Fall Internship Archives - AAPD

Disability Economic Power & AAPD Internships

AAPD Press Team — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 18:52:34 +0000

Disability Economic Power & AAPD Internships

For more than two decades, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has run an internship program that opens doors to access meaningful and accessible employment opportunities. The AAPD Summer Internship Program develops stronger disability identities for students and recent graduates so they can shape the future of our workplaces and communities.

AAPD conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the program’s first 20 years, and the results are incredible. Our new report, Building Disability Economic Power Through AAPD’s Internship Program, shares the practices and insights about what truly moves the needle on disability employment and economic power.

This report shows not only what our alumni have achieved, but why those outcomes are possible — and what it takes for institutions, employers, and leaders to replicate this success. In early 2026, we will be sharing opportunities for people to put the findings we’ve learned into practice in their own workplaces so that we can all collaborate to strengthen and expand our disability career and leadership efforts.

Read the 2025 report

Introduction

At the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), we want to see disabled people thrive in decision-making roles, earn competitive wages, take pride in their disability identity, and find a sense of belonging at work.

Despite significant federal and state legislation that has improved the lives and employment prospects of people with disabilities over the last 20 years, inaccessible and inequitable workplaces remain commonplace. Workplace discrimination complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) may be made in cases of discrimination because of an employee or applicants’ race, color, religion, sex (including transgender status, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), and disability or genetic information. Out of all of those categories, in 2023, the EEOC reported that discrimination on the basis of disability was the largest category of new EEOC employment discrimination complaint filings. Disability-based discrimination complaints also saw the most significant percentage increase of any EEOC employment discrimination category, at 77% in 2023 (“EEOC’s Final FY 2023 Enforcement Statistics Show 10% Increase in Charges Filed,” 2024).

In addition, adults with disabilities are employed at less than half the rate of people without disabilities, and twice as likely to live in poverty. Benefit programs like Medicaid or Social Security force recipients to live in poverty in order because of income and asset limit policies (National Council on Disability, 2023). This impacts the ability of people with disabilities to become financially secure and achieve economic independence.

The 2020 Census reported that people with disabilities are less likely to complete their high school education, enter and complete college, find jobs paying competitive wages, or earn as much as their contemporaries without disabilities. Many organizations that design career development opportunities like internship programs do not recognize the inequities that disabled people face leading up to when they enter the workforce.

Nondisabled students report that work experience gained during internships is critical to forming professional networks that lead to positive employment outcomes post-college (Briel & Getzel, 2001). Many internships or fellowships require a transcript or a certain grade point average to be eligible. Many disabled students’ grades or class records may not accurately reflect their learning, but rather their lack of access or discrimination experienced in the classroom.

Furthermore, if disabled students are isolated in education, this impacts their number of opportunities to network with others in their field who could offer learning and employment opportunities. Disabled people of color face further barriers to obtaining education and employment opportunities (Losen et al., 2021, 2021; Shaw, et al., 2012). Studies show that the majority of students with disabilities in the United States are students of color (Musu-Gillette et al., 2017).

There have also been extensive studies that share how higher socioeconomic status correlates with a higher quality of life and improves access to housing and medical care (Nutakor, et al., 2023). These studies also show that having social capital is positively correlated with a high quality of life. It is currently legal to pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage. In addition, people with disabilities experience a higher degree of loneliness and social isolation compared to people without disabilities. Studies have found that low social connectedness was associated with lower well-being (Emerson, et al., 2021).

For more than two decades, AAPD has run its Summer Internship Program to address the significant gaps that remain for people with disabilities. The program has provided hundreds of disabled students and recent graduates with career opportunities, along with resources and community support to make sure they obtain meaningful skills and knowledge to create change. Our goal for the Summer Internship Program is to ensure that students and recent graduates can develop stronger disability identities and develop the skills to shape the future of our workplaces and our communities.

To understand our progress towards this goal, AAPD hired an external evaluator to assess the impact of our program on the participants’ career growth, as well as the impact on placement sites and mentors. Interns, supervisors, mentors, and community members, including AAPD staff, board members, and key stakeholders, provided feedback to guide program improvement and impact for future years.

