AAPD Announces the Summer Internship Program Class of 2018

 

 

WASHINGTON, DC – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is pleased to announce the Summer Internship Program Class of 2018.

AAPD’s Summer Internship Program provides the opportunity for students with disabilities to gain hands-on professional experience that will 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, 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, with national nonprofit organizations, or in 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.

Below are the 2018 summer interns and their internship placements.

Nathan Altmann
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Elijah Armstrong
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)

Benard Bampoh
American Airlines

Maya Branch
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)

Christopher Damon-Cronmiller
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA)

Courtney Dignan
American Council of the Blind

Danielle Drazen
Institute for Educational Leadership

Morgan Dunnigan
Information Technology Industry Council

Shoshana Finkel
Centene Corporation

Adam Fishbein
National Center for Learning Disabilities

Eiryn Griest Schwartzman
Equal Rights Center

Cecilia Grugan
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Andrew Hart
Department of Energy

Luanjiao “Aggie” Hu
Association of University Centers on Disabilities

Megan Lambert
National Disability Rights Network

Angelique Long
Families USA

Stevie Mays
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities

Johileny Meran Almonte
National Disability Rights Network

Lydia Parenteau
Department of Energy

Shiven Patel
American Airlines

Sarah Patnaude
Feminist Majority Foundation

María Pereira
Office of Disability Employment Policy

Laura Power
United Spinal Association

Abeeha Shamshad
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Ellie Stitzer
Administration for Community Living

Kurt Vogel
US Access Board

Adam Webber
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

 

Learn more about the 2018 Summer Interns here!

The 2018 AAPD Summer Internship Program would not be possible without the generous support of our partners. Thank you Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, AT&T, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Arconic Foundation, Microsoft, Google, Walmart, Centene Corporation, and the Aid Association for the Blind of the District of Columbia for supporting these students!

 

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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. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 56 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation. To learn more, visit the AAPD Web site: www.aapd.com.