The Global Heumann Fellowship
The WID Global Heumann Fellowship Program honors WID co-founder Judy Heumann’s enduring legacy by empowering 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.
Fellow Application and Timeline
- January 1, 2025: Application period opens for the 2025–2026 Global Heumann Fellowship (GHF) cohort.
- February 28, 2025: Application period closes. All applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Pacific Time (UTC-8).
- March 2025: Applicant review process begins.
- June 2025: Applicant review process concludes. All applicants are notified via email about their selection status.
- July 1, 2025: The 2025–2026 GHF cohort officially begins their fellowship term.
- June 30, 2026: The 2025–2026 fellowship term concludes.
How to Apply to be a Fellow
The application for the Global Heumann Fellowship is linked below for your use and convenience.
The questions in the application request information on demographics, current organizational affiliations, personal motivation, and the scope of the proposed research project. Detailed instructions for the written components are provided, and a downloadable preview of the application is available to help applicants prepare. While we encourage drafting responses in advance, the application platform allows you to save your progress and return later if needed.
Note: Only applications submitted through the designated survey platform will be accepted. Submissions must be completed by February 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time (UTC-8). All responses and materials must be submitted in English.
A PDF version of the full application is available for reference and preparation here.