This report is an overview of the external evaluator’s findings and future recommendations. We share some changes that we have already implemented from 2019 to 2023, as well as reflections on challenges and future changes. We also plan to use the findings as a way to assess how accessibility and equity are embedded into our program. By sharing our proven methods and successes in strategy, activities, and impact, our program model can serve as a resource for other organizations on how to implement inclusive programming with a focus on community building to increase impact on the participants’ career opportunities and leadership development.

Organization Overview

Founded in 1995, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, working to increase the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As one of the leading national cross-disability civil rights organizations, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 70 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation. One of the ways AAPD achieves our mission is through our Summer Internship Program.

AAPD Summer Internship Program Overview

Established in 2002, the AAPD Summer Internship Program strives to develop stronger disability identities within students and recent graduates to better equip them to shape the future of our workplaces and communities. The comprehensive program provides participants with an opportunity to advance their career goals, gain leadership and advocacy skills, and connect with the broader disability community. To minimize barriers to participation, AAPD offers the internship program in either a hybrid or fully remote format. AAPD provides interns with a competitive wage, technology support, and accessible housing or a housing stipend. For in-person interns and remote interns who come to Washington, D.C. for orientation, AAPD covers travel to and from D.C. After interns get accepted to the AAPD internship, AAPD matches interns with a placement site based on career goals, pairs them with a one-on-one mentor based on their interests, and provides weekly programming.

Career Development

AAPD’s internship program provides an opportunity for disabled students and recent graduates to feel more confident as a person with a disability in their field of work. While placement site opportunities were initially focused on Capitol Hill internships in 2002, AAPD now provides high-level paid internships across all sectors, including government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies. The internship program may be the first time AAPD interns experience disclosing their disability in a workplace and going through the formal accommodations process with their supervisor. Throughout the program, interns have many opportunities to network and connect with a variety of people with disabilities in different career sectors and fields of interest.

Leadership Development

Throughout the internship program, AAPD provides several opportunities for interns to learn and explore different leadership styles through meeting disability community leaders and participating in a variety of advocacy opportunities. Opportunities include the National Council on Independent Living Annual Conference, participating in AAPD partner organizations’ rallies and vigils, workshops, webinars, and more. Interns also have opportunities to lead presentations on disability topics, write a blog post or a policy memo, and meet with their legislators. In 2018, AAPD established the Disability Advocacy Certificate Program to further develop interns’ leadership and advocacy skills. The Certificate Program prepares participants to be knowledgeable and effective advocates in the disability community on the local, state, and national levels. The course focuses on using one’s story to impact change in their community and workplace. They also learn about different tactics of advocacy (e.g., digital, art, campaigns, coalition building, etc). After the program, interns receive a Certificate in Disability Advocacy from AAPD.

Community Building

For many interns, being a part of the program is their first introduction to the disability community and disability pride. AAPD kicks off the program with a book club for the book Disability Visibility by Alice Wong to introduce interns to different disability experiences and facilitate discussion among the cohort. AAPD hosts several informal weekly events for only the interns and also provides opportunities for the interns to meet other disabled people by inviting AAPD alumni and disability community members to participate in our gatherings virtually and in-person, providing support to attend conferences or networking events, and more.

In addition to participating in the internship and Certificate Program, each intern is matched with a mentor. The matching is determined by the mentee’s personal and professional goals and other demographic preferences such as identity and location.

Formal Evaluation

In 2022, AAPD celebrated two decades of the Summer Internship Program. After 20 years and one formal external evaluation in 2007, AAPD decided to contract an external evaluator, Third Sight, LLC. Third Sight assessed the program’s effectiveness and provided recommendations for continued program improvement for the future, including program expansion. Their goals were:

Examining the program and its evolution over two decades.
Collecting information from alumni to determine if and how the program might have affected their employment and life goals.
Learning about the value of the program for internship placement sites and mentors.
Identifying strengths of the program and recommendations for further improvements.

Third Sight developed a report with their findings after gathering feedback from various key community members (i.e., alums, supervisors, mentors, AAPD Board members and staff, and partners) through surveys and interviews. The report discussed implications and shared a list of recommendations.

A brief infographic with high-level results of their findings is also available.

Download the one pager

Key Findings

These are key findings from people who participated in surveys and interviews conducted in 2022. Not all who engaged with the Summer Internship Program responded.

