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Grant Overview
Stages Learning, a leading provider of autism education resources and creator of the comprehensive early autism curriculum, Language Builder: Academic Readiness Intervention System (ARIS), is pleased to announce the 2026 ARIS Thrive Grant for Autism Educators. Now in its fourth year, the grant winners will again be announced in celebration of Autism Acceptance Day. Recipients will join a cohort led by Stages’ professional learning team to implement the ARIS program in their classrooms.
We invite applications from dedicated educators striving to make a difference in the lives of autistic students, and nominations from district level administrators seeking to recognize their educators.
Key Dates:
- Applications Open: January 21th
- Submission Deadline: February 20th
- Winners Announced: April 2nd, Autism Acceptance Day
Awards and Benefits
- Number of Recipients: Three outstanding educators
- Announcement: Winners to be announced on Autism Acceptance Day April 2, 2026
- Prize Package:
- The Language Builder: ARIS Academic Readiness Intervention System including all physical and digital materials
- One-year subscription ARIS Online
- Kickoff Training & Cohort Experience with fellow award winners
- Support from our Implementation Specialist Team
- Opportunity to feature in Stages Learning's Newsletter and social media
Eligibility
- Open to U.S. educators across public, private, and charter schools working with autistic students, including special education teachers, general education teachers, SLPs, BCBAs, and resource teachers.
- Finalists must be available for a Zoom interview during the month of March.
- Eligible for self-nomination or nomination by a district-level administrator.
Commitments for Awardees:
- Implement ARIS in a classroom for the 2026-2027 academic year.
- Attend virtual training session over the summer.
- Engage in regular check-ins with Stages Learning.
- Maintain and share anonymized data.
- Participate in Stages' social media campaigns
- Coordinate an end-of-year meeting with the district special education director and teacher team in Spring 2027.
- Provide a testimonial about your experience working with the ARIS curriculum and professional learning team.
Application
Interested in applying for the 2026 ARIS Thrive Grant for Autism Educators?
If you are an educator nominating yourself, please click here to access the Self Nomination Application.
If you are a district administrator looking to nominate an educator, please click here to access the Admin Nomination Application.
About Stages Learning
Learn More
Since 1997, Stages Learning has been a pioneering force in autism education. Our commitment to providing comprehensive solutions for autism and those with cognitive or language delays has earned us unwavering trust from partners worldwide. The release of ARIS, the world's first comprehensive curriculum for autism, marks our continued dedication to this cause.
If you'd like to learn more about Stages Learning or ARIS, book time with our team here!
Learn More About The Grant's Impact from a Current Winner
Listen to a testimonial from one of our most recent ARIS Thrive Grant Winners - as she reflects on the impact of ARIS in her classroom one semester into it's use.