Scholarship Fund

Welcome to the DARE Academy, G3ict’s Digital Accessibility Education Program!

If you are interested in getting certified as an accessibility professional, you are welcome to benefit from our DARE Academy Scholarship Fund. A program that is dedicated to opening new potentials for persons with disabilities who are interested in and passionate about advocating for digital accessibility and getting certified as professionals in this field. Dedicated to targeting national organizations of persons with disabilities’ officers, advocates, and, volunteers this scholarship fund will enable potential candidates to have free access to G3ict’s International Association of Accessibility Professionals’ education material and examination process in partnership with Princeton University.

Background

The Scholarship Fund will enable potential candidates to have free access to G3ict’s International Association of Accessibility Professionals’ education material, developed in partnership with Princeton University's Office of Information Technology, and examination process. Under the scholarship fund, G3ict offers scholarships covering 100% of the costs of the IAAP-Princeton Course and CPACC Exam applicable in applicants’ countries of residence, to individuals representing or actively engaged with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities. The scholarships aim to support individuals from developed and emerging economies in gaining knowledge and professional credentials in digital accessibility relevant to their advocacy work as part of national organizations of persons with disabilities.

Scholarship Objectives

This scholarship fund program initiative aims:

To make available to officers, advocates, and volunteers of national organizations of Persons with Disabilities the same quality IAAP and G3ict training and certification resources than those available to private or public sector executives and academic personnel.
To enroll the support of DARE Academy scholarship awardees in promoting IAAP certifications in their advocacy work.
To enroll the support of DARE Academy scholarship awardees in promoting G3ICT’s philosophy, principles, programs, and operations among their organizations’ members, officers, and volunteers, in addition to other partnering national organizations of persons with disabilities.

Purpose

Why a person engaged in digital accessibility advocacy should take the time to take the CPACC Preparation Course and Exam to become a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC)? Why is it relevant to become informed, proficient in technology, innovation, and digital accessibility?

To better understand cross-disability digital accessibility challenges and opportunities.
To make their own organization more accessible.
To better negotiate with their own governments the availability of accessible products, content, and services for their own communities.
To join a global community of Digital Accessibility Champions sharing to this end know-how and good practices in advancing specific advocacy initiatives.
To strengthen their negotiation position with public and private sector representatives in committees and task forces developing or implementing digital accessibility policies and programs.

Program of study

The scholarship enables potential candidates with disabilities to enroll for the IAAP-Princeton University CPACC Preparation Course followed by taking the IAAP-Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) Exam.

The IAAP-Princeton CPACC Preparation Course is designed to cover the full CPACC Content Outline. With approximately 10 hours of course material and a sample exam (2 hours), the course should supplement a candidate’s focused study from the CPACC Content Outline and Body of Knowledge. The course is hosted on the IAAP Open edX LMS. Learn more about taking the Princeton CPACC Preparation course.
The IAAP-Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) credential is IAAP's foundational certification, representing broad, cross-disciplinary conceptual knowledge about 1) disabilities, 2) accessibility and Universal Design, and 3) accessibility-related standards, laws, and management strategies. Relevant domains for the CPACC credential include the web and other digital technologies, architecture and the built environment, consumer and industrial design, transportation systems, and any domain in which thoughtful design, policy, and management can improve access for persons with disabilities. The CPACC Exam is a computer-based exam with 100 multiple-choice questions and a two-hour exam administration (additional time may be requested as an accommodation). The CPACC is the ideal credential for those who manage and support accessibility, but who may not personally design, implement, or evaluate the technical details of accessible solutions. Learn more about CPACC.

Benefits

In addition to being awarded a scholarship to get certified as an accessibility professional, awardees also receive:

Access to the IAAP Membership for one year starting from the day when a candidate is officially informed of the awarding decision. IAAP membership consists of individuals and organizations representing various industries including the private sector, government, nonprofit, and educational institutions. Access to IAAP Connections platform.
Free registration for the G3ict's DARE Academy Webinar Series on Digital Inclusion. The series of webinars, based on findings of the DARE Index, are dedicated to contributing to the documentation process of countries’ best practices for ensuring the availability of a reliable and comprehensive source of educational references and awareness-raising tools in the arena of digital accessibility and inclusive ICTs.
Automatic membership in G3ict’s DARE Academy Global fellowship program of Digital Accessibility Champions.The fellowship program will give DARE Academy graduates the opportunity to get involved in potential advocacy campaigns, awareness-raising activities, knowledge development programs, and policy-making based dialogues around issues and strategies of inclusive ICTs.

Eligibility

To be considered for the DARE Academy Scholarship, applicants must:

Be a person with disability.
Have the minimum of secondary education degree and be a minimum of 18 years to apply.
Be a member, officer, or volunteer at a national organization of persons with disabilities, and actively engaged in the field of digital accessibility.
Demonstrate a passion for promoting the rights of persons with disabilities to digital accessibility and inclusion.

