Imagine hearing the class bell ring up to 20 times a day and not finding it annoying like most students, but rather, finding it actually painful. Imagine navigating the packed, chaotic high school hallways when crowds and close encounters make you almost ill. Imagine trying to fit in with peers when you can't understand their jokes, read their body language, or understand another's perspective. Imagine having to take part in physical activities during gym and not having the coordination to catch a ball or climb a rope. Imagine going through 12 years of school and never being invited to a party, movie or a sleep over. Now, imagine all of this AND taking a full load of Chemistry, Physics, Global Studies and German. This is just a glimpse of the challenges a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome faces daily.

Young adults on the spectrum, by and large, will not qualify for traditional college scholarships. Typically, they are not presidents of student council, first-string starters of the football team, or captains of the debate team. They are not likely to be found on the honor roll list, even though their IQ scores might be among the highest in the school. Their day is far more complex than that of their typical developing peers. At present, there are no local college scholarships earmarked for students with autism.

Disability Resource Network, a not-for-profit agency, has changed that by establishing Ohio's only scholarship specific to college-bound high school graduates who are on the autism spectrum. The BE THE PIECE Scholarship will provide a "piece" of the autism puzzle by enabling students to further their education. This unique scholarship will help grant the same opportunities and experiences of higher education as those offered to typical developing peers. The BE THE PIECE Scholarship will help some deserving students achieve all they can.