2018/2019 International Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment

Application Deadline: May 16th, 2018.

This program supports 20 mid-career professionals from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, who are selected through a competitive process to participate in a five-week intensive fellowship program at a university-based research and education center for disabilities in the U.S.

The Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is administered by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) in partnership with the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston (ICI) and Humanity and Inclusion (HI).

Fellows in this program will learn approaches that can inform their efforts to strengthen employment access for people with disabilities in their home countries. Inclusive employment means that people with disabilities are not excluded from the competitive labor market on the basis of disability. Fellows will also form connections with mentors at the university centers or community-based organizations that serve as their host sites, and will plan an inclusive employment project that they will implement in their home countries with support from their host mentors. This is called the follow-on project.

The program is focused on economic empowerment of people with disabilities through inclusive employment. We have launched the fall application cycle to the program which will be open from April 4^th –May 16^th 2018. 10 individuals will participate in a five-week exchange at U.S. university centers and/or disability rights organizations. The fall cohort will be in the U.S from October 11^th to November 18^th 2018.

Programme Details

Fellows will engage in:
1. An orientation to the program and life in the U.S. Fellows will learn about the U.S. disability movement and disability rights, with a focus on inclusive employment.
2. A Professional Fellows Congress which will provide an opportunity to meet with hundreds of other Professional Fellows from many countries who are participating in other exchange programs. During the Congress, Fellows will engage in discussions and professional trainings to support the development of projects at home.
3. A homestay with an American family at least one week (or four weekends) in duration.
4. A Fellowship at a host site in the U.S., likely a university-based research and education center or community-based organization at which Fellows will work alongside experts, and study policies and practices in inclusive employment. Fellows will be placed with a host whose expertise matches their individual professional goals.
5. Weekly group seminars in which Fellows will discuss their host site placements, share experiences, and learn about leadership and inclusive employment with mentors and peers.
6. An individualized inclusive employment project that is developed with support from host mentors and implemented upon the Fellow’s return home. Project implementation may include a technical assistance trip by a host site mentor to the Fellow’s home country.
7. Ongoing access to alumni from other programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, which will provide opportunities to share information and experiences, and to seek peer support and mentoring.

Eligibility Requirements:

In order to meet Fellowship requirements, an applicant must be:

• 25–40 years old
• A citizen and resident of Kenya, Tanzania, or Uganda
• Eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 visa
• Not currently participating in an academic, training, or research program in the U.S.
• Available to travel during mid-October through mid-November 2018
• Committed to returning to his or her home country for a minimum of two years after completing the program

Benefits:

Fellows receive funding for their Fellowship-related travel to and within the U.S., accommodations in the U.S., and more, including:
• Visa
• Round-trip travel between home country and U.S.
• Accident and health insurance for the duration of the Fellowship in the U.S.
• Living allowance (or equivalent supports) to cover costs of meals, housing, and incidental expenses
• Disability-related arrangements, if needed

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the 2018/2019 International Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment