Are you looking to make your research more accessible and inclusive for those with a disability? We are excited to announce that the Disability Access and Inclusion Fund 2026 is now open and inviting applications.
Apply for the Disability Access and Inclusion Fund
The UTS Disability Access and Inclusion Fund is an internal initiative developed to support UTS researchers in enhancing the inclusivity and accessibility of their research practices, projects and outputs for people with disabilities.
This internal fund supports activities that embed disability access and inclusion across research, including the meaningful engagement of people with disability in research design, delivery, participation, and research translation. The scheme aims to strengthen inclusive research practices across UTS and enable high‑quality, accessible research outcomes.
Previous applicants who received funding have included Chancellor’s Research Fellow Zoe Xirocostas and Lecturer in Speech Pathology, Dr Julia Dray.
Zoe said, “The Disability Access and Inclusion Fund gave me the opportunity to work alongside a student with a disability, to understand their learning styles and strengths, and how that can be integrated into the way we plan projects, design experiments, and collect data.”
“It was a two-way street. I was able to help the student gain confidence in their research practice and refine their ecological skills while they helped me learn how to make research more inclusive to students with different learning and support needs.”
It was a two-way street. I was able to help the student gain confidence in their research practice and refine their ecological skills while they helped me learn how to make research more inclusive to students with different learning and support needs.
Julia shared how as a repeat recipient, she has seen firsthand how the Disability Access and Inclusion Fund enables inclusive research across different projects.
She first received the grant in 2024 to support her team’s Inclusive Innovation work on co‑designing GenAI approaches to youth mental health with families and clinicians of children and young people with mental health problems.
Julia received the grant again in 2025 to enable an update of a systematic review of resilience-based interventions for youth mental health.
“The original review has contributed evidence to five policies internationally, and the update gives potential to expand the impact of this knowledge base with an additional decade of research,” Julia said.
“Together, these grants supported continuity, depth, and real‑world relevance - which is exactly why I’d encourage colleagues to apply. It’s a powerful mechanism for building a program of work where inclusive methods really matter.”
This initiative is funded by the DVCR and has been developed with the generous support of the UTS Disability Research Network.
Together, these grants supported continuity, depth, and real‑world relevance - which is exactly why I’d encourage colleagues to apply. It’s a powerful mechanism for building a program of work where inclusive methods really matter.
What funding is available?
Funding is available to all researchers looking to make their work more accessible and inclusive.
Funds are available to cover costs explicitly excluded by other funding sources, that can contribute to meaningful inclusion and engagement of people with disability. Examples of eligible costs include the captioning of research outputs, AUSLAN translation, purchase of accessibility software and the engagement of people with disability as researchers/consultants.
Funding is available across three tiers, depending on the scale and scope of the proposed activity:
- Tier 1 (up to $500) – intended for the reimbursement of smaller costs incurred when engaging people with disability in the conduct or dissemination of research.
- Tier 2 ($500 – 5,000) – larger disability research costs that make current or future projects more competitive, inclusive and impactful.
- Tier 3 ($5,000 - $15,000) – engagement of people with disability as researchers on projects.
Apply now
Applications are due by 7th April 2026. The first round will be used to assess demand and allocate funding for the full 2026 cycle.
Please read the funding guidelines before you apply.
All applications for Disability Research Funding must be made via this form.
Tier 1 requests are processed by the Research Office, whilst Tiers 2 and 3 applications will be reviewed by an expert panel before being awarded.
What’s next?
- Read the funding guidelines.
- Apply for the Disability Access and Inclusion Fund funding.
- Contact the Research Office Grants Team for more information.