Alumni

The majority of alums strongly agreed or agreed that the internship program contributed to greater awareness of their disability identity, their experience in the world of work, their understanding of public policy, and their ability to network.
Most alumni reported that the program strengthened their identity as a person with a disability by providing the opportunity for them to be around other people with disabilities in general, people with similar disabilities, and those with disabilities in their age group.
All the alumni interviewed reported that the internship program positively impacted their self-confidence at work or in their community.
More than 68% of alum respondents are employed full-time. In comparison, 14.9% of the general disability population and 55% of the nondisabled population are employed full time (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023).
Nearly 85% of alum respondents are employed. In comparison, 21.3% of the general disability population and 65.4% of the nondisabled population are employed (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023).
Alumni reported their average hourly wage is $34.59. The national hourly wage of people with disabilities is $13.74, compared to $17.73 for people without disabilities (Third Sight LLC authors’ calculation, U.S. Census, 2020).
Alumni are more likely to be in the workforce and employed than the national average for people with disabilities. Alumni also have a higher attainment of a bachelor’s degree than the average for people with and without disabilities.

Mentors

The majority of mentors enjoyed the opportunity to share their knowledge and connections with interns, learn from the interns, and build lasting relationships while contributing to the expansion of leaders with disabilities.
Mentors benefited from “giving back” by helping interns build their networks and have successful, positive job experiences. Mentors could share their disability experiences with their mentees and broaden their understanding of the disability community through learning from the new perspectives and life experiences of the interns.

Supervisors and Internship Placement Sites

The majority of supervisors were satisfied or very satisfied with their experiences with the internship program. They gave high ratings to AAPD across the board, including on communication from AAPD staff, clarity about the supervisory role, matching of the interns to the position, professionalism of the intern, quality of communication about participation in AAPD-sponsored events, and AAPD staff’s support during the internship.
About a third of supervisors agreed or strongly agreed that the internship led them to hire more people with disabilities, and more than half responded that working with AAPD interns led their organizations to make their workplace more inclusive.
Eighty percent of supervisor survey respondents are still in touch with the interns, and a majority continue to have a professional relationship with the interns.

Recommendations

Third Sight also provided several recommendations for AAPD. Their recommendations centered on improving program structure, providing additional supports for interns, increasing alumni engagement, diversifying intern recruitment, expanding internship programming, and strengthening mentorship activities.

Program Structure

Increase stipends.
Consider adding professional development components, including:
- Leadership development,
- Guidance on how to network,
- Orientation to DC, including how to get around,
- Guidance on how to address interpersonal conflicts,
- Team building,
- Diversity and equity training
- Practice advocating, including self-advocacy skills.
Provide practical tools and tips for advocacy.
Implement a pre- and post-evaluation of interns’ knowledge, skills, and engagement to measure impact.

Greater Intern Interest Alignment and Support

Ensure that selected interns receive all supports and accommodations needed for their full participation. This may require additional training or orientation for some interns, and an early review of their housing and transportation to ensure they have adequate services.
Continue to ensure that interns are well-matched with the job placement.

Alumni Engagement

Increase the number of alumni events offered.
Ensure that interns across cohorts have the opportunity to engage with each other.
Identify alumni experts for speaking engagements and events. Leverage key alumni with successful careers.

Diversity in Recruitment

Expand outreach to different schools and locations across the country to increase the diversity of cohorts.
Highlight alumni who are women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and from different regions of the country to support diversity in recruitment.

Internship Expansion

Create a year-round internship program with summer, spring, and fall cohorts.

Mentorship Component

Review the process for matching interns to mentors. Consider sharing professional interests and the opportunity for interns to engage with mentors who have similar disabilities.
Create more opportunities to bring together mentors and interns through planned activities. Include virtual opportunities for greater flexibility and engagement.
Clarify expectations of the mentoring program with mentors. Ensure mentors are prepared to dedicate the time required to participate in the program.
Provide interns with structured guidance on how to engage with mentors.

AAPD Summer Internship Program Changes

Approximately 85% of alumni who responded to the survey were from the Summer of 2019 and prior. Since the leadership changes described below were implemented, there have been notable changes throughout the internship program that respond to most of the recommendations identified by Third Sight’s evaluation report.

Staff and Personnel

In Summer 2018 and 2019, the internship program was led by the AAPD Programs Manager with the support of the President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Programs Manager was responsible for developing and executing all aspects of the Summer Internship Program and Disability Advocacy Certificate Program in addition to several other of AAPD’s national programming initiatives, including the Disability Rights Storyteller Fellowship, Disability Mentoring Day, Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award, and the NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship. In 2019, AAPD contracted a part-time Summer Internship Program Assistant who worked full-time during the summer internship program and part-time hours leading up to and following the completion of the internship program.

