Disability Rising Fellowship

A fellowship for disabled leaders shifting narratives and building power through media.

A Black woman of short stature wearing a striped Blue dress and holding a black cane speaks into a microphone while gesturing with her left hand and looking at the audience.
A diverse group of three women stand smiling and laughing while speaking to a person seated in a mobility device wearing a blue suit jacket and pants and a black t-shirt that reads "Protect Trans Kids."

About the Fellowship

The Disability Rising Fellowship is a year-long program that supports rising multi-marginalized disabled leaders who are ready to build their public voice and create cultural change. We are looking for fellows working across social movements and issue areas, as we believe every issue is a disability issue. But we need your work to connect the dots on why your issue is a disability issue. 

Fellows receive hands-on training in media, storytelling, and narrative strategy to amplify their message and vision.

Through workshops, coaching, and mentorship, the fellowship helps leaders step into the spotlight and shift how disability is seen, heard, and valued in the world.

A young man of color sits in a wheelchair wearing a glasses, a khaki t-shirt, jeans and black boots. His right fist rests on his hip and he has a slight smile while looking at the camera.

Who Should Apply

We’re looking for disabled leaders who:

  • Are active in disability justice, social justice, or cultural organizing through work at an organization or as an individual

  • Want to grow their public profile and media presence

  • Have a big message or story they’re ready to share

  • Come from multi-marginalized backgrounds 

  • Live or work in the U.S. South (we aim for 1/3 of fellows to be Southern-based)

You do not need to be an influencer or media expert; we’re looking for potential, values-alignment, and a commitment to being a public voice for disability justice.

Our selection of fellowship recipients takes into account many aspects of each applicant’s background, experiences, prior and current work and leadership, skills, objectives and focus areas. No single criterion is determinative.

What Fellows Receive

  • Intensive virtual training focused on television, radio, op-ed’s, social media, and more

  • Media pitching and booking support

  • Mentorship and coaching from experienced disabled media professionals

  • Optional in-person media training in March 2026

  • A supportive cohort of disabled peers

  • An optional $5,000 stipend for you or your organization

Fellowship Timeline

  • Applications Open: July 25, 2025

  • Applications Close: August 22, 2025

  • Fellowship Period: Late-September 2025 – June 2026

  • Optional In-Person Convening: March 2026

Accessibility Statement

Access is at the core of this program. We encourage applicants to share detailed access needs. We’ll work with each fellow to ensure necessary accommodations are in place for full participation, including ASL, CART, and translation support.

Apply Now

Or read our full Frequently Asked Questions below for more details.

Disability Rising Fellowship Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Disability Rising Fellowship is a year-long program designed to amplify the public voice and cultural impact of multi-marginalized disabled leaders. 

    Fellows receive media coaching, social media training, mentorship, pitching and booking, and hands-on support to develop their public presence and use storytelling to shift narratives around disability and ableism.

  • This fellowship is for all U.S.-based qualified disabled people who are:

    • Active in disability justice, disability rights, health equity, or broader social movements.

    • Passionate about using media and storytelling to create cultural change.

    • Representing multiply-marginalized communities (especially BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, low-income, or Southern-based disabled leaders).

    • Looking to grow their public media profiles and build skills in areas like TV and radio, op-ed writing, and digital media creation.

    • Interested in shifting the narrative, culture, and politics around disability from fear and pity to solidarity and liberation.

  • Each Disability Rising Fellow receives:

    • An optional $5,000 stipend to an individual or their organization.

    • Monthly virtual training sessions (topics include TV and radio, op-eds, public speaking, and social media).

    • 1:1 coaching and editing support for you to increase your social media presence, the impact of your interviews, and the reach of your writing.

    • Optional in-person media training in March 2026.

    • Opportunities for public speaking, publishing, and media bookings.

  • The fellowship runs from September 2025 to July 2026, with:

    • A Fall 2025 media training intensive with virtual sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays:

      • October 6 + 8, 2025

        • Kick off with DCL and cohort, Noon – 1:30 p.m. ET

      • October 14th and 15th, 2025

        • Noon – 1:30 p.m. ET (Monday date moved for Indigenous Peoples Day)

      • October 20 + 22, 2025

        •  Noon – 1:30 p.m. ET

      • October 27 + 29, 2025

        • Noon – 1:30 p.m. ET

      • November 3 + 5, 2025

        • Noon – 1:30 p.m. ET

      • November 17 + 19, 2025

        • Noon – 1:30 p.m. ET

    • From January to June 2026:

      • Monthly cohort training sessions every 2nd Wednesday, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. ET

    • Optional in-person media training in March 2026

    • Ongoing, asynchronous coaching and support with media pitching through July 2026

  • We're looking for emerging advocates who are committed to using their voice to shift public narratives. We want people who are interested in bringing a disability lens to reproductive justice or climate change, or share personal stories about access and liberation. All qualified disabled people are welcome to apply.

    Successful applicants understand that all forms of oppression are disabling and are committed to shifting culture and shifting the narrative on disability. We want to hear what you’d say if you had a bigger microphone, and help you access that broader exposure.

  • We are committed to making the fellowship accessible for all. We will work with each fellow to meet access needs for all sessions and materials. There’s space in the application to share your access needs and we encourage detailed responses.

  • We plan to select nine fellows for this initial cohort.

  • Applications open on July 25, 2025 and close on August 22, 2025. You’ll be asked to share your contact information and a short bio, and answer questions about your background, work, interest in the fellowship, and vision for public impact. 

    Apply Here

  • Yes! Please email us at Hello@DisabilityCultureLab.org for more information.

  • The application is due by August 22, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET.

  • The Disability Rising Fellowship is a project of the Disability Culture Lab. The Disability Culture Lab works to shift the narrative on disability in the United States from fear and pity to solidarity and liberation, and move the needle on ableism from indifference to action.

  • The stipend will be paid in two payments of $2,500, one at the start of the fellowship, the second in early 2026.

  • Sign up for updates through the Disability Culture Lab or follow us on social media. You can also email us at Hello@DisabilityCultureLab.org to stay in the loop.

Contact us at: Hello@DisabilityCultureLab.org or follow us on Instagram: @DisabilityCultureLab