Fellowship on Disability

The World Institute on Disability is seeking applications for the Global Heumann Fellowship Program to empower disability leaders and advocates worldwide to advance disability rights and justice within their regional communities.

Through this program, fellows will work on impactful projects aimed at fostering equity, inclusion, and justice globally. Their responsibilities include conducting research, drafting a white paper, cultivating relationships, driving collaborative opportunities, and contributing to program development aligned with WID’s mission and strategic focus areas.

During this twelve-month fellowship term, each fellow will engage in a unique combination of opportunities for thought leadership on national and global policy, research strategies, advocacy, program development, and contributions to initiatives aimed at advancing the rights of persons with disabilities globally. Fellows will focus on identifying and leading research with the support of WID, as it regards the fellow’s respective region, expertise, and collaboration with WID.

Areas of Research

• Fellows will be tasked with conducting relevant research that will promote applicable findings to advance the disability rights and justice field and/or further empower people with disabilities.
• Fellowship applicants will need to align their research project with one of the following three focus areas for the 2025-2026 Global Heumann Fellowship cohort application process:
  • (Accessible & Inclusive) Early Warnings for All: research on inclusive early warning systems that prioritize accessibility, ensuring timely and equitable disaster response.
  • (Accessible & Inclusive) AI & Technology: research on AI and technology solutions designed with and for people with disabilities or fostering innovation that incorporates universal accessibility.
  • Disability-Led Systemic Change: research on systemic change driven by the leadership and expertise of people with disabilities to create a more equitable and inclusive society.

Funding Information

• The fellowship will provide a stipend of $20,000 USD to support participation in the program and $10,000 for reimbursements around research expenses. The stipend will be paid in four installments upon receipt of agreed-upon deliverables for each quarter of the fellowship timeline.

Role and Responsibilities

• Fellows’ roles and responsibilities include the following:
  • Promoting WID’s mission and core values within the Fellow’s region and global presence
  • Ensuring reflection of WID’s mission and core values throughout the application process, fellow’s program development, relevant work, and future action plans
  • Establishing and strengthening alliances to advance change with WID and for the fellow’s future professional development
  • Conducting relevant research that will promote applicable findings and build the power of people with disabilities
  • Creating a sustainable, research-based project plan to guide regional and global implementation throughout and upon completion of the fellowship
  • Conducting comprehensive research that results in a WID-published white paper
  • Producing multi-media assets that demonstrate fellow’s research findings and organizational objectives
  • Maintaining consistent communication and proactive interest in connections with mentors, WID staff, and others involved in the fellow’s research, projects, and responsibilities.

Eligibility Criteria

The Global Heumann Fellowship seeks disabled, visionary leaders with a demonstrated history in advocacy, communications, and influential collaboration. Interested applicants must:

• Have the ability to be effective while working remotely
• Maintain flexibility working with a diverse, global team
• Have at least three years of relevant work experience within the disability rights movement
• Have experience in advocacy on global disability rights issues
• Demonstrate flexibility and capacity to work independently with limited supervision and adapt quickly to new or unexpected assignments
• Possess proficiency in sign language or the English language in verbal form and a high level of comfort using the English language in written form
• Commit part-time (20 hours/week) to the proposed research project and fellowship program throughout the fellowship year
• Currently have a professional career within the disability rights field or plan to upon completion of the Fellowship.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have lived experience as a person with a disability
• Hold an academic degree (earned in the U.S. or abroad) equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree completed by the application deadline
• Possess a strong foundation of knowledge of disability and human rights advocacy
• Have daily access to the internet, a personal computer, and a suitable work environment
• The ability to work occasionally at non-standard hours, accommodating different time zones
• Be available on instant communication modes such as WhatsApp or Signal
• Have significant experience in writing or are a published writer on disability rights issues
• Commit to excellence and be a reliable, responsive, and accountable team member throughout the fellowship.

More Information