In Fall 2019, AAPD welcomed a new President & CEO to the organization and a new Programs Manager to lead the Summer Internship Program. Similar to in 2018, the Programs Manager continued to manage multiple programs in addition to the internship program focused on emerging leaders, such as awards and scholarships. AAPD also added a part-time Program Coordinator to focus on Disability Mentoring Day and Alumni Network to support staff sustainability in the organization. This allowed the Programs Manager to have more capacity to implement changes to the internship program. In 2022, the Programs Manager became the Programs Director to manage the growing internship program team, along with the Programs team.

In Summer 2021, AAPD expanded the Internship Program Team by hiring a Summer Internship Program Coordinator. The Program Coordinator was solely dedicated to the internship program to increase capacity. In fall 2023, AAPD promoted the Internship Program Coordinator role to Manager to recognize the full scope of responsibilities of managing all of AAPD’s internship programs. This also recognizes the increased responsibilities of the internship expansion to include a fall cohort. Due to the expansion of the internship program, AAPD hired a year-round part-time Program Assistant working 10-20 hours a week to support the Program Manager.

In Summer 2023, AAPD hired an Events & Logistics Coordinator to provide additional support to the Internship Program team. The Events & Logistics Coordinator provides support with travel, supplies, inventory, technology, speaker honorariums, on-site support, and more. AAPD also hired a full-time Programs Coordinator to focus on the Alumni Network, to continue supporting the professional development of former AAPD interns and other program participants, and to help manage Disability Mentoring Day each October. With the Programs Team comprised of a team of four people, and three of the four Programs Team members supporting the internship program, this further increased the Internship Program team’s capacity to implement more meaningful changes.

The last significant change in 2023 was that AAPD hired a Chief Operating Officer (COO). The COO helps develop additional structure and policies, and streamlines processes to strengthen the internship programs. The COO also works closely with the Internship Program team to work on evaluation and impact.

By the end of 2023, the AAPD Leadership Team supported the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the internship program:

President & CEO
Chief Operating Officer
Programs Director

The Internship Program Team supported the day-to-day execution:

Internship Program Manager
Programs Coordinator (Alumni Network focus)
Events & Logistics Coordinator
Program Assistant

Budget

Throughout this report, AAPD will detail many changes that have impacted our budget. To the right is a table that summarizes how the expenses have changed each year.

We chose Summer 2019 as a reference point, as it was the last summer before the COVID-19 pandemic and before new leadership joined the organization. Some notes:

Summer 2019 was fully in-person.
Summer 2020 was not included due to only offering the Disability Advocacy Certificate Program.
Summer 2021 reflected our first fully virtual internship. We had two classes, since interns from 2020 were invited to return in 2021.
Summer 2022 was our first hybrid program (i.e., interns participated in DC or remotely).
Summer 2023 was the first time we offered a remote housing stipend.

* The total direct expenses do not include everything listed in the table. Travel line items may fluctuate depending on sponsorship available. Other expenses may include subscriptions or contractors.

Program Format

From 2002 – 2017, AAPD hosted the Summer Internship Program entirely in-person with internship placements requiring 40 hours of work a week over ten weeks. The program components, including mentors, placement sites, and activities, were all based in Washington, DC. In 2018, AAPD added the Disability Advocacy Certificate Program, which reduced the weekly placement site hours to 32 hours, from Monday to Thursday.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, AAPD pivoted to offer only the Disability Advocacy Certificate Program remotely that summer. Many placement site partners needed more time to be ready to host entirely virtual interns by the summer. While we could not place participants in internships at this point, we continued to pay the interns for their time due to a lack of financial opportunities amid the pandemic. We also paired our interns one-on-one with a virtual mentor for the first time. The 2020 cohort was offered an opportunity to return in summer 2021 to gain internship experience.

Due to a virtual format and wanting to create similar opportunities to an in-person environment, AAPD strengthened our community engagement by providing weekly virtual informal events for interns to meet and get to know each other. Some examples include a monthly book club, with topics determined by the interns, such as disability and dating, disability and abolition, LGBTQIA+ pride, and more. We received significant positive feedback surrounding the creation of intentional spaces for engagement of our internship cohort, and we have continued providing spaces for our interns to informally connect with each other and the broader community in multiple formats. Many interns also took the initiative to plan their own virtual gatherings, such as co-working spaces.

