Grants

Faculty, graduate students, and researchers who hold a primary appointment at one of the University of Toronto’s three campuses are eligible to apply for these grants.

Grants of $100-$1500 will be awarded based on merit of the proposal and demonstrated excellence of the applicant, assessed in terms of contribution to the spirit of the award categories and the mission of the centre.  

Successful proposals will directly engage the interdisciplinary field of disability studies, with a priority focus on research concerned with theorizing ableism and centring the lived experience of disabled people as a method of study as well as object of study. Our priority is to fund graduate student, early career, and contingent researchers in critical humanities and social science fields, especially those who actively engage with the ongoing life of our research centre. However, all are invited to apply. 

Anti-Ableist Research grants are not intended as a vehicle for sole research support, but rather as a resource to promote disability studies, disability access, and community engagement in already ongoing anti-ableist disability studies research and scholarly activity across the University of Toronto.

Please carefully review the categories and in your application select one option that best fits your proposed project (although in many cases, the categories will overlap).

Grants are offered in the following categories:

Emerging Projects Anti-Ableist Research Grants to support early career graduate students at the University of Toronto in developing a new research project in the field of critical disability studies in a humanities or social science field. Projects should directly relate to elements of the Centre’s mission statement, and applicants should already be participating in Centre activities. This category of grant is payable as a graduate student fellowship, and applicants should explain how time in the coming semester or year will be spent to advance their research. 

Accessible Research Anti-Ableist Research Grants to support research activities related to disability studies, especially improving disability access for researchers or research participants. This can include addressing access barriers to research activities at field sites, and archives, or facing particular research participant populations. 

Community Engagement Anti-Ableist Research Grants to support compensating disabled community members for participation in research- or artistic creation-related activities. Disability studies emerged through engagement with disability advocacy movements outside the university and has long prioritized the maxim of “nothing about us without us,” referring to the need for leadership by and for disabled people. Critical disability studies research often unfolds in collaboration with community activists, organizers, and artists, who should be remunerated for their expertise. Ideally, community engagement should be part of research design from the earliest stage, but occasionally a researcher comes into relation through the course of research. Grants in this category may include honoraria for interviewees to appear in an artistic project, transportation or meals for participants in a focus group, extending an existing scholarly project to address an emergent question.

Disability Studies Knowledge Dissemination Anti-Ableist Research Grants to support scholarly publications or knowledge translation through the creation of public-facing scholarship, media, creative work or community-engaged work. The work should translate disability studies research to broad audiences, including the general public, government, policy analysts, activists, artists, research participants, or scholars. The purpose of this grant is to support researchers in creating outputs that benefit the broader community and support global disability justice. Possible requests may relate to image rights in publications, technical costs related to creating videos, podcasts, websites, or other public-facing research outputs, costs related to reporting research findings back to a community of research participants, translation of outreach materials into non-English languages, etc. Media outputs should be designed to be accessible to a variety of audiences. Our centre is happy to work with you to plan for and determine disability access protocols (e.g. ALT text, Simple English, transcripts, audio description) appropriate to your proposed project.

The CGDS anti-ableist research fund grant priorities are set by the Director with input from the faculty steering committee, the grant committee, and a consideration of campus priorities. As such, we occasionally amend the grant description to attract grant applications that reflect these priorities, and to provide clarifications based on past applications. 

Please note: We do not typically fund projects based on psychology or medical sciences.

The spring 2024 cycle includes a new category, “Emerging Projects,” for new graduate student research. This responds to the observation that students in the early stages of Masters and doctoral dissertation research in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences may not yet have direct expenses related to research, but rather need support to open up time for reading, study, design, artistic practice, or grant writing.

The Anti-Ableist research small grants no longer include an option for accessibility costs for campus events. The Centre for Global Disability Studies will continue to co-sponsor events related to disability and ableism studies across the three campuses of the University of Toronto. However, requests for event co-sponsorship should be directed to the Centre Director via email. This allows the centre to more closely align our practices with other campus units, and respond more immediately to co-sponsorship requests. We encourage all campus units to request costs related to accessibility at campus events directly from the University as part of the annual fiscal budget request (e.g. captioning and/or ASL interpreting for large lectures or public events) and are happy to consult in this regard.

We do not typically fund conference travel, as other campus funding sources are available to graduate students for conference travel.

