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?

Our Scholarship Fund serves two main purposes:

Individual and Family Scholarships:

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.

Organizational Scholarships:

  • Supports organizations in sending individuals with disabilities and family members to conferences.
  • Assists an organization to fund conference speakers presenting on disability topics
  • Provides stipends for Tennessee disability conferences.
  • Provides stipends to organizations to support a Council priority:
    • Leadership developmen
    • tImpacting policy and practice
    • Informing the public

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

What does this mean?

  • We are not currently accepting new applications for individual, family, or organizational scholarships.
  • This applies to all categories of our Scholarship Fund.

When will applications reopen?

  • We expect to begin accepting applications for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025 - June 2026) sometime in spring 2025.
  • Occasionally, funds may become available on short notice. We will announce any special application windows through our newsletters and social media.

How can I stay informed?

  • Subscribe to our email newsletter
  • Follow us on social media.
  • Check this page periodically for updates

We appreciate your interest in our Scholarship Fund and your patience as we work through this funding cycle. If you have any questions, please contact Jolene Sharp at jolene.sharp@tn.gov or call 615.532.6556.