The Empowered Kids Ontario Scholarship Program

The EKO Scholarship Program is designed to help address the unemployment bias people with disabilities and developmental needs face in Ontario. The scholarship provides financial support to promising young Ontarians pursuing their education and career goals after secondary school. The program offers scholarships worth $3,000 each to students who have received services from an EKO General Member organization and are starting or continuing their post-secondary education in 2026/27. Students who self-identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis are eligible to apply for a special scholarship, in addition to the seven other scholarships available, totaling eight scholarships in total. Applicants can pursue education in a wide range of subjects, including sports, medicine, politics, culinary arts, fashion design, journalism, science, and skilled trades such as carpentry or auto mechanics. The scholarship is designed to champion applicants' journeys and embrace their talents, allowing them to express themselves visually, through audio, or in writing. The program aims to make the application process open, safe, inviting and effective for all applicants with disabilities and developmental needs.