WASHINGTON, DC – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is pleased to announce the Summer Internship Program Class of 2017.
AAPD’s Summer Internship Program provides the opportunity for students with disabilities to gain hands-on professional experience to help advance their career goals. Through the Summer Internship Program, AAPD seeks to give a class of students with disabilities the skills, resources, and networks they need in order to not only become employed, but to be employed in meaningful and high-level positions. Our Summer Internship Program engages students and recent graduates with disabilities from all across the United States. Because we cover the costs of travel and housing, in addition to providing a living stipend, we are able to recruit a diverse class of interns that may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in a program like ours. For many of these students, participating in AAPD’s Summer Internship Program is their first exposure to the broader disability community, which empowers them to be self-advocates and sets them on a path to employment.
In addition to placing each intern on Capitol Hill, in government agencies, national nonprofit organizations, or the private sector, AAPD also matches each intern with a mentor connected to the disability community. The program begins with a week of Orientation to help the interns get acclimated to living in the city as well as to establish a base understanding of the history of the disability rights movement and current policy issues impacting people with disabilities. The AAPD Summer Internship Program is unique and effective because we offer a comprehensive experience that goes beyond the normal 9-5 intern work-week. Outside of the internship hours, AAPD connects the interns to a variety of guest speakers, events, and professional development opportunities.
The 2017 Internship Class includes:
- Nermina Aly
DePaul University
Interning with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) - Annika Ariel
Amherst College
Interning with Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) - Tina Banerjee
Rochester Institute of Technology
Interning with the Department of Homeland Security - Lauren Berglund
Iowa State University
Interning with The Arc - April Caputi
Biola University
Interning with the National Archives and Records Administration - Ariel Carlin
Syracuse University
Interning with the Administration for Community Living - Lauren Galloway
Syracuse University College of Law
Interning with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) - Jason Harris
Syracuse University
Interning with the National Disability Rights Network - Claire Houston
Mount Holyoke College
Interning with JBS International - Erika Hudson
Indiana University
Interning with the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Democratic Staff - Madlyn Jennings
Truman State University
Interning with the National Education Association - Emily Kovalesky
Allegheny College
Interning with Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) - Ann Kwong
University of California, Santa Barbara
Interning with the Institute for Educational Leadership - Max Soh
Biola University
Interning with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities - Chakir Underdown
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
Interning with the National Disability Rights Network
Learn more about the 2017 Summer Interns here!
The 2017 AAPD Summer Internship Program would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Thank you Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, AT&T, the Arconic Foundation, Google, and the Aid Association for the Blind of the District of Columbia for supporting these students!
###
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities. To learn more, visit the AAPD Web site: www.aapd.com.