Contact: Katie Johnson, internships@aapd.com
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) announces our new Fall Internship Program.
Over the past 20 years, we have hosted over 450 interns with disabilities through our Summer Internship Program.
In 2022, AAPD did a long-term evaluation of the program. Past interns, mentors, and managers shared their thoughts during interviews and surveys. We learned about the large, positive impact of the Summer Internship Program.
Past interns:
- Had more confidence at work,
- Went on to have meaningful employment,
- Developed their disability identities, and
- Made strong connections with other disabled leaders.
After working with AAPD interns, more placement sites hired more people with disabilities. Past interns were more likely to have high paying jobs after the program.
The evaluation recommended expanding the program and its impact. With the support of Arconic Foundation, we are excited to start a new Fall Internship Program. Our first group of fall interns will be in Fall 2023.
The fall internship program is for students and recent graduates with disabilities. Interns will work in Congressional offices, federal agencies, nonprofit, and for-profit placements.
The internship program goals are for interns to:
- Build leadership and advocacy skills,
- Get work experience, and
- Connect with the disability community.
AAPD Programs Director, Christine Liao, said, “AAPD is proud to expand the program so more people with disabilities can gain work experience. Our program is more than just the internship, though. Our interns also develop leadership skills and disability community connections. This leads to greater disability pride. For the employers too, it is an opportunity to become more inclusive.”
Arconic Foundation President and Treasurer, Ryan Kish, added, “Many young people have benefited from this unique and valuable internship. We are a long-time supporter of this program and are proud to support its expansion. As it grows, more students will be further prepared and empowered to shape their futures.”
About the 2023 Fall Internship Program
The 2023 AAPD Fall Internship Program will be completely virtual. Eight interns will complete remote, paid internships at pre-selected sites. Interns will work part-time for 15 to 20 hours a week. The program will be 10 weeks-long. It will run from October 2 to December 8, 2023.
During the fall, interns will:
- Attend a virtual orientation
- Take an advocacy class every 2 weeks
- Connect with a virtual mentor
- Join virtual community events throughout the fall
- Gather for an in-person event
The fall internship application will be open from early April through early June. We will share more information about the application process soon.
For more information visit our Fall Internship Program webpage. If you have any questions, please email internships@aapd.com.
Thank you to Arconic Foundation for your support of our fall interns.
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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 61 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation. To learn more, visit the AAPD website: www.aapd.com.