In 2021, since the COVID-19 vaccines and tests were not yet widely available, AAPD hosted the entire internship program remotely. This ensured the safety of the AAPD interns while providing high-level quality access to career opportunities, leadership development, and connections with the disability community. AAPD’s first-ever remote internship program was built on the success of the remote Disability Advocacy Certificate Program in 2020. By providing remote opportunities, AAPD created more opportunities for internship placement and participation across the country in a modality that is more accessible to many.

At the conclusion of the 2021 program, AAPD surveyed our interns to ensure the remote format was an accessible and meaningful experience. Ninety-two percent of the respondents recommended that AAPD continue to provide a remote option. In addition, 92% of the interns who responded to the survey reported that they strongly agreed or agreed that their virtual internship placement site was a meaningful experience. Lastly, 40% of the interns who responded to the survey shared that the virtual format was more accessible for them than an in-person format. However, 16% of the interns reported that an in-person environment would have been more accessible for them.

As a result of the responses, AAPD decided to continue offering both in-person and remote internship opportunities. In 2022, AAPD hosted our first-ever hybrid program successfully, with an opportunity to join in-person in Washington, DC, or participate fully remotely. The in-person interns also experienced a true hybrid environment (going to the office a few times a week). All remote interns have the opportunity to attend in person for the weeklong orientation in Washington, DC, during which AAPD covers their travel and lodging. A hybrid internship program allows remote interns to access meaningful internship opportunities without worrying about their access to healthcare in their home state or leaving their place of safety (e.g., COVID-19 protocols, support systems, etc.). Based on the continued success of a hybrid model in Summer 2022, AAPD will offer a hybrid summer internship program going forward.

Based on feedback from the Summer Internship Program evaluation and with the support of a challenge grant from Arconic Foundation, AAPD launched our Fall Internship Program in September 2023. The Fall Internship Program is entirely virtual and part-time. This is an opportunity to offer part-time internships to provide more opportunities for students who may be managing school or work obligations. Additionally, part-time opportunities allow flexibility for income limits that may impact people with disabilities who receive public benefits. We do not want prospective interns to choose between impactful career development and the benefits they need to survive.

Recruitment and Outreach

Beginning in the Summer 2021 cycle, AAPD diversified our recruitment efforts by intentionally reaching out to several organizations or institutions that primarily serve people who experience intersecting oppression or are historically excluded. Some examples include, but are not limited to: Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, Minority Serving Institutions, community colleges, and postsecondary education programs specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition, we contacted different organizations outside of university Disability Resource Offices, such as student-led organizations on campus, Offices of Diversity & Inclusion on campuses, youth-led organizations, and vocational rehabilitation services.

We see the impact of our intentional recruitment among disabled people of color. The following spread showcases the percentages across cohorts for interns’ racial and ethnic identities, gender identities, and those identifying as LGBTQIA+. The number of people identifying as a specific race may exceed the number of interns due to interns identifying with more than one race.

The year 2020 was excluded because numerous interns opted to defer their participation to 2021 due to no internship component being offered or wanting to focus on their well-being during the summer.

In 2021, AAPD staff began hosting a virtual information session on the Summer Internship Program, which features a panel of intern alumni. This is an opportunity to access information about the program in real-time beyond written materials and it also allows prospective interns to engage with AAPD staff and alumni.

Interview Process

During the interview stage, we have continued the practice implemented in 2018 of engaging alumni in the interviews. We provide alumni opportunities to share feedback on the interview questions and format. Alumni’s perspectives significantly impact how we consider applicants who will benefit the most from the program.

We also changed our interview process to be more accessible in 2020. We reduced the length of the interview from 60 minutes to 30 minutes (unless an accommodation has been requested that asks for more time), and we reduced the number of questions asked. We also conducted our interviews on the Zoom platform instead of Google Meet to allow integration with real-time captioning.

Intern Onboarding Materials

In 2021, AAPD drafted and developed several onboarding documents to formalize the internship program and establish a shared understanding between AAPD staff and interns.

