International Documentary Association’s Direct Access Fund

International Documentary Association’s Direct Access Fund

At Nonfiction Access Initiative, we strive to put access into action. Drawing from the data collected through the NAI Nonfiction Media Makers with Disabilities Survey, we discovered that many media makers need rapid response funding for access costs not covered by other available grants. With support from the Ford Foundation, the Direct Access Fund was created for this purpose.

The Direct Access Fund awards small targeted funds for access accommodations and services that would otherwise be unfunded. We underwrite disabled media makers who practice fact-based storytelling, including but not limited to: documentary, nonfiction podcasting, new media, immersive, and other types of nonfiction practice, and are currently working on a project at any stage. This includes distribution and festival support.

All career levels are encouraged to apply. You do not need an official diagnosis to apply to the fund. If disability, neurodivergence, or chronic illness is something that resonates with your experience, please apply.

We acknowledge that access is situational and can be defined in different ways, such as:

Infrastructural: allowing participation and use by a particular individual and presentation in such a way as to provide full participation for all

Interpersonal: allowing for the need to be addressed and supported through the administration and support of life-promoting services

We are awarding up to $5,000 of direct funding toward the development of practices that allow non-fiction media makers and their teams to widen access capacity within their projects. (We have a limited amount of funds that we can give out each quarter, so in the interest of serving the largest number of makers, we ask that you ask for exactly what you need.)

These may include but are not limited to:

Hiring a caregiver or assistant

Assistive equipment, technologies, and/or software

Assistive equipment insurance

Funding the salary of an access coordinator

Creative captioning and audio description

ADA accommodations/travel to a film festival

Caregiver travel

ASL interpreters for panels,

meetings, networking, etc

Funding for specialty dietary needs of crew

Health insurance for crew

Health insurance for filmmaker

Access auditing

Accounting support

Legal support

Festival application fees

Research

Living expenses

Rent (accommodation/office/studio)

Utilities

Groceries

Car payments

Insurance premiums

Co-pays

Unexpected or emergency medical costs

Rental costs for accessible equipment on set

ADA approved trailers

Ramps

Wheelchair-accessible black cars

Accessible bathrooms

Haptic vests for Immersive works

Haptic research and development

Film training program fees

Dependant care, including pets

Mental health support

Trauma mitigation

Medical treatment not covered by insurance

Supplements

Physical therapy

Holistic therapy

Equipment and tech repair

ADA training

Tax support

Residency fees

Accessible website building/website hosting

Grant writing support

Subscription services

Salary for disabled crew members

Accounting

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Eligibility Criteria

Applicants cannot be enrolled in a full-time degree-granting program.

Applicants should be 18 years of age or older to apply.

Applicants can be individuals or collectives operating under a $50,000 operational budget.

Applicants may have a fiscal sponsor, but not required.

The applicant should be either the director or producer of the project.

Projects should preferably be led by a maker who identifies as living with a disability.

Applicants must be actively working on a non-fiction-based media project.

Applicants can apply from anywhere in the world.

The applicant is not required to be a member of IDA.

Funding must be used to fulfill an immediate need and used within 3-6 months of receiving the funds.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; International Documentary Association’s Direct Access Fund

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