Grantmaking in the disability sector sits at the intersection of rights, services, and community. Funders supporting disability organisations — whether providing disability services, advocating for disability rights, or supporting disabled people to live the lives they choose — need grants management approaches that are informed by the disability rights movement, the UNCRPD (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), and the shift from medical to social models of disability.
Government disability funding. In New Zealand, the Ministry of Social Development and Whaikaha — Ministry of Disabled People administer disability support funding and grants. Enabling Good Lives, the supported living framework, and specific disability community grants are significant government funding streams. In Australia, the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) is the dominant disability funding mechanism, though community grants alongside NDIS funding are also significant.
Disability-specific foundations. Foundations established specifically to fund disability causes — including Lottery-funded disability grants in NZ, specific disability foundations, and international disability funders — administer grants with explicit disability focus.
Mainstream funders with disability streams. Many community foundations, government agencies, and corporate foundations include disability as a funding priority within broader community or social services programmes.
Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs). Organisations led by and for disabled people — consistent with the CRPD principle of "nothing about us without us" — are increasingly recognised as the legitimate voice of disabled people and key grantees in the disability sector.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) — ratified by New Zealand in 2008 and Australia in 2008 — establishes disability as a human rights issue, not a welfare issue. This has significant implications for grantmaking:
"Nothing about us without us." The CRPD principle that disabled people must be involved in decisions that affect their lives applies to grantmaking as much as service delivery. Grantmakers who involve disabled people in programme design, assessment, and governance are acting consistently with CRPD principles.
Social model of disability. The social model of disability understands disability as the result of societal barriers that exclude people with impairments — not as an inherent characteristic of the individual. Grant programmes that fund removal of barriers (accessible infrastructure, inclusive employment, accessible communications) are more consistent with the social model than those that fund "fixing" disabled people.
Supported decision-making. The CRPD requires recognition of disabled people's legal capacity and supported decision-making rather than substitute decision-making. Grant programmes that assume disabled grantees or beneficiaries lack decision-making capacity need to reconsider.
Reasonable accommodation. Just as workplaces must make reasonable accommodation for disabled employees, funders should make reasonable accommodation for disabled applicants — including accessible application processes, alternative formats, and flexible communication.
Disability grantmakers — and all grantmakers whose applicants or beneficiaries include disabled people — should assess the accessibility of their processes:
Accessible application forms. Application forms should meet WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards — navigable by screen readers, keyboard navigable, compatible with assistive technologies. Forms that aren't accessible exclude blind applicants, applicants with motor impairments, and others who rely on assistive technology.
Alternative formats. Application materials should be available in alternative formats — audio, large print, easy read, New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) video, or other formats appropriate for the applicant community.
Flexible communication. Some disabled people communicate best in writing, others by phone, others by video (using NZSL or other sign languages, or with a support person). Flexible communication options — not just email — make the process accessible.
Application support. Offering assistance to complete applications — through support workers, community navigators, or funder staff — is particularly important for applicants with cognitive or communication-related disabilities.
Adequate time. Rigid application deadlines may disadvantage applicants who need more time due to their disability — fatigue, pain management, or communication support needs. Accommodating extensions where genuinely needed is a reasonable adjustment.
Disability support services. Grants to providers of disability support services — supported living, day programmes, community participation, respite care. These grants fund the service infrastructure that enables disabled people to live in the community.
Assistive technology grants. Grants for equipment and technology that increase independence — wheelchairs, communication devices, home modification, vehicle modification. These have specific procurement and procurement accountability requirements.
Disability rights and advocacy. Grants to organisations that advocate for disability rights — systemic advocacy, individual advocacy, legal support. Rights-focused grantmaking requires different accountability frameworks than service delivery grantmaking.
Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs). Core funding for DPOs — the organisations of disabled people that provide peer support, advocacy, and community. DPOs are often under-resourced relative to the service provider sector and benefit specifically from unrestricted core funding.
Inclusive research. Grants for disability research that is led by or meaningfully involves disabled people as researchers, not just as research subjects.
Accessible housing and built environment. Capital grants for accessible housing, public facility modifications, and universal design projects.
WCAG-compliant application portal. The grantee portal must be accessible to disabled users — not just an aspiration, but genuinely tested with disabled users and assistive technology.
Alternative format support. The ability to accept applications in alternative formats — audio submissions, video, or supported applications where a support person assists with the form.
Rights-based outcome frameworks. Outcome measurement that reflects CRPD-consistent indicators — participation, inclusion, self-determination, rights realisation — not just service output counts.
DPO governance fields. For grants to DPOs, governance fields that reflect DPO governance structures — including disabled leadership requirements.
Assistive technology procurement tracking. For AT grants, tracking the procurement process, supplier, equipment specifications, and maintenance agreements as part of the grant record.
Tahua supports disability funders and funders working with disability organisations — with accessible application processes, rights-based outcome frameworks, and grant administration that respects disabled people's agency.