Scholarship Requirements and Qualifications

Scholarship applicants should be aware that the DARE Academy scholarship fund program, for the time being, is open only for taking the English language version of the IAAP CPACC certification exam. The IAAP CPACC course body of knowledge is available in an online format. IAAP certification team in charge of supervising the CPACC certification exam process will facilitate the scholarship awardees’ access to the course body of knowledge through a dedicated webpage. To ensure smooth, easy, and successful exam preparation, scholarship applicants need to meet the following requirements and qualifications:

To submit a signed recommendation/nomination letter by the organization of persons with disabilities, to which the candidate is affiliated to, either as a member, officer, or volunteer, proving their active involvement in and commitment to digital advocacy
A resume or CV reflecting the candidate’s credentials, digital accessibility advocacy experience, and computer skills,
To demonstrate commitment to completing the exam process according to the scholarship fund program’s timetable that is predetermined by DARE Academy in agreement with IAAP.
To have access to high-speed internet,
To be committed to showing frequent and efficient communication manners i.e. checking e-mail on timely bases,
To be fluent in speaking, reading, and writing in the English language, and
To be able to demonstrate efficient computer skills, particularly with regard to using the internet and web tools.

Selection Criteria

Based on the DARE Academy Scholarship Fund Program’s purpose of enhancing opportunities of digital accessibility rights education among persons with disabilities, the DARE academy chooses to use several criteria for selecting potential successful scholarship candidates.

The scholarship is open only to members, officers, or volunteers of national organizations of persons with disabilities, actively involved in digital accessibility advocacy,
Priority to be given to applicants from developing countries and indigenous communities,
Priority to be given to underrepresented groups of persons with disabilities,
Ensuring gender balance among selected criteria,
Ensuring the inclusion of youth with disabilities.

Important Dates and Scholarship Award Process

The deadline for submitting your CPACC and Scholarship application is April 15^th 2023 COB Eastern Time (ET). Scholarships will be offered for the Fall semester of the Academic year 2023 – 2024.

All Scholarship Awardees are anticipated to take advantage of their scholarships and complete their exam process during the CPACC exam cycle opened between September 1^st through December 31^st2023.

Scholarship Granting Decision Process

Applications will be reviewed, and candidates will be shortlisted, based on a decision made by a jury consisting of representatives of major international organizations of persons with disabilities as well as disability and development organizations.

Short-listed candidates shall be interviewed by a committee consisting of representatives of DARE Academy administration, the academy’s advisory board, and IAAP. Candidates shall be notified about their interview appointments as soon as the shortlisting decision is issued by the jury. Scholarship awards shall be decided, taking into account both short-listed candidates’ credentials and the outcomes of their interview process.

Selected candidates to be granted scholarships shall receive an e-mail notification explaining the next steps of how to receive their scholarship vouchers and start their certification process.

Important Clarification note:

To all applicants, please note that:

Passing the IAAP CPACC application process does not guarantee that you will be granted the DARE Academy scholarship. Securing a scholarship award will be based on your meeting the DARE Academy Scholarship eligibility criteria, requirements, and qualifications.
Neither Passing the CPACC certification exam, nor the DARE scholarship, on their own, shall imply that you will get employment. If an applicant is awarded a scholarship and passes the CPACC exam, they can add the CPACC certification qualification on their resume.

How to Apply

The application process includes two sections:

CPACC professional certification application (section 1)
DARE advocacy application (section 2)

The applicant must be approved first through the certification application (section 1), before moving forward to the DARE Academy Scholarship application form (section 2).

The application process should take 30 minutes.

To apply, please click: Here

If you have questions about the application process, please email dareacademy@g3ict.org.

Academy Graduates

DARE Academy Graduates Eric Ngondi and DivineGift David Usman share active engagement in global accessibility on an IAAP Podcast. Listen here.

To view the Academy Graduates click: Here

FAQs

Is the scholarship open to applicants from all countries?

Yes, the application for scholarship is open to eligible applicants from all countries, developed or emerging economies.

Do I need to be a person with disability to be eligible for the scholarship?

Yes. In addition, priority will be given to applicants from developing countries and indigenous communities. The scholarship will ensure fair representation from underrepresented groups of persons with disabilities, gender diversity and ensure the inclusion of youth with disabilities.

Can I submit an application via email?

No, only applications submitted via the online application form will be considered.

Is there an age limit for the scholarship?

Applicants from above the age of 18 can apply.

If I applied for a previous cycle and was not selected, can I reapply for the subsequent one?

Yes, if you applied and were not selected as part of a cycle, you may reapply for the subsequent one.

For any questions or further clarifications, please email us at dareacademy@g3ict.org