Awardees will be expected to provide the following:

• CGDS expects that grantees are regularly participating in the life of the centre, including attending biweekly Core Lab working group meetings, to contribute to a rich scholarly community in the field of disability and ableism studies
• Grantees should name the Centre for Global Disability Studies as a supporter in subsequent publications where appropriate
• Complete a short survey describing how funds were used upon completion of the grant term, including links to any work developed with the support of the grant for CGDS reporting and promotion (to see examples please click here)
• Prospective, current, and past grantees are invited to attend CGDS Core Lab, and may be invited to workshop or share their research in the CGDS Core Lab’s informal, supportive environment
• If Relevant: submission of any relevant receipts, or documentation supporting the use of funds dispersed within the scope of grant awarded

Each grant application is peer-reviewed by two reviewers: one member of the grant committee and one member of the Centre, each with relevant expertise. Award decisions are adjudicated by the grant committee based on peer reviews, award criteria described herein, and available funds. The grant committee works in consultation with the Centre Director as needed.  

Responses to the application form may be submitted in: 

• Writing (submitted as a .docx, .pdf, .txt) 
• Audio or video recording, not exceeding 10 minutes in length (submitted as .mp3, .mp4, private streaming video/audio link)  

Please contact the CGDS administrative team with questions, concerns, or access needs related to the application process. 

Applications should be submitted by email to cgds.utsc@utoronto.ca

To apply for this grant, applicants must submit the following documents via email with the subject line “CGDS Anti-Ableist Research Grant Application”: 

• Completed award application (attached below)
• Current CV for the applicant(s)

Application Deadlines

Grants are reviewed in two cohorts annually. Applications for fall review should be submitted by October 15^th with a response in December or January*. Submissions for spring review are due March 15^th, with a decision in May or June*. Please check back as the deadline approaches for any updates. You are welcome to submit at any time; your application will be reviewed with the next cohort.

* Note: should the Centre be behind in the posting or distribution of these grants, we will update members through email and the website. Please be sure to confirm that grants have opened for that term.

How can I access the funds if I receive an award?

Awarded funds will normally be spent in the 12 months following the award decision. Funds must be disbursed according to university guidelines. For faculty and researchers with PI accounts, funds will be transferred directly. For graduate students, funds may either be transferred to a faculty PI account (e.g. of a supervisor), or expenses may be invoiced to or processed directly by CGDS (e.g. ASL interpretation, honoraria) or reimbursed with receipts (e.g. purchase of supplies, technology, or travel). We do not transfer funds to university partner organizations (such as hospitals); PI accounts must be located in a UofT unit.  

How are grant applications reviewed?

The Centre for Global Disability Studies Anti-Ableist Research Grants are competitive, and we are not able to fund all proposals. As of 2024, we fund approximately ten proposals each year, and in some years have received as many as 25 applications in a seasonal cycle. Our grant committee is committed to offering constructive feedback based on the peer review process to all applicants. In the case that a proposal is simply not suited to the grant criteria, our grant committee may send a desk rejection, rather than solicit peer review. Each grant is peer-reviewed by two reviewers: one member of the grant committee and one member of the Centre with relevant expertise. Award decisions are adjudicated by the grant committee based on peer reviews, award criteria described herein, and available funds. The grant committee works in consultation with the Centre Director as needed. 

Who is eligible to apply?

At present, the CGDS small grants are available only to faculty, staff, and graduate students who hold a primary appointment in or are enrolled as current students at one of UofT’s three campuses (this does not include affiliated hospitals). Undergraduate students, researchers at other/affiliated institutions, and community partners may partner with UofT core faculty, graduate students, or campus units to apply. Please propose community partnerships with CGDS directly with an email to cgds.utsc@utoronto.ca. 

What kinds of projects have been funded in the past?

Learn about events and projects funded through the CGDS Small Grants in past years here.

This fellowship is designed to support graduate students at the University of Toronto engaged in critical, anti-colonial, anti-ableist disability studies research.   

Two fellowship awards are available annually to support summer research endeavors that further the completion of the dissertation, either writing or supplemental research not covered by other funding. For instance, funds may support writing-up time, a trip to an archive, or supplemental/follow-up fieldwork with research participants. Preference will be given to those applicants who are nearing completion of the dissertation, and to those who do not hold concurrent major funding or grant awards.   

Awardees must be enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Toronto and must be conducting research in the critical interpretive disability studies tradition that demonstrates the potential to make a significant contribution to the future of transnational, anti-colonial, and/or anti-racist disability studies*. Applicants are not required to be members of the Centre for Global Disability Studies to apply. 

The awards are intended to support summer research activities in the calendar year they are awarded.  

Funding amounts are determined on an annual basis according to CGDS financial accounts. Awards will be paid as a graduate student fellowship (T4A). 

