The Grant That Makes the Internet Governance Forum Accessible to Persons With Disabilities — and How to Claim It
Everything You Need to Know About the IGF 2026 DCAD Funding Opportunity — Who Qualifies, What It Covers, and the Exact Steps to Apply
Every year, the Internet Governance Forum brings together governments, civil society, technical experts, businesses, and individual internet users to shape the policies and norms that govern the internet for billions of people. But for many people with disabilities, getting into that room — literally or virtually — comes with costs and access barriers that put meaningful participation out of reach.
That is exactly the problem the Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability, known as DCAD, was created to address. And one of its most concrete tools for doing so is the annual DCAD Participation Support Grant — a funding opportunity that helps persons with disabilities and disability advocates cover the real costs of attending or participating in the IGF, whether in person or online.
With IGF 2026 coming up later this year, now is the right time to understand how this IGF 2026 DCAD funding opportunity works, who is eligible, what expenses it covers, and exactly what you need to do to apply. This guide gives you everything you need.
| ℹ️ Important Note: The 2026-specific DCAD grant application has not yet been formally announced with confirmed dates at the time of writing. The program has run annually since at least 2025 with a consistent structure. Monitor igf-dcad.org and the DCAD mailing list for the 2026 call, which typically opens several months before the annual IGF meeting. |
What Is DCAD, and Why Does This Grant Exist?
DCAD — the Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability — is one of the IGF’s official Dynamic Coalitions, which are open, multistakeholder groups that work on specific internet governance issues across the IGF’s annual cycle. DCAD’s specific mandate is to ensure that ICT accessibility is included in the key debates around internet governance, with the goal of building a future where all sectors of the global community have equal access to the Information Society.
The grant program came into existence because DCAD recognized a fundamental tension: the people who most need disability accessibility to be on the internet governance agenda are often the people who face the greatest barriers to attending the forum where that agenda is set. Travel costs, accommodation, sign language interpreters, personal assistants, accessible equipment — the additional costs that persons with disabilities frequently face when attending conferences can be prohibitive.
DCAD is grateful to Vint Cerf and Google LLC for providing the generous funding that makes these grants possible. That support has allowed DCAD to provide financial assistance to individuals and, in some cases, groups of people from a digital hub, helping them show up in the IGF community and bring the disability rights and digital accessibility perspective directly into internet governance conversations.
Who Is Eligible for the IGF 2026 DCAD Funding Opportunity?
Eligibility for the DCAD grant is deliberately focused, and there are several criteria you need to meet before applying. The first, and most straightforward, is that you must be an IGF-DCAD Member. If you are not already a member, you can check your status or join directly through the DCAD website at igf-dcad.org. Membership is open and free, so this is not a barrier — but it is a prerequisite.
The second requirement is that you must already be registered to attend IGF 2026 when you apply. This is an important sequencing point: the DCAD grant supports your participation, it does not initiate it. Register for IGF 2026 first, then apply for the grant.
You will also need access to a bank account to receive payment if selected — the grant is disbursed via bank transfer, and any charges from your receiving bank are your own responsibility. Beyond the structural requirements, the committee looks for applicants who can demonstrate a disability-related background and/or a background in internet policy concerning disability, and who have a clear, articulated purpose for participating in IGF 2026 that is connected to disability and accessibility issues.
The grant is offered primarily to support persons with disabilities, but disability advocates — people without disabilities who do significant work in the digital accessibility or disability rights space — may also be considered. The fund is limited in size, so the number of recipients it can support each year is necessarily small. A strong, specific application is essential.
| Quick Eligibility Check: Are you a DCAD member (or ready to join)? Are you registered for IGF 2026? Do you have a bank account? Can you demonstrate disability-related or disability-policy engagement? Do you have a clear IGF participation plan? If yes to all five, you are eligible to apply. |
What Does the DCAD Grant Actually Fund?
The DCAD grant is intentionally flexible in what it covers, because the access needs of people with disabilities vary enormously and no single type of support fits everyone. The program explicitly states that funding is not limited to any single category of expense.
Eligible expenses include travel costs to reach the IGF venue, accommodation during the meeting, sign language interpretation services, the cost of a personal assistant or carer, and costs related to participating remotely — such as upgraded broadband, accessible technology, or software tools needed for meaningful online participation. If you have a specific accessibility-related need that does not fit neatly into one of these categories, you are still encouraged to describe it in your application: the committee evaluates funding requests on their merits, not against a rigid list of pre-approved categories.