When an intern was officially matched with a placement site, AAPD required more formal agreements for shared understanding. First, the placement site had to fill out a form to agree and adhere to all the placement site responsibilities. The placement site would also share more information upfront about the intern’s activities and tasks for the summer. After the form was completed, AAPD prepared an offer letter for the intern to agree to and accept.

AAPD developed a Code of Conduct and Community Guidelines. The Code of Conduct outlined expectations of intern engagement and behavior, such as communication expectations between interns and supervisors, staff, and mentors. It was included as part of the intern’s offer letter to the program. The Community Guidelines were co-developed with each cohort of interns during their first day of orientation and revisited throughout the summer. It included items such as checking in with people about their accommodation and access needs before planning a restaurant outing, speaking based on their own experience instead of generalizing it to the entire community, confidentiality, and so forth.

From 2022 onwards, AAPD included COVID-19 protocols as part of our Code of Conduct.

Program Supports

Before 2020, AAPD provided interns with a living stipend equal to $8.75/hr for 32 hours a week over a 10-week period, accessible housing, and transportation to and from Washington, DC. AAPD also budgeted in personal care attendants to travel with and support the interns during the summer, and meal stipends of $200 for the entire summer. Since then, the hourly wage, housing stipends, meal stipends, and other program supports have all increased.

Hourly Wage

Our interns with disabilities come from diverse backgrounds that add value and expertise to their placement sites. However, people with disabilities frequently go unpaid or are often paid subminimum wage. While this contributes to the pay gap between nondisabled and disabled people, many people with disabilities cannot accept unpaid work due to paying for additional support or resources to live independently in their community.

In the summer of 2020, AAPD provided a stipend of $20/hour for our interns during their time in the Certificate Program, as they may have planned on relying on the internship program as a source of income. The Certificate Program was six hours a week over a 10-week period.

In 2021, AAPD increased the living stipend per hour to match at least the District of Columbia’s (DC) minimum wage or higher. For 2021, it was $15/hour. The hourly wage increased again in 2023 to $18/hour.

Due to the increase in stipend, AAPD works on a case-by-case basis with interns who may need a different payment schedule due to their public benefits. If interns are concerned about the hourly wages impacting their benefits, AAPD will split up the payments over a longer period of time to minimize the impact. AAPD will also work on a case-by-case basis to figure out alternative payment methods to ensure interns are compensated for their time and expertise.

Housing

For the majority of the internship program, AAPD has provided in-person interns with accessible housing at George Washington (GW) University. In 2022, AAPD started to provide remote interns with hotel lodging during orientation week. In 2023, AAPD began offering remote interns a monthly housing stipend of up to $2,000. This rate is comparable to the monthly rate AAPD pays to cover in-person interns in Washington, DC. Because the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) considers housing stipends as income since we pay the interns directly, AAPD informs interns that the housing stipend may impact their benefits before they officially accept their spot as an AAPD intern. Like with the hourly wages, AAPD will work with interns individually to figure out an alternative if this stipend threatens their benefits.

Meal Stipends

In 2018 and 2019, AAPD provided a meal stipend of $200 over 10 weeks through American Express gift cards as part of Friday’s Disability Advocacy Certificate Program lunches. When the full internship program resumed virtually in 2021, AAPD continued providing meal stipends. In 2021 and 2022, AAPD increased the amount to $400 over 10 weeks through grocery or food delivery gift cards to factor in fees and tips. Instead of adding the meal stipend to their living wages, AAPD provides gift cards to minimize potential impacts on interns’ taxes or benefits.

In 2023, GW University offered meal plans for its summer residents, including AAPD interns. The meal plan was $550 for the summer, which included 50 meal swipes (prices vary based on meal) and $50 declining debit balance on their GW card.

Due to this change, AAPD allowed all interns to choose one of the three options:

Participate in GW’s Meal Plan
Receive a $550 Visa gift card or food delivery service gift card*
Receive $550 as part of their stipend.

*On a case-by-case basis, AAPD provided a grocery gift card of the intern’s choosing if food delivery is not accessible in their area or does not meet their dietary accommodations.

Similar to the housing stipend, AAPD informed interns that if they opt out of a meal stipend and choose to combine it with their living wages, this may impact their taxes and/or benefits.

