Opportunity: The Microsoft AI for Accessibility Program
Type: Grant
Location: United States
Who Can Apply: Software developers, NGOs, researchers, academics, inventors from anywhere in the world
Empower your work through grants, investments of technology, and expertise. We work with partners in four important areas of focus:
Education: Restricted educational opportunities and unmet classroom accommodations can exclude students with disabilities from many paths to advanced degrees and careers. AI is advancing tools for transcription, translation, and language understanding capabilities.
Unemployment: The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 2-3 times higher than average and the recent shift to remote work has worsened this disability divide. Investing in inclusive datasets and tools can improve how AI technology is used in recruiting and spark inclusive economic recovery
Community: Connections are key to maintaining mental health and relationships with family and friends. Mental health is the largest disability segment and a growing concern during the pandemic. AI is modernizing ways to better maintain wellbeing and communicate across differences.
Home: From transportation, to voice-powered interfaces, to tools that do not consider the disability experience – many aspects of daily life exclude people with disabilities. By investing in better use of inclusive data and affordable technology powered by AI, we can reimagine societal inclusion.
Program Details
AI for Accessibility grants support projects that use AI to empower people living with disabilities. We are looking for individuals or teams who are not only passionate about making the world more inclusive, but also firmly rooted in the communities they intend to benefit. We want to invest in ideas that are developed by or with people with disabilities.
Azure Compute Credits plus Grants
In addition to Azure compute credits worth $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 (depending on your project scope and needs), these grants cover costs related to collecting or labeling data, developing models, or other engineering-related work. Applications are evaluated on their scientific merit, innovative use of AI technology, and potential for scalability.
Our community of AI for Accessibility grantees also receive Azure developer support, resources, and opportunities to collaborate and showcase their work.
How to Apply for a Grant
Submission: Submit your project proposal via the online application form.
Deadline:
We accept proposals on a rolling basis and review them a few times a year. Our next deadlines are:
- Employment: July 30, 2021, 11:59 PM Pacific Time
- Low-Cost Assistive Technology (AT): December 17, 2021, 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Eligibility:
We invite applications from developers, NGO’s, academics, researchers, and inventors to accelerate their work for people with disabilities. This is a global program: Grant applications from all countries are eligible.
If you are worried about not meeting all requirements, please connect to someone in your community who can support you and partner on an application.
Requirements: Review the proposal requirements document. Your project proposal should describe the accessibility challenge addressed, the technical solution proposed, and its potential impact on people with disabilities. Please follow the application form and be as specific as possible.