Scholarship Fund

Since 1995, the Council has used its Scholarship Fund to assist Tennesseans with disabilities and their families to attend disability-related meetings, conferences and trainings held in Tennessee and across the United States.  The fund also provides stipends to support conferences in Tennessee, and the mission and priorities of the Council.

What is the Scholarship Fund?

The Scholarship Fund helps Tennesseans with disabilities and their families, especially people from diverse cultural backgrounds, to attend leadership coalition meetings, disability conferences, and disability trainings held in Tennessee and across the U.S.   

Funds reimburse you for the cost of registration, attendant care, hotel/lodging, transportation, child care or respite  care, meals and other related travel expenses. All scholarship awards are subject to the availability of funds.

Important Update: All Council scholarship funds have been committed through June 2025.

What does this mean?

We are not currently accepting new applications for scholarships.

When will applications reopen?

  • Additional funds for the current fiscal year may become available on short notice. We will announce any special application windows as soon as those funds are available. 
  • We are making a change to contract with another organization to manage this fund for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025 - June 2026). The Council Scholarship Fund will continue to be available for people with disabilities and their families. However, there will be some changes in the application process and timeline. Please stay tuned for more details. Thank you for your patience during this transition process!

How can I stay informed?

We appreciate your interest in our Scholarship Fund and your patience as we work through a transition of management for the fund. If you have any questions, please contact Blake Shearer at Blake.A.Shearer@tn.gov or call (615) 532-6556.