GAAD Speakers Fund

Purpose

Each year, the GAAD Foundation will award one or more individuals with up-to $3,000 USD to cover expenses associated with speaking about an aspect of digital accessibility at an in-person event. The purpose of the Speaker’s Fund is to increase the representation of everyday tech professionals at digital
accessibility-specific events, and digital accessibility professionals and people with disabilities at mainstream tech events.

The intent is to encourage conversation and increase understanding about digital accessibility between these three groups.

Guidelines

To apply, individuals must provide a summary of their presentation that has either been accepted or they intend to submit to an event. The topic must be relevant to digital access or inclusion and support the mission of the foundation.

We will not consider a request by a digital accessibility professional to present at a conference whose primary focus is digital accessibility. Similarly, we will not consider funding an everyday tech professional to speak at an event whose primary focus is not digital accessibility.

The Foundation reserves the right to select recipients based on its internal process and at its discretion.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must meet the following three criteria:

1. Either:
   a. be an everyday tech professional speaking at a digital accessibility-specific event, or
   b. be a digital accessibility professional or person with disabilities speaking at a mainstream tech event.
2. Have a talk that:
   a. has already been accepted, or
   b. you intend to submit to a specific upcoming event.
3. Be willing to acknowledge the support you receive from the GAAD Foundation publicly.

Eligible Expenses

The intent of the funding is to cover reasonable travel-related expenses, event registration, disability-related accommodations and/or family care, not to exceed $3000 USD. All other expenses are the responsibility of the applicant.

The Foundation will only cover incurred and paid airfare at the cost of economy airfare for the straight route. Business or first class not eligible.

Straight route: the straight route is defined as the route between the traveller’s home location and the location of the approved activity, without any additional stops/legs/destinations. Layovers or stops are acceptable when they are for the purpose of securing a more economical price or the home location of the recipient is remote, not close to an international airport.

Application Process

To apply, please e-mail speakersfund@gaad.foundation and include the following for consideration:

• Name of the event, date, and location.
• Information about your talk (e.g., an abstract).
• A brief bio (no more than 200 words that includes letting us know if you are someone who works directly in digital accessibility as part of your job responsibilities, or if you are an everyday tech professional who has a deep interest in digital accessibility).
• A link to your professional home page or LinkedIn profile if you have this.
• If you have already been accepted, proof from the event organizers that you are speaking (e.g., email acceptance), along with a contact name (for verification purposes).
• A listing of the anticipated expenses you are seeking assistance with and their associated costs (in US dollars).

Reimbursement

Before releasing the funds, we will request evidence of your participation which can take the form of either a recording of your talk, an accessible copy of your presentation and/or some other reflection (e.g., a blog post) where you discuss your experience taking part in the event, which we will publish on the GAAD Foundation site.

Recipients must also submit itemized receipts for review. We will disperse the funds only after receipts and evidence of your participation (as described above) have been received.