The AASM Foundation is proud to partner with the Sleep Research Society (SRS) on the SRS and AASM Foundation Dependent Care and Accessibility Grant, designed to support SRS and AASM members who face barriers to attending professional conferences or events due to at home caregiving responsibilities or disabilities.
The SRS and AASM Foundation recognize the various responsibilities SRS and AASM members have at home that can limit their ability to participate in professional conferences. These may include responsibilities such as:
- Childcare
- Caring for an ill or disabled spouse
- Caring for an aging family member
- Managing a disability
This grant aims to reduce these limitations by offsetting costs related to caregiving or accessibility needs that may otherwise prevent SLEEP 2026 attendance. The list of allowable expenses and more information about eligibility and the application process can be found here.
For the AASM Foundation, this program directly reflects insights gathered from the 2025 Women in Leadership Focus Group where participants highlighted the conflict they experience between caregiving and professional advancement. This grant represents the AASM Foundation’s commitment to normalizing caregiver responsibilities and providing meaningful support to members managing their personal lives and professional development.
Through this grant, the SRS and AASM Foundation aim to improve equity in access, support member needs, increase attendance at SLEEP 2026, and maximize membership value. The SRS and AASM Foundation invite members who meet the eligibility requirements of the Dependent Care and Accessibility Grant to apply.
The SRS and AASM Foundation will provide a maximum of $10,000 for the program and will provide up to $1,000 per award. Awards will be in the form of reimbursement following submission of receipts after the SLEEP 2026 meeting. The number of awards and individual award amounts will depend on the total number of applications received and available funding.
