The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is proud to launch our Teighlor McGee Grassroots Mini Grants Program. This program was named after former ASAN staff member and activist, Teighlor McGee.
Who was Teighlor McGee?
Teighlor McGee (she/they) was an incredible advocate who fought for a better world. She founded and ran the Black Disability Collective, a group which advocates for and champions the lives of Black disabled people. During the 2020 protests against police brutality, Teighlor coordinated information and resources and conveyed that information to people on the ground. She wrote essays and articles, advocated for change at her college campus, and worked in multiple advocacy positions, including at ASAN. Teighlor’s dedication and their fierce love for their communities was apparent to anyone who knew them. During their time at ASAN, Teighlor was a crucial part of creating and planning for mini-grants and we have named the program in their honor. Teighlor passed away in 2022.
Rest in Power Teighlor.
As a tribute to their legacy, these grants honor Teighlor’s grassroots advocacy work, and how they lifted the voices of self advocates of color.
What is a Mini Grant?
Mini grants are small amounts of money given out by a group. For example, governments, schools, and nonprofit organizations like ASAN run mini grant programs.
Mini grants can help a person or group pay for a specific project. ASAN’s Teighlor McGee Grassroots Mini Grant Program will give out grants of up to $5000 to people or groups. They can use this money to do an advocacy project. Advocacy projects can be local, state or national projects. They can help more people be a part of self-advocacy in their community.
Who are the Mini Grants for?
These grants are for self-advocates who are interested in changing the world. Mini grant projects should try to make the world better for people with disabilities. Mini grants are best for people or groups who have past experience doing advocacy.
We are especially interested in project proposals which are led by these groups. Or, that support advocacy for these groups:
- Autistic people of color
- Non-speaking autistic people (both full time and part time)
- Autistic people who are LGBTQ+ (LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer). It also stands for other sexual orientations and gender identities that get treated unfairly by society.
- Autistic people with intellectual disabilities.
Teighlor McGee’s Grassroots Mini Grants Program has 2 different types of grants. They are:
AiA (Affiliates in Action):
These grants are only for ASAN affiliate groups. If your group is not yet an ASAN affiliate group, please visit our affiliate page. You can learn more about how to apply to become an ASAN affiliate group. To learn more about the Affiliates in Action grant, please scroll down to keep reading.
- All applicants must be 18 years of age or older when they apply.
- If a group applies, they can have people under 18 in the group. But the project must be led by a member who is 18 years of age or older.
- Must be an ASAN Affiliate Group. Only ASAN Affiliate Groups can apply for this grant. If your group isn’t an ASAN Affiliate Group, you can apply to become one. To apply to become an affiliate, email agrandstaff@autisticadvocacy.org. If your application gets approved, then you can apply for the Affiliates in Action grant.
- Must be actively meeting. “Actively meeting” means that your group meets at least once a month. These meetings can be virtual or in-person.
- Must be self-advocate led. Run by people who identify as self-advocates with developmental disabilities. For example, autistic people or people with intellectual disabilities.
- Open to international Affiliates. Your group can be from outside the United States.
STEP (Self-advocates Transforming Equitable Policy):
These grants are only for applicants of color, or groups led by advocates of color. To learn more about the Self-advocates Transforming Equitable Policy grant, please scroll down to keep reading.
- All applicants must be 18 years of age or older when they apply.
- If a group applies, they can have people under 18 in the group. But the project must be led by a member who is 18 years of age or older.
- Must be a person with a developmental disability or a group with majority leadership with developmental disabilities. You do not need an official diagnosis to apply. Groups can also be self-advocate led, and leadership do not need official diagnoses to apply.
- Must be a person of color. Groups must be led by people of color. At least 50% of group members must be people of color.
- Does not need to be an affiliate of ASAN.
- International groups cannot apply to the STEP grant. If an group outside of the United States wishes to apply, they must seek the affiliate route.
- Individuals interested in applying for the STEP grant must reside in the United States.
Application submissions open May 15, 2025 and stay open until July 31, 2025.
If you have questions would like help with your application, please schedule office hours with Eli Bouderdaben through this link.
Frequently Asked Questions:
In March 2024, our Grant Website went live, and we received several amazing and innovative proposals. Read up on our Grant Recipients of 2024 here.
Grant Timeline
- March 2025 — “What is the Mini Grants Project?” Webinar
- May 2025 — Applications LIVE!! “Application Walk Through and
Office Hours” Webinar - July 2025 — Application Window Closes
- August–September 2025 — Applicant interviews
- October 2025 — Awardees contacted
- January 2026 — Projects begin, first half of funds given out to grantees
- March 2026 — First check in with grantees
- June 2026 — Second grantee check in and second half of funds given out
- September 2026 —Third grantee check in
- December 2026 — Projects end, final grantee check in