A gift that helps neurodiverse students thrive
December 18, 2025 — Neeta Sirur ’80 admires the hard work and dedication of neurodiverse students. She also has observed how difficult college can be for neurodivergent individuals who lack correct diagnoses and resources.
Neeta Sirur ’80
To better meet the needs of students with autism, ADHD, or dyslexia – collectively termed neurodivergence – Sirur made a $50,000 gift in 2023 to establish the Equity Fund for Neurodiverse Students.
The fund provides financial support to individual students who may or may not have a formal diagnosis so they can access academic, experiential, and social opportunities on an equitable basis with their classmates.
Autumn Wilke, Grinnell College associate chief diversity officer for disability resources, says the gift has had a real impact in just two years. One of the foundational issues the fund has addressed is the under diagnosis of neurodivergent disorders. Wilke says the beneficiaries are almost exclusively first-generation students of color from low-income backgrounds and under-resourced school districts. For many, college is the first time they encountered academic barriers.
“The fund has been really helpful for students who have had financial barriers preventing their diagnosis,” says Wilke. “The out-of-pocket costs can be in the thousands, and even with insurance, it still can cost hundreds of dollars.”
Sirur’s gift addresses another barrier: time. Students in Iowa often wait up to seven months – almost an entire academic year – to be tested. To serve students quicker, Grinnell now brings a provider to campus. Since the fall of 2024, Grinnell has referred 19 students for diagnostics testing. Nine of them were eligible for full funding assistance. All but one of the consultations resulted in a diagnosis.
That identification is crucial for accessing accommodations on graduate school admission tests like the GRE and LSAT. But for many newly diagnosed students, naming and understanding their disability is more than academic. It can shine a light on past challenges and experiences and reveal aspects of who they are.
“Testing has provided me with new insights into my learning style and preferences, helping me better understand myself academically,” says a class of 2027 student, who received assistance from the fund. “It has confirmed certain aspects I suspected for a long time, giving me the clarity needed to navigate my educational path more confidently.”
Autumn Wilke
Sirur’s gift accomplishes more than facilitating individual testing. It has built a stable financial foundation for Disability Services in its ability to reach students. Disability services staff are proactive in having a financial conversation with students earlier in the process. Partners at Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) also refer students, increasing awareness for those who may not yet suspect they have a potential disability.
Sirur came to Grinnell from her native India in 1976 in a high school student exchange program. Following completion of her exchange year at Grinnell High School, she enrolled at Grinnell College, majoring in political science. She went on to a more than 30-year career at the World Bank in various technical and managerial positions.
From her homebase in Washington, D.C., Sirur is currently an independent consultant for international development agencies and financial institutions. Over her career, she has worked and lived in many developing countries around the world.
Sirur’s thoughtfulness in creating an endowed fund means that it will continue to grow even as it funds annual expenses. Wilke envisions it will someday support more than diagnosis. Disability Services hopes to add group classes in executive functioning skills and pay for conference attendance at events specifically for neurodivergent students. A community of peers alongside academic resources is vital.
“Navigating a diagnosis is different for every student,” Wilke says. “They are figuring out a support system, and what it means for who they are and how they understand themselves.”
—by Kim Kobersmith