How much you might receive is not fixed in advance. Funding is determined based on merit and on the needs expressed in applications, taking into account the total number of applications and the funds available. Recipients are required to initially expend their own funds and are then reimbursed after IGF 2026 has concluded, upon receipt of their expense report and supporting documentation. This means the grant functions as a reimbursement program rather than upfront payment — something to factor into your planning.
How to Apply: The Step-by-Step Process
| Join DCAD (If You Haven’t Already) Visit igf-dcad.org and confirm your DCAD membership or sign up as a new member. This is a prerequisite for applying — the application form will ask for your membership status. |
| Register for IGF 2026 Register for IGF 2026 at intgovforum.org before submitting your DCAD grant application. You need an active IGF 2026 registration in place when you apply — this demonstrates that your participation is already committed. |
| Prepare Your Application Content Think carefully about three things before opening the form: your disability-related or disability-policy background; your specific purpose for attending IGF 2026 and how it connects to accessibility or disability issues (include the sessions you plan to attend, or your role as a presenter or rapporteur if applicable); and a clear description of the costs you need covered, with estimated amounts. |
| Identify a Referee The DCAD application requires at least one reference — someone who can speak to your experience, advocacy, and contributions in digital accessibility, disability rights, or internet governance. Referees are only contacted for shortlisted applicants, but you must inform your referee in advance that they are being listed and confirm they are available to respond promptly. |
| Complete and Submit the Application Form Fill out the DCAD application form, available through igf-dcad.org when the 2026 grant round opens. Answer in English. For most questions, one or two sentences are sufficient — bullet points are encouraged for clarity. Do not include bank details on the application form itself; these will be requested later if you are shortlisted. |
| Submit Before the Deadline Applications received after the closing deadline will not be considered. Watch the DCAD website and mailing list for the official 2026 closing date and time (given in UTC). Submit with time to spare. |
What Is Expected of Grant Recipients?
Receiving a DCAD grant comes with post-participation obligations that are taken seriously. Once the IGF is complete, recipients must provide receipts or related documentation for relevant expenditure — in the absence of formal receipts, a personal confirmation and description of how funds were used will be accepted. You must also submit a brief written report on the benefits of your participation and publish a blog post about your experiences and what you learned at the IGF.
Grant recipients must also acknowledge receipt of the funds as soon as practical after they arrive in their bank account. Failure to submit the required documentation and report in a timely manner makes a recipient ineligible for future DCAD grant funding — so treating the post-event obligations as seriously as the event itself is important.
IGF 2026 DCAD Grant: Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
| Program name | DCAD Participation Support Grant |
| Administered by | Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability (DCAD) |
| Funded by | Vint Cerf and Google LLC |
| Primary beneficiaries | Persons with disabilities; disability advocates also considered |
| Membership requirement | Applicants must be IGF-DCAD members — free to join at igf-dcad.org |
| Registration requirement | Must be registered for IGF 2026 before applying |
| Funding scope | Travel, accommodation, sign language, personal assistance, remote participation costs — flexible |
| Funding amount | Merit-based, need-expressed; determined per application — no fixed maximum |
| Payment method | Reimbursement after IGF — applicants fund themselves first |
| Post-grant requirements | Receipts/docs, participation report, and a published blog post about the experience |
| Contact | info@igf-dcad.org |
| Applications page | igf-dcad.org — watch for 2026 grant announcement |
BONUS SECTION: APrIGF 2026 Fellowship — Another Funded Pathway to Internet Governance Participation
APrIGF 2026 Fellowship: A Companion Opportunity Worth Knowing About
If you are based in the Asia Pacific region and looking for funded participation in internet governance — but the global IGF is not your immediate focus — the APrIGF 2026 Fellowship is a separate and very significant opportunity. APrIGF, the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum, is heading to The Plaza in Kathmandu, Nepal from 4 to 7 October 2026, and its Fellowship Program application is now open.
Unlike the DCAD grant, which is specifically designed for persons with disabilities across the global IGF community, the APrIGF Fellowship is open to any eligible individual from the Asia Pacific region across six stakeholder categories: Academia, Civil Society, Government and IGOs, Private Sector, Technical community, and students. The fellowship aims to bring diversity into internet governance by fostering participation from underrepresented communities, and it covers economy-class airfare contributions (reimbursed after the event) plus a stipend of up to USD 100 in local currency on Day 0.
