Researchers with Disabilities

Unique funding model: Federal supplements enhance existing grants + direct scholarships

Support available through two distinct pathways: federal agencies supplement existing awards to accommodate researchers with disabilities, while direct scholarships provide independent funding for students and early-career researchers.

šŸ“Š Overview

  • Two Funding Models: Supplements (enhance existing grants) + Direct Scholarships (standalone)
  • Coverage: All career stages (undergrad ā†’ faculty)
  • Funding Range: $1,000 - $60,000+
  • Federal Support: NIH and NSF lead with accommodation-focused programs
  • Key Insight: Supplements donā€™t compete with direct scholarshipsā€”apply to both

Federal Supplements & Accommodations

NIH Research Supplements to Promote Diversity (PA-23-189)

Organization: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Amount: Varies (based on need) Deadline: Rolling Eligibility: Individuals with disabilities working on active NIH grants

How it works: If you (or a student/postdoc in your lab) have a disability, you can request supplemental funding to an existing NIH grant to:

  • Cover adaptive equipment
  • Support assistive personnel
  • Offset accommodation costs
  • Provide salary support

This is NOT a standalone grantā€”it enhances funding already awarded to a PI. Can support high school through faculty levels.

NSF FASED (Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities)

Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF) Amount: Varies (accommodation-based) Deadline: Rolling Eligibility: NSF grantees with disabilities

NSFā€™s parallel to NIH supplements. Provides funding for:

  • Special assistive technology
  • Field or laboratory equipment modifications
  • Readers, interpreters, or personal assistants
  • Other accommodation-related costs

Can be requested in addition to a regular NSF grant or as a supplement to an existing award.

Direct Scholarships

Google Lime Scholarship

Organization: Google & Lime Connect Amount: $10,000 (US) / $5,000 (Canada) Deadline: December (annually) Eligibility: Students with disabilities pursuing Computer Science or Computer Engineering degrees

Prestigious scholarship for students with visible or invisible disabilities in computing fields. Includes invitation to Googleā€™s annual scholars retreat.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Access-Ability Scholarship

Organization: Johnson & Johnson Amount: Varies Deadline: Varies Eligibility: Students with disabilities in STEM fields

Corporate scholarship supporting students with disabilities pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

NFB (National Federation of the Blind) Scholarship Program

Organization: National Federation of the Blind Amount: $8,000 (30 awards annually) Deadline: March (annually) Eligibility: Legally blind students pursuing postsecondary education

One of the largest scholarship programs for blind students. Awards 30 scholarships annually to legally blind students pursuing education at any level (undergraduate through professional degrees).

ACB (American Council of the Blind) Scholarship Program

Organization: American Council of the Blind Amount: $2,000 - $7,500 Deadline: February (annually) Eligibility: Legally blind students in undergraduate or graduate programs

Portfolio of scholarships for blind and visually impaired students across all fields of study.

Foundation for Science and Disability (FSD) Science Graduate Student Grant

Organization: Foundation for Science and Disability Amount: $1,000 Deadline: December (annually) Eligibility: Graduate students with disabilities in STEM fields

Small but meaningful grant specifically for graduate students with disabilities conducting scientific research.

Microsoft Disability Scholarship

Organization: Microsoft Amount: $5,000/year (renewable for up to 4 years, total $20,000) Deadline: April (annually) Eligibility: High school seniors with disabilities pursuing technology or law/business careers

Renewable scholarship for high school students living with a disability (per WHO definition) planning to attend 2-year or 4-year college targeting technology industry careers. Requires 3.0 GPA and demonstrates financial need.

Regions: Must attend a college in the U.S. (or college with U.S. financial affiliation). U.S. and international students can apply if studying at eligible U.S. institution.

Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant

Organization: Microsoft Amount: $25,000 Deadline: September (annually) Eligibility: Ph.D. students in computing from diverse backgrounds (explicitly includes people with disabilities)

Major grant for Ph.D. students from underrepresented groups, including people with disabilities, in computing-related fields.

AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability

Organization: American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) Amount: $1,000 Deadline: November (annually) Eligibility: Undergraduate (after 1 year) or graduate students with disabilities in health/disability-related fields

Annual scholarship for students with disabilities majoring in fields related to disability, health, or rehabilitation. Preference given to public health, disability studies, health promotion, or fields improving quality of life for people with disabilities.

Regions: U.S. citizens or legal residents only.

Switzer Research Fellowship Program

Organization: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) Amount: Up to $60,000 Deadline: Varies Eligibility: Graduate students and researchers pursuing disability-related research

Merit-based research fellowship supporting:

  • Dissertation research related to disability policy and practice
  • Postdoctoral research in rehabilitation and independent living
  • Early career researchers studying disability issues

Priority to researchers with disabilities, but not required.

AAPD NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship

Organization: American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) Amount: $5,625 (8 awards annually) Deadline: May 30, 2025 Eligibility: High school seniors through graduate students with any disability interested in media, communications, entertainment, or technology

Named after former Congressman Tony Coelho (author of ADA). Eight competitive awards for students pursuing careers in media industries. Includes mentorship and summer internship opportunities at NBCUniversal.

Alexander Graham Bell Association College Scholarships

Organization: Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) Amount: $2,500 - $10,000 Deadline: January-March (annually) Eligibility: Students with pre-lingual bilateral hearing loss using listening and spoken language; 3.0+ GPA

For students with hearing loss (60dB+ in both ears before age 4) who use listening and spoken language. Multiple scholarships available at undergraduate and graduate levels. Emphasis on academic achievement and community involvement.

Federal Research & Institutional Programs

NSF Workplace Equity for Persons with Disabilities in STEM

Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF) Amount: Up to $1,500,000 over 5 years Deadline: Check NSF website for current cycle Eligibility: U.S. institutions conducting research on accessible STEM workplaces

Research grants advancing knowledge about accessible STEM workplaces. Projects must include researchers with disabilities. Supports investigations into workplace barriers, accommodation effectiveness, and systemic change for disability inclusion in STEM.

Note: This is a research grant (institutions apply), not individual funding.

NSF STEM-APWD (STEM for All: Persons with Disabilities)

Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF) Amount: Conference proposals up to $100,000; Supplemental funding varies Deadline: Rolling Eligibility: PIs with or without disabilities on existing NSF awards

Two components:

  1. Conference support: Funding for convenings focused on disability and STEM intersections
  2. Supplemental funding: For disability-focused activities within existing NSF grants

Mentoring & Professional Development Programs

AccessComputing Team Member Support

Organization: University of Washington, NSF-funded Amount: Varies (conference funding, travel support, tutoring, mentoring) Deadline: Rolling Eligibility: College or graduate students with disabilities in computing fields

Comprehensive support program for students with disabilities in computing. Provides:

  • Conference travel funding
  • REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) placements
  • Mentoring connections
  • Tutoring and academic support
  • Career development resources

Impact: Long-running NSF project dedicated to increasing participation of people with disabilities in computing careers.

CRA Grad Cohort for IDEALS

Organization: Computing Research Association (CRA) Amount: Full attendance support (travel, lodging, meals covered) Deadline: Spring (annually) Eligibility: Masterā€™s/PhD students in computing at US/Canadian institutions with disabilities

Two-day intensive workshop providing mentoring, professional development, and networking for graduate students with disabilities in computing. Covers all costs. IDEALS = Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and ALlyship in Service of computing research.

AAAS Entry Point!

Organization: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Amount: Varies by partner site (paid internships) Deadline: Rolling Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities in STEM

Places students with disabilities in competitive paid STEM internships at leading companies, government agencies, and research institutions. Partners include NASA, DOE national labs, Google, Microsoft, and more. Internships are real work experiences, not accommodated positions.

