Ciara’s Light Foundation recognizes that programs and resources devoted to children with special needs and life threatening medical conditions often require more expensive resources not typically covered by insurance. Ciara’s Light Grant Program provides financial assistance to individuals with special needs and/or life threatening conditions to help pay for medical expenses and therapies not typically covered through insurance or other programs.   ​

This includes:

• Service Dogs (including Seizure Response and Diabetic Alert Dogs)
• Medical Devices (including Pulse Oximeters and Emfit Monitor)
• Adaptive safety equipment (Helmets, Larger car seats and strollers)
• Home Safety items (adaptive bed, video monitors)
• Other items/services not covered by insurance

Email Lori@ciaraslight.org if you are interested in applying for a grant.

For four years, Ciara spent a week at a summer camp that hosted an epilepsy week. We were fortunate to find a camp which believed in creating opportunities for children with serious illnesses and their families to reach beyond illness and discover joy, confidence and a new world of possibilities. Attending the camp became the highlight of the year for her. She participated in traditional camp activities like typical kids – horseback riding and swimming were among her favorite. Regardless of a child’s needs, Ciara’s Light Foundation would like to help make the camp experience a reality for others.

Understanding the demands and challenges faced by many families, Ciara’s Light Foundation will be offering grants to help families facing financial hardship access the camp experience for their children, as well as offer grants for campers who require an aide, LPN or other support staff to accompany them at camp. Camps can be located anywhere in the US, either overnight or day camps of the applicants choosing.

Please email lori@ciaraslight.org if you are interested in applying for a Camp Scholarship.

Ciara’s Light Foundation is proud to sponsor Unified Dance programs at studios who are interested and qualified. Our pilot program was initiated in the Fall of 2017 at the Dance Workshop of Monroe, CT. It is offered for students with special needs entering grades 3-8 in the 2017 school year. Dance can be a unique and effective way to reach students with special needs because it is nonverbal. Dance can help students gain balance, allow them to express emotion, and gain muscle control. In dance, they interact socially through parallel interaction, which can be less overwhelming on sensitive nervous systems. Students will learn the basics of movement, rhythm, ballet fundamentals, and explore an introduction to jazz. In addition to class instruction, each student will be paired with a junior or senior dancer. Class will participate in a Winter Showcase and the annual June production.

To learn more about this specific class, please contact Beth Salito at Dance Workshop of Monroe

203-268-7297.

For more information on implementing Unified Dance at your studio, please contact lori@ciaraslight.org.

Scholarship awarded annually to a graduating senior at Masuk High School who will be attending a four year college pursuing Special Education. We know that as a result of a team of gifted special education teachers, Ciara developed writing, reading, math and speaking skills that exceeded everyone’s expectations. There continues to be a demand for Special Education teachers in our country and Ciara’s Light Foundation is proud to support those pursuing this as a career.

We are currently accepting applications for 2022. Deadline to apply is May 20, 2022.

Download Application

2022 Ciara O’Driscoll Memorial Scholarship for Special Education

Scholarship to be awarded annually to a graduating senior at Masuk High School with special needs for post secondary school education.

We are currently accepting applications for 2022 Graduates. Deadline to apply is May 20, 2022.

Download Application

Ciara O’Driscoll Memorial Scholarship of Hope 2022