Selection uses a points-based system evaluated by the Fellowship Committee. The criteria include prior engagement with APrIGF or other internet governance events, a clear post-conference community engagement plan, likelihood of enhancing gender-diverse participation, and likelihood of strengthening the multistakeholder model in the region. Importantly, no person may receive the APrIGF Fellowship more than twice, and the program actively prioritizes new applicants over returning fellows.
Applications are submitted through fellowship.aprigf.asia — registration on the portal is required before you can begin. Full guidelines are published at ap.rigf.asia. The two programs — IGF DCAD and APrIGF Fellowship — serve different communities and cover different events, but together they represent the broader ecosystem of funded participation opportunities across the internet governance calendar in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Do I have to have a disability to apply for the DCAD grant?
No, but you need a strong connection to disability issues. The grant is offered primarily to support persons with disabilities, but disability advocates — people without disabilities who do meaningful work in digital accessibility, disability rights, or internet policy concerning disability — may also be considered. The key is that your IGF participation must have a clear disability-related purpose, and your application must demonstrate your background and engagement in this area credibly.
Q2: What does ‘merit-based’ funding mean — can I request a specific amount?
Yes, you should include a description of what you need and an estimated cost in your application. The committee uses that information to evaluate your request. Funding is not awarded on a flat-rate basis — it varies depending on the specific needs expressed, the number of applicants, and the total funds available. If your costs are higher because of disability-specific needs like sign language interpretation or personal assistance, document those specifically: the program is designed precisely to cover those kinds of expenses.
Q3: I need to fund my participation first and be reimbursed later — is that always the case?
Yes. DCAD grants operate on a reimbursement basis: recipients fund their own participation upfront and are reimbursed after IGF 2026 is complete, upon submission of their report and expense documentation. This is an important practical consideration when planning your application. If upfront cost is itself a barrier, you may want to reach out to DCAD directly at info@igf-dcad.org to explain your situation, as the committee is aware that this requirement can itself create access challenges.
Q4: How do I know when the IGF 2026 DCAD grant application opens?
The most reliable way is to join DCAD (which you need to do anyway to be eligible) and subscribe to the DCAD mailing list. Applications are also announced on the DCAD website at igf-dcad.org and through DCAD’s social media channels. The grant call typically opens several months before the annual IGF meeting. Since IGF 2026 is expected later in the year, watch for the application announcement in the second or third quarter of 2026.
Q5: Can I apply for both the DCAD grant and the APrIGF 2026 Fellowship?
Yes, if you are eligible for both. They are completely separate programs run by different organizations for different events. The DCAD grant supports participation in the global IGF; the APrIGF Fellowship supports participation in the Asia Pacific Regional IGF in Kathmandu. If you are a person with a disability or disability advocate based in the Asia Pacific region, applying for the APrIGF Fellowship for APrIGF 2026 and the DCAD grant for the global IGF in the same year are not mutually exclusive — the two events, their timelines, and their grant programs are independent of each other.
| Disability Should Never Be a Barrier to Shaping the Internet’s Future. The DCAD grant exists because the internet governance community recognizes what is lost when the voices of persons with disabilities are absent from the rooms where internet policy is made. If you have the perspective, the expertise, and the commitment — the IGF 2026 DCAD funding opportunity may be the support you need to bring that perspective where it belongs. Here is what to do right now: Take Action Today Join DCAD now (free) at igf-dcad.org — required for eligibility Monitor igf-dcad.org for the IGF 2026 grant announcement and application form Register for IGF 2026 at intgovforum.org as soon as registration opens Contact DCAD with questions at info@igf-dcad.org If you are in Asia Pacific: apply for the APrIGF 2026 Fellowship at fellowship.aprigf.asia Share this guide with a colleague with a disability who should be in this conversation The internet is for everyone. The grants that fund participation in its governance should be used by everyone they were designed to reach. Apply. |
© 2026 Internet Governance Expert Blog. Published for educational purposes only.
Dipankar Barua is an internet governance advocate from Dhaka, Bangladesh, who believes that voices from the Global South must be heard in the rooms where the internet’s future is decided. As an ICANN advocate and VSIG member, he actively engages in multistakeholder policy processes spanning DNS security, digital inclusion, and responsible AI governance. With an academic grounding in Computer Science and AI, and over 15 years of applied IT experience, Dipankar bridges the gap between technical communities and policy spaces — writing, participating, and advocating for a more open, equitable, and inclusive internet for all.
