Applications Are Now Open for the 2026 EKO Scholarship Program
December 01, 2025
If you’ve been waiting for a chance to continue your studies or explore a new path, this could be the moment that helps change everything. Applications for the 2026 Empowered Kids Ontario (EKO) Scholarship Program are officially OPEN!
And the best part? We want to learn about you and what inspires you to keep learning.
Since 2011, EKO has proudly supported young people with disabilities and developmental needs on their learning journey after high school. Our goal is for the EKO Scholarship Program to help address the unemployment bias people with disabilities and developmental needs face, because nothing should stand in the way of promising young Ontarians pursuing their education and career goals.
This year, eight scholarships valued at $3,000 each will be awarded to promising young Ontarians, including a dedicated scholarship for students who self-identify as Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit, or Métis.
If you’ve received services from an EKO General Member organization and plan to start or continue your education in 2026/27, you may be eligible to apply. And with applications open right now, there’s never been a better moment to share your story.
“Every young person deserves the chance to pursue their dreams,” says Jennifer Churchill, President & CEO of Empowered Kids Ontario. “We designed this year’s scholarship to celebrate each applicant’s strengths, talents, and unique voice. We cannot wait to hear their stories.”
Bold and Creative Ways to Apply
The application process is designed around one idea: you should be able to tell your story in the way that feels most true to who you are. That’s why applicants have many unique pathways to express themselves. For instance:
- Writing an essay
- Recording a video
- Creating visual art
- Recording music
- Photograph products you create. Maybe you’re a carpenter, a fashion designer, a chef or baker producing works of culinary art.
Supporting the Next Chapter in Your Learning and Career Journey
The EKO Scholarship Program is all about you: your talents, your story, your goals, and how you see your future. With applications officially open, this is the moment to show the world where you want to go.
Click here to learn more about the application process, including eligibility, guidelines, and how to submit your application. New this year, sessions with an independent coach will be available to interested applicants who want some guidance as they prepare their application.
Applications are due by Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Good luck!