2022 Portrait of Empowerment

“I felt like an imposter all my life but AAPD helped me find my voice and advocate for myself.”

Brian shares how he sees himself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program:

This reinvigorated my desire to pursue a doctoral degree. To create sustainable long-term change I think a PhD would be best suited to change the stigma surrounding mental health. I felt like an imposter all my life but AAPD helped me find my voice and advocate for myself.

“Building towards collective liberation and disability justice together, the reciprocal love and learning we shared felt revolutionary.”

Aubrianna shares about how the AAPD Summer Internship Program and broader disability community shaped what community means to her:

“In community with other fierce disability activists, I have never felt more at home. I am truly grateful to have been given an opportunity to collectively learn, grow, heal, and dream. Building towards collective liberation and disability justice together, the reciprocal love and learning we shared felt revolutionary. I dream of being in community with more disability folks, to continue radiating radical care, expressing love through access, and sparking magical joy.

“Disability is more than a word: it is an identity, culture, term, and much more. It has opened the door to opportunities this summer.”

Mikayla shares how they see themself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program.

“Disability is more than a word: it is an identity, culture, term, and much more. It is a word that has opened the door to opportunities this summer. I laughed and cried through it all. This marks the end of my AAPD journey, and I have had one of the best summers in the capital. I am very grateful and thank God for this opportunity!”

“In social work we discuss a lot the importance of intersectionality, diversity and inclusion; however, sometimes we don’t highlight disabilities and I feel that it is my responsibility to bring my disabled community into every single conversation.”

Paula shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave her insight about her work and career aspirations:

“The summer internship program reinforced the work I want to do in the future regarding disability justice. In social work we discuss a lot the importance of intersectionality, diversity and inclusion; however, sometimes we don’t highlight disabilities and I feel that it is my responsibility to bring my disabled community into every single conversation. This experience also taught me that being open about the accommodations I need is a must for me to be fully present in any work setting. I learned to not feel guilt or shame when taking a day off to take care of myself or bringing my arsenal of medicines to the workplace.”

“Having community means having unconditional acceptance and a way to speak in “short hand” with people who have had similar experiences.”

Sandra shares about how the AAPD Summer Internship Program and broader disability community shaped what community means to her:

“When I was born, having a disability was something to be ashamed of, and something to apologize for. Most of my 59 years have been spent feeling as though I needed to ignore how trying to “fit in” or be “normal” has taken a toll on me. I did not realize how exhausting this process has been. So, for me having community means having unconditional acceptance and a way to speak in “short hand” with people who have had similar experiences. This community has provided me a similar experience as when I transferred from a PWI to an HBCU.”

“My internship placement site allowed me to see a unique angle of federal government work that helped me refine my goals for the future…I am now more prepared to be a leader in the tech world while being a champion for accessibility.”

Jazmin shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave her insight about her work and career aspirations:

My internship placement site allowed me to see a unique angle of federal government work that helped me refine my goals for the future. Now that I know what it takes to offer your skills to such a special agency, I’m ready to arrange my future courses and skills so that they align with the steps that I need to take to get there! My sense and understanding of what it takes to stand out in a professional setting has evolved since the beginning of the summer, I am now more prepared to be a leader in the tech world while being a champion for accessibility! Finding my strengths in a professional setting while simultaneously learning more about advocacy through the AAPD Friday classes allowed for an integrated learning process that I got to apply every day in the workplace.

“I was able to get a broad scope of what it means to work in the federal government [and] understand the nuances that coincide with public service and experience them first hand.”

Kristen shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave her insight about her work and career aspirations:

“This summer I was able to get a broad scope of what it means to work in the federal government which was the only career path I had really considered until this point. I was able to understand the nuances that coincide with public service and experience them first hand. My experience as a Microsoft STEM intern showed me that I can do meaningful work in the private sector as well.”

“Getting to work under a supervisor who was a fellow Black woman with a disability was amazing, and taught me so much about navigating the professional world. My network grew substantially into my areas of interest.”

Britney shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave her insight about her work and career aspirations:

“I had no idea what to expect at the end of the summer with AAPD, but I couldn’t imagine all the ways my life would be impacted for the better. Getting to work under a supervisor who was a fellow Black woman with a disability was amazing, and taught me so much about navigating the professional world. My network grew substantially into my areas of interest, from both my placement site and from speakers who attended our orientation/advocacy classes. Having a resource filled group of peers and mentors makes me feel much more confident to re-enter the workforce once I complete my masters degree this fall.”

“Being an advocate isn’t something that they should look down on me for in journalism, but rather see as a useful and beneficial tool for the newsrooms and coverage of important issues.”