* Note: Research using clinical and curative paradigms are not eligible for this funding 

Awardees must be: 

• Enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Toronto  
• Conducting research in the critical interpretive disability studies tradition that demonstrates the potential to make a significant contribution to the future of transnational, anti-colonial, and/or anti-racist disability studies 

Awardees will be expected to provide the following:

• Submit photo and brief bio (to see examples please click here) for the CGDS website, social media and/or other sites for promotion  

• Submission of a 500-word summary of work undertaken during duration of fellowship, provided upon grant conclusion (early September)  
• Be prepared to provide a brief presentation to the CGDS community in the fall semester following the fellowship (September/October)   

Applications will be reviewed by a committee of at least two faculty members of the Centre for Global Disability Studies. Applications are confidential.   

Responses to the application form may be submitted in: 

• Writing (submitted as a .docx, .pdf, .txt) 

• Audio or video recording, not exceeding 10 minutes in length (submitted as .mp3, .mp4, private streaming video/audio link)  

Please contact the CGDS administrative team with questions, concerns, or access needs related to the application process. 

Applications should be submitted by email to cgds.utsc@utoronto.ca

To apply for this fellowship, applicants must submit the following documents via email with the subject line “CGDS Summer Fellowship Application”: 

• CGDS-CSSRF-2025 application form  (attached below)
• Current CV 

This award, founded in 2024, is presented annually to a(n) advanced student(s) at the University of Toronto (St George, Mississauga, and Scarborough) in recognition of outstanding achievement in disability studies scholarship and/or disability justice, activism or advocacy. 

The award recognizes student activities that reflect the Centre’s mission: promoting excellence in justice-oriented anti-ableist research, advancing disability access at the University of Toronto and in our wider communities, and embracing many ways of contributing to the future of critical anti-colonial disability studies. 

Relevant student activities can include exceptional coursework related to disability studies and/or leadership in disability advocacy across the three campuses and in the broader community. 

Awardees must have:  

• Completed at least 10 credits (equivalent to four (4) semesters of full-time study) of their undergraduate degree  

• Applications related to undergraduate academic work that employs a critical disability studies approach (e.g. social science or humanities tradition), or related to disability justice, activism or advocacy * 

* Note: applications related to student work that take an individualized medical or strictly therapeutic approach to disability are NOT eligible for this award 

Awardess will be expected to provide the following:

• Submit photo and brief bio (to see examples please click here) for the CGDS website, social media and/or other sites for promotion   

The award is adjudicated by a subcommittee of the faculty Steering Committee of the Centre for Global Disability Studies. 

Awardees will receive a letter of award and a modest monetary honorarium. 

Responses to the application form may be submitted in: 

• Writing (submitted as a .docx, .pdf, .txt) 

• Audio or video recording, not exceeding 5 minutes in length (submitted as .mp3, .mp4, private streaming video/audio link) 

The transcript will be used to verify eligibility based on enrolment; we recognize that course marks often do not reflect the achievements this award is intended to recognize, and grade point averages are not a criterion of evaluation for this award. 

Referees will not be required to write a formal letter of recommendation, but the committee reviewing applications may choose to contact references by email for a brief consultation.  

Please contact the CGDS administrative team with questions, concerns, or access needs related to the application process. 

Applications should be submitted by email to cgds.utsc@utoronto.ca

To apply for this award, applicants must submit the following via email with the subject line “CGDS Undergraduate Award Application”:  

• Short narrative (300-500 words) describing your contribution to disability studies and/or disability justice, activism or advocacy (this does not need to include a disclosure of lived experience of disability, but applicants are welcome to do so) 

• Current CV or resume  

• Unofficial copy of your current transcript  

• Names/emails of two (2) references, one of which must be a University of Toronto faculty member  
• Optional: work sample (class assignment or advocacy document, e.g. website, social media account or event summary)  

What kinds of projects have been funded in the past?

Learn about our awardees and their projects funded through the CGDS Undergraduate Awards here.

My GPA is not as high as I would like, will that make me ineligible for this award?

No. The transcript requested will be used to verify eligibility based on enrolment; we recognize that course marks often do not reflect the achievements this award is intended to recognize, and grade point averages are not a criterion of evaluation for this award.

Do I need to identify as having a lived experience with disability to receive this award?

No. While the Centre supports the work of disability studies and/or disability justice from an anti-colonial, anti-ableist and critical approach, this award is open to all candidates who meet the criteria outlined in the above “Eligibility” section.

Do I need to be a full-time student to receive this award?

No. Students do not need to be registered full-time, but they must be a currently registered undergraduate student at the University of Toronto AND have completed at least 10 credits (equivalent to four semesters of full-time study).

Please contact the CGDS administrative team with any questions, concerns, or access needs related to the application process. 

The CGDS is proud to offer two quick turnaround grants, funded by The Office of the Vice-Principal Research & Innovation (OVPRI).  These grants aim to support members of the CGDS and disabled students across the tri-campuses by easing financial concerns regarding technology access and conference or research travel funds.  

