Open Society Foundation Disability Rights Scholarship Program 2017

The competition is merit-based and open to those meeting the following criteria:

• be a citizen and legal resident of Argentina, China, Mexico, Mozambique, Peru, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, or Uganda 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 2017
• be able to begin the graduate program in August or September 2017
• 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.

Participating Institutions
Fellows will be clustered at select institutions that demonstrate cutting-edge capacity for legal education in international disability rights, and that are interested in forming a consortium of schools dedicated to developing this field and deepening their own capacity with an international perspective.
In nurturing such a network, the Program strives to encourage faculties to incorporate disability rights into existing human rights curricula and participate in collaboratively-designed workshops and research
efforts in the field. Participating schools include:

• School of Law, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
• Faculty of Law, McGill University, Canada
• School of Law, University of Leeds, UK
• College of Law, Syracuse University, USA
• Washington College of Law, American University, USA

• tuition and mandatory university fees;
• monthly stipend for room, board, and other living expenses;
• program-related travel;
• accident and health 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.
  Selection