IDIA Disability Access Research and Policy Team 2026-27: Call for Applications
The IDIA Disability Access Research and Policy Team 2026-27 is inviting applications from third, fourth and fifth-year law students studying at any of the 26 NLUs. The remote, part-time team will work on disability access research, policy drafting and advocacy across India’s legal education and employment ecosystem.
About the Disability Access Research and Policy Team
The Research and Policy Wing (IRAP) and Disability Access Programme (IDAP) of IDIA are forming a team of up to 15 members for the 2026–27 term. The team will include researchers and a limited number of designers.
The initiative focuses on identifying barriers faced by persons with disabilities across legal education and employment institutions. Selected members will contribute to research, reports, policy documents and advocacy initiatives.
Role of Team Members and Learning Opportunity
Team members will have opportunities to work across research, drafting and advocacy.
Research
Researchers may work on:
- Surveys involving students with disabilities, student leaders, faculty and administration across NLUs.
- Accessibility compliance and reservation policies.
- Physical and academic infrastructure.
- Accessibility of online legal databases.
- CLAT infrastructure.
- Technological and physical accessibility in law firms.
- Existing and developing jurisprudence concerning disability laws and policies.
Drafting
Members may contribute to:
- Research reports.
- A model accessibility policy for NLUs.
- Manuals for accessibility labs.
- Pedagogical methodologies for faculty and administrative staff.
- Primers, newsletters and blog posts on disability laws and policies.
Advocacy
IDIA will use the research outputs to advocate for policy changes with relevant institutions. Team members may also get opportunities to attend online and in-person meetings with university officials, the CLAT Consortium, legal database providers, law firms, academics and disability rights practitioners.
Eligibility
The opportunity is open to:
- Third, fourth or fifth-year law students.
- Students studying at any of the 26 National Law Universities.
- Candidates with strong research and writing skills.
Students with disabilities are specifically encouraged to apply.
The role is remote and part-time. There are also limited positions for candidates with design skills, including Canva proficiency. Only one or two designers will be selected.
What You Will Receive
Selected team members will receive a certificate upon completion of the term.
They will also receive named credit as contributors to research outputs they work on, including published reports, policy documents and manuals.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must email their application to:
Email: irap@idialaw.org
Deadline: 26 August 2026, 11:59 PM
Subject: Application - Disability Access Research and Policy Team 2026-27 - [Your Name]
For Researcher Applications
Applicants must attach:
- An updated CV.
- Answers to both application questions in the body of the email.
- A link to an academic writing sample, such as a journal article, blog post or report.
For Designer Applications
Applicants should share a sample of designed material.
Candidates may apply for both researcher and designer positions.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed online in September 2026.
Application Questions
Applicants must answer both questions, with each response limited to 200 words. The organisers specifically require applicants to write the answers in their own words and state that generative AI should not be used to draft them.
The questions focus on:
- Identifying a specific accessibility barrier at the applicant’s university, determining who has authority to address it, developing an evidence-based case and explaining what action should follow if the request is refused.
- Designing an appropriate method for gathering accessibility information from one stakeholder group and considering both the quality of responses and reasons why respondents might provide incomplete or misleading information.
The organisers state that they are looking for concrete positions, sound reasoning and intellectual honesty, rather than unnecessarily elaborate answers.
Contact Details
For queries regarding the application, candidates may contact:
Bhavya Johari: bhavyajohari@idialaw.org
Kirtikar Srivastava: kirtikar@idialaw.org
The IDIA Disability Access Research and Policy Team 2026-27 is particularly relevant for NLU students interested in disability rights, legal research, policy development and institutional advocacy.
