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The Global Heumann Fellowship
Photo: JudithHeumann.com
Via WID.org: 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.
The Global Heumann Fellowship
Photo: JudithHeumann.com
Via WID.org: 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 Roles 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
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.
Application opens January 1, 2025