Impact: Over 550 interns placed since 1997; strong pipeline to permanent STEM careers.

DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center Programs

Organization: University of Washington Amount: No cost to participants Deadline: Varies by program Eligibility: High school through early postsecondary students with disabilities interested in STEM

Multiple programs promoting STEM careers for individuals with disabilities:

  • Summer study experiences
  • Year-round mentoring
  • Internship connections
  • Transition support to college/careers

Impact: Long-standing program (since 1992) with proven track record of supporting students with disabilities into STEM fields.

International Programs

Snowdon Masters Scholarships

Organization: Snowdon Trust (UK) Amount: Up to Ā£30,000 (Ā£15k tuition + Ā£15k living costs) Deadline: May (annually) Eligibility: Disabled students globally pursuing masterā€™s degrees in the UK

Generous scholarships empowering exceptional disabled students to pursue masterā€™s degrees at any UK university. Open to UK and international students.

Coverage: Up to Ā£15,000 toward tuition fees and Ā£15,000 for living costs during one-year (or two-year part-time) masterā€™s program.

Unique Feature: Access to Disabled Leaders Network for mentorship and professional development. Scholars selected for leadership potential and ambition to become leaders while leveraging lived experience of disability to drive change.

šŸ“‹ Complete Grant Table

Grant Name Organization Amount Type Eligibility Link
NIH Diversity Supplements (PA-23-189) NIH Varies Supplement Active NIH grants Apply
NSF FASED NSF Varies Supplement NSF grantees Apply
Google Lime Scholarship Google/Lime Connect $10K US/$5K CA Direct CS/CE Students Apply
J&J Access-Ability Johnson & Johnson Varies Direct STEM Students Apply
NFB Scholarship Program NFB $8,000 Ɨ 30 Direct Blind Students Apply
ACB Scholarship Program ACB $2,000-$7,500 Direct Blind/VI Students Apply
FSD Graduate Grant FSD $1,000 Direct Grad STEM Apply
Microsoft Dissertation Grant Microsoft $25,000 Direct PhD Computing Apply
Switzer Fellowship NIDILRR $60,000 Direct Disability Research Apply

šŸ’” Application Strategy

Understanding the Two-Track System

Federal Supplements (NIH, NSF):

  • These are NOT competitive with direct scholarships
  • Require an existing grant (yours or your PIā€™s)
  • Focus on accommodations, not general support
  • Apply if you need adaptive equipment or personnel

Direct Scholarships:

  • Standalone competitive awards
  • Can be used for tuition, living expenses, research
  • Apply directly as a student or early-career researcher

For Students:

  1. Apply to direct scholarships first (Google Lime, NFB, ACB, FSD)
  2. If working in a funded lab, ask PI about NIH/NSF supplements
  3. Target disability-specific AND broader diversity programs (e.g., Microsoft)

For Faculty/Postdocs:

  1. If you have NIH/NSF funding, request a supplement for accommodations
  2. If studying disability issues, apply for Switzer Fellowship
  3. Encourage students with disabilities to apply for supplements to your grants

For Blind/Visually Impaired Students:

  • NFB and ACB are must-apply programs (30+ awards annually)
  • Both organizations offer strong community and networking beyond funding

For Computing Students:

  • Google Lime is the flagship opportunity ($10K + scholar retreat)
  • Microsoft Dissertation Grant for PhD students ($25K)

šŸŒŸ Key Organizations

Lime Connect

Tech industry connector for students and professionals with disabilities. Partners with major companies (Google, Microsoft, etc.) for scholarships and career opportunities.

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)

Largest and most influential organization of blind people in the US. Strong scholarship program with vibrant community.

Foundation for Science and Disability (FSD)

Dedicated to supporting scientists and students with disabilities in STEM fields.

šŸ”— Related Opportunities

Also see:

Cross-listed:

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