Community Champions for Disability Health Challenge

Overview

Community Champions for Disability Health Challenge. Logo of the NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Seven disability icons, including a stick figure in a dress holding a white cane, a stick figure operating a wheelchair, a stick figure with a lower arm amputation, two hands signing for sign language interpretation, a head above the neck with the brain highlighted, a stick figure using a service animal, and a stick figure using a walker.The National Institutes of Health is offering up to $485,000 in cash prizes to encourage community-based organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce health disparities experienced by people with disabilities. Organizations participating in the Community Champions for Disability Health Challenge also will receive training and mentoring opportunities. NICHD is leading the two-phase challenge. Submissions are due November 1, 2024. Final winners are expected to be announced in February 2026.

Topic Areas

Compared to people without disabilities, those with disabilities are more likely to experience chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. People with disabilities also are less likely to be up to date on routine preventive care and have less access to exercise equipment and adequate nutrition. They often face barriers to accessing care, including inaccessible medical facilities and equipment, lack of transportation to medical appointments, and communication barriers with health care providers.

The Community Champions for Disability Health Challenge seeks creative ideas to promote healthy habits for people with disabilities, increase their access to health services and information, and reduce barriers to promoting health. The challenge is open to non-academic, 501(c)(3) organizations based in the United States, including advocacy, community and faith-based organizations.

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