people outside of the community, who have been exposed to neurodivergence through a third party– whether they be a student, patient, or child– and not through the neurodivergent individual themselves, which is problematic for many reasons. We in the Neurodiverse Kidlit Collective believe we need neurodivergent stories by neurodivergent storytellers with honest, genuine first-hand experience.

We’ve created this scholarship to encourage those of us who may struggle to persist amidst the confusing social cues and rejection letters, who may need that reminder that their stories matter and that they are worthy. Our hope is that this scholarship can make more room for neurodivergent storytellers, to represent an authentic neurodivergent experience within their stories and worlds, helping young readers be seen and creating increased empathy and understanding by neurotypical readers.

Find out more about the Neurodiverse Kidlit Collective at our website: https://ndkidlit.org