Shruti shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave them insight about their work and career aspirations:

“The summer internship program provided an incredible space for me to navigate my disabled identity and advocacy within my career of interest (journalism). It really felt like a perfect opportunity for my passions, interests, and identities to come together through every article I wrote for NPR. I was always told that I couldn’t be a journalist and an advocate, but this internship helped me counter that narrative. I now know how to navigate this field and how to show people that being an advocate isn’t something that they should look down on me for in journalism, but rather see as a useful and beneficial tool for the newsrooms and coverage of important issues.”

“AAPD really allowed me to feel strong in my own skin and ready to educate those around me. I feel prepared to address issues related to disability.”

Justin shares how they see themself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program:

Prior to this experience I was more reserved and scared to be placed in front or really explain my story. But throughout the semester with the help of AAPD and my cohort I learned to be able to feel comfortable being independent. AAPD really allowed me to feel strong in my own skin and ready to educate those around me. I feel prepared to address issues related to disability. I learned to not be afraid of speaking out because it could help so many people that come after me. Also how I should make sure I’m sharing the candy with my peers and those around me. Sharing the candy allows for everyone to find success because we’ll all be given opportunities.

“The program connected me to so many professionals working in Capitol Hill, health policy, and disability advocacy that it was rewarding to see that there are so many pathways to work on health and disability policy.”

Zandy shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave her insight about her work and career aspirations:

“The summer internship was a leap of faith for me. It was my first time working within the system (US Congress) rather than from an outside role as a researcher and advocate. It ended up being a really rewarding experience. It taught me a lot about professionalism, customer service, and public service. The program connected me to so many professionals working in Capitol Hill, health policy, and disability advocacy that it was rewarding to see that there are so many pathways to work on health and disability policy.”

Zandy shares how the AAPD Summer Internship Program supported, changed, or gave her insight about her work and career aspirations:

“The summer internship was a leap of faith for me. It was my first time working within the system (US Congress) rather than from an outside role as a researcher and advocate. It ended up being a really rewarding experience. It taught me a lot about professionalism, customer service, and public service. The program connected me to so many professionals working in Capitol Hill, health policy, and disability advocacy that it was rewarding to see that there are so many pathways to work on health and disability policy.”

“I learned that it’s not only about advocating for myself but it is also important to advocate for all people with disabilities.”

Ken shares how he sees himself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program:

“I see myself being a leader in my community by spreading awareness about inclusion and independent living opportunities for people with disabilities. I learned that it’s not only about advocating for myself but it is also important to advocate for all people with disabilities.”

“Leaving the Summer Internship Program, I’ve come to give myself more credit for the labor I do, and identify myself as a leader.”

Súeli shares how they see themself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program:

“I struggled to see myself as a leader before the AAPD Summer Internship Program. I knew I was doing the work, but it just felt like what I had to do to survive. Leaving the Summer Internship Program, I’ve come to give myself more credit for the labor I do, and identify myself as a leader.”

“I latched onto a community of multi-generational cross-disability advocacy and culture that I hardly knew existed.”

Jack shares about how the AAPD Summer Internship Program and broader disability community shaped what community means to him:

“The internship program showed me the diversity and resilience of the disability community by bringing together people with extraordinarily different lived experiences for a summer of deep connection, learning, significant growth, and fun experiences. Thanks to AAPD, I met and continue to keep in touch with people that I otherwise would never have met, and I latched onto a community of multi-generational cross-disability advocacy and culture that I hardly knew existed. As I navigate the world on this side of the Summer Internship Program, I see accessibility in a much more plural, structural way. I am grateful not only for that awareness but that I feel empowered with the knowledge and tools I need to create a more inclusive future.”

“I always saw myself as a leader, but now I have even more confidence because I have fully accepted myself and who I am. I am disabled and I’m proud of it.”

Michael shares how he sees himself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program:

“I always saw myself as a leader, but now I have even more confidence because I have fully accepted myself and who I am. I am disabled and I’m proud of it. Now I can be a voice, a leader to a new generation of all people who struggle with their disabilities. I’ve learned that there are so many people to help for that’s what being a leader in our community means hearing the voiceless and fighting the good fight.”

“To me, a community is when people advocate and support each other, especially for those from marginalized communities with different identities, experiences, and backgrounds.”

Sheila shares about how the AAPD Summer Internship Program and broader disability community shaped what community means to her:

“To me, a community is when people advocate and support each other, especially for those from marginalized communities with different identities, experiences, and backgrounds. Those individuals bring in valuable contributions to the community in order to create collective changes that benefit all of us.”

“Community listens when you speak, celebrates when you succeed, and supports you when you need it.”

Em shares about how the AAPD Summer Internship Program and broader disability community shaped what community means to her:

“Community is diverse, it is accepting. It embraces and respects what makes you the person that you are. Community listens when you speak, celebrates when you succeed, and supports you when you need it.”