The Governor’s Coalition for Youth with Disabilities (GCYD) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1996 with the mission of recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of Connecticut high school students with disabilities and promoting educational opportunities to help students achieve their career goals.  The GCYD has awarded over 200 scholarships totaling more than $650,000 to students with disabilities that has helped offset the cost of their first year of college tuition or other post-secondary training expenses. 

Each year the GCYD holds a scholarship awards ceremony at the State Capitol featuring legislators and members of the private sector, state agencies and various educational institutions.  At the ceremony, scholarship awardees are recognized for their hard work and achievements over the years that have distinguished them as our future leaders. 

GCYD works diligently each year to increase the number of available scholarship awards ranging from $500-$5000 per student.  The GCYD relies on scholarship contributions from the Connecticut State University System, private universities and colleges, state agencies, private businesses, and community organizations as well as individual donors in order to fulfill our mission year after year.    

The GCYD is operated by a Board of Directors, which is made up entirely of volunteers from the private sector, state agencies, scholarship alumni, families, and advocates.