The disability rights scholarship program provides awards for master’s degree study to disability rights advocates, lawyers, and educators to develop new legislation, jurisprudence, policy, research, and scholarship to harness the innovations and opportunities offered by the united nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (crpd).
With the knowledge and networks gained through the program, we expect that fellows will deepen their understanding of international law and education, with a focus on disability rights, and gain the tools necessary to engage in a range of crpd implementation strategies, such as: challenging rights violations in their home countries by drafting enforceable legislation consistent with the crpd; utilizing enforcement mechanisms set forth in the convention; taking forward disability rights litigation requesting crpd-compliant remedies; engaging in disability rights advocacy; and developing law, education, or other academic curricula informed by the crpd.
Eligibility criteria
The competition is merit-based and open to those meeting the following criteria:
- Be a citizen and legal resident of argentina, china, colombia, malawi, mexico, mozambique, peru, sudan, south sudan, tanzania, tunisia, or zambia at the time of application
- Have work experience in the legal profession or advocacy focusing on human/disability rights and/or work in education with a demonstrated interest in advancing inclusive education
- Have an excellent academic record with a bachelor of laws (llb; in exceptional circumstances, those without a llb but with substantial relevant experience may be considered); for inclusive education, a degree in teaching, public administration/policy, anthropology, social work, psychology, or related field
- Have demonstrated leadership in the field of disability rights or education
- Be proficient in spoken and written english or french and able to meet university-designated minimum scores on standardized language tests
- Be able to participate in an intensive academic writing program in summer 2016
- Be able to begin the graduate program in august or september 2016
- Be able to receive and maintain visa or study permit required by host country
- Demonstate a clear commitment to return to home country to advance the inclusion and full participation of persons with disabilities in their communities, or to aid ongoing disability rights work
Ineligibility criteria
Employees of the open society foundations and employees of local administering organizations (and their immediate family members) who are directly involved in the administration of scholarships are not eligible, nor are individuals receiving other open society foundations–funded support during the fellowship period.
Worth
The fellowship provides:
- Tuition and mandatory university fees;
- Monthly stipend for room, board, and other living expenses;
- Program-related travel;
- Accident and sickness insurance during the program;
- Funds for educational materials and professional development;
- All costs associated with pre-academic summer program and annual conference;
- Support for students with disabilities to obtain reasonable accommodations necessary for
- Participating in the program of study.
The fellowship does not provide funding for dependent family members
Deadline: november 2, 2015