Applications for both grants are due no later than February 27, 2025. 

Funds will be distributed in March 2025.  

Details regarding both grants can be found below:

Facilitating Access: Technology Grants Program
Summary

Disabled students, faculty and staff on the university of Toronto’s three campuses
routinely rely on a broad range of technologies that facilitate and enable their education,
academic engagement and labour. To the non-disabled gaze, these technologies might be
intangible, but such technologies are big and small, and ubiquitous. They can include any of the following: noise-cancelling headphones, portable note-takers, headphones, access technologies such as LiveScribe pens (which map voices and syncs them to notes), screen readers like WindowEyes, Speech Recognition software, text-to-speech-software, etc. The Technology Grants are a one-off grant program of ten grants worth between 300-1000$ each for disabled students, faculty and staff who would benefit from financial support to either purchase such access technologies, and/or to conduct repairs of existing access technologies.

Perimeters

This grant interprets “access technologies” broadly, as those technologies that
facilitate their academic and intellectual participation in the life of the university but also make their everyday life more accessible for them. While Accessibility Services at UTSC and the other campuses helps undergraduate students with disabilities apply to the Ontario Bursary for Students with Disabilities (see: OSAP Gov Forms) to support the purchase of access technologies, there are fewer supports for disabled graduate students who are no longer taking classes/advanced in their PhDs or for disabled staff and faculty. This grant is designed to meet the needs of this distinct population but also to support disabled undergraduates who might benefit from such funding over and above their bursaries from the government. As most disabled people know, disability and the technologies we use to access our worlds are often expensive, and access technology needs can also be incredibly dynamic; and can and do change.

Application Process

The CGDS invites applications from undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty and staff on all three campuses. Applicants should provide a letter of application and CV to the CGDS (cgds.utsc@utoronto.ca) by February 27, 2025. This letter should provide a brief description of how this grant will allow applicants to either purchase access to technologies (broadly defined), or repair currently existing technology. Applicants will be assessed based on the financial need and rationale expressed in the application, so all applicants are encouraged to make a clear case for their use of the access technologies in question. This grant is also intended to augment existing financial and institutional supports available through the university and the provincial or federal governments; so we would appreciate it if applicants also described the full details of the other kinds of financial or institutional supports they have already applied for to purchase or repair said access technologies, successfully or unsuccessfully. Applicants are encouraged to support their applications with any additional information (receipts, etc) which would allow the committee to make an informed decision.

Equity Grants: Supplementary Funding for Research and/or Conference Travel
Summary

Travel for research and conferences are a central part of academic life, for students
and faculty/staff. Graduate students, postdocs, faculty and staff can travel for fieldwork or
archive research, and travel to conferences and seminars can facilitate networking and
academic community. However routine and central such travel might be to academic life, travel can and does remain inaccessible to many students and faculty/staff with disabilities, and their caregivers, as there are often both expected and unexpected costs allied to individual access needs. For example, some disabled students/faculty might need to travel a day ahead of the day of their commitments. They might need to pay for caregivers to accompany them or need to arrange caregiving for disabled family members. Disabled students in the field might be unable to take certain forms of public transport, and require more expensive taxis, for example. Airlines routinely destroy wheelchairs and other assistive devices, and wheelchair users sometimes need to buy a second generic un-customized wheelchair, so their primary, customized wheelchair is not at risk. These are just a few examples of the many ways that travel for research and/or conferences can be inaccessible for disabled students and faculty/staff (but this is not an exhaustive list). While departments, colleges and campuses across the tri-campuses routinely do fund travel for students, staff and faculty, there are always unexpected costs that arise for these members of our communities. To address these costs, CGDS proposes a short-term grant program of as many as ten grants worth between 300-1000$, according to the need stated in the application.

Perimeters

Applications are invited from students, postdocs, staff and faculty who are conducting/planning on travelling for research and/or conferences in the period of September 2024 – August 2025.

Application Process

Applicants should provide a letter of application and CV to the CGDS
(cgds.utsc@utoronto.ca) by February 27, 2025. This letter should provide a brief description of how this grant will support applicants in their travel and/or conference plans. The goal of this grant is specifically to make travel accessible, so please make sure to describe in detail how the money you might get from the CGDS will do precisely that. If applicants have received additional funding for the travel, applicants should disclose details of existing funding and exactly how this equity grant will augment existing funding. Successful applicants will effectively demonstrate how the money will enable disabled applicants’ mobilities and support their education and/or research agenda. Please be prepared to provide details and documentation that demonstrate the additional costs incurred.

Note: The application period for February 2025 Short-Term Grants is now closed.