Disabled Status Information

The AAFS Disabled Member Policy may waive membership dues for any full Member or Fellow who, as a result of a physical or mental disability, is unable to pay annual dues.

The waiver of a member's annual dues by the Board of Directors shall be considered fulfillment of the member's obligation to pay dues pursuant to Article I, Section 5 of the Academy Bylaws. Application for waiver of dues must be submitted to the Executive Director by December 31 of the year preceding the calendar year for which the annual dues are payable. The board may waive a member's dues for only one year at a time, after which the member must resubmit an application for waiver of dues. The following guidelines shall apply:

  1. Only Members or Fellows who have paid their membership dues and have otherwise been Members or Fellows in good standing for five consecutive years prior to the first application are eligible to receive a waiver of dues for a physical or mental disability.
  2. The applicant must submit verification by a doctor of medicine that the applicant's disability prevents the applicant from earning a livelihood. (Executive Committee, July 29, 2011)