Technology and Equipment

Starting in 2020, AAPD provided internet stipends for remote interns and developed a budget for technology support. The internet stipend provides additional support for interns who may not have access to high-speed internet. Technology supports include, but are not limited to, laptops, monitors, accessible software, and accessories (e.g., headphones, ergonomic mouse, monitor, etc). Since many placement sites’ organizational policies provide limited technology offerings for interns (especially remote interns), AAPD purchases equipment for interns to use during their internship experience.

Sustained Engagement

In 2020, AAPD launched the Alumni Network to continue investing in our program participants. Alumni can obtain professional development support related to their career goals, make new community connections, and sustain existing connections. As part of the Alumni Network, AAPD established the Ambassadors Council. They are alumni who help guide AAPD’s planning for future initiatives. Due to AAPD implementing more structure to keep in contact with alumni, we are able to execute a more intentional effort to uplift and continue building relationships with them. They are frequently invited to participate in the internship program as guest speakers and mentors and attend community events. Because of our continued relationships with alumni, we can also recommend them for other professional development opportunities, such as a guest speaker on a Hill briefing, subject matter expert webinars, blog posts, and so forth.

Information and Preparation

In 2022, AAPD developed a more comprehensive resource guide to support interns during the summer. This includes information on national resources and mental health services. For in-person interns, this includes access to healthcare, including COVID-19 testing and treatment, and transportation.

We also provided pre-orientation sessions, which share information with interns before they arrive in Washington, DC. Sessions included how to navigate transportation in DC, such as how to use the Metro, and discussing accommodations while flying.

Placement Site Matching

AAPD completes a thorough vetting process with every placement site before officially pairing them with an intern. As part of our vetting process, we ask about the supervisor’s comfort level with providing and implementing accommodations and the organization’s disability inclusion policies or beliefs. We also ensure interns will be assigned meaningful tasks and activities. Historically, AAPD has required that administrative duties not take up more than 25% of the interns’ time.

In 2021, AAPD began a more formal process with our placement partners. All placement site supervisors must sign an agreement that outlines each intern’s responsibilities and confirms the interns’ scope of work. This gives AAPD an opportunity to review the activities and enforce our requirement of limited allocation to administrative duties. This information is also included in the interns’ offer letters before they agree, so interns have a chance to ask questions about their responsibilities and expectations. This creates greater transparency and sets expectations for the summer. This process also mirrors what an intern may experience when applying for jobs and finalizing an offer. AAPD references this information during the check-ins throughout the summer between supervisors and interns.

In 2022, AAPD started collecting more information from placement sites to share with interns ahead of time before starting the formal process. Since AAPD does not do a background check on our interns or require U.S. citizenship, many of our placement sites have an independent process. Some placement sites may require U.S. citizenship, current enrollment in a university or college, and background checks, including fingerprinting, paperwork, and/or reference checks. The information from the placement site allows interns to determine whether they want to proceed with a specific placement site’s selection process. This information is also available to applicants as part of our recruitment efforts.

In 2023, AAPD continued to work with placement site supervisors to streamline the matching process and ensure the interns are set up for success. We began collecting more information on what resources (e.g., technology equipment) or existing skills are required to ensure a meaningful experience for the interns.

AAPD also made intentional efforts to diversify our placement partners for two reasons: to ensure the placement site was tailored to the intern’s career goals and to increase AAPD’s impact on different organizations. From 2021 to 2023, AAPD averaged nine new placement site partnerships each year.

Mentors

Beginning in 2020 , AAPD offered the option of virtual mentors in addition to in-person mentors. The virtual format allowed us to find mentors more aligned with the interns’ interests and advocacy development, if desired. AAPD also developed mentorship guidance with prompted questions to better support facilitation between the mentor and mentee.

AAPD also asked more questions about interns’ preferences for their mentors. We asked if they prefer their mentor to have a specific background or expertise and shared identity (disability, race, gender, etc). As a result of recruiting a more diverse intern cohort, we end up matching more interns with mentors with a disability, particularly mentors with a disability who are also people of color.

In 2021, AAPD shifted our traditional “How to Network in DC” orientation workshop to focus on how to build and sustain meaningful relationships with their mentors, supervisors, peers, and community members.

Disability Advocacy Certificate Program

AAPD offers the Disability Advocacy Certificate Program to complement the Summer Internship Program experience. Created in 2018, it was initially designed for interns to learn more about the electoral and legislative process in Washington, DC. This included learning about different legislation that impacts the disability community. In 2018, this was established in partnership with a DC-based university (American University and George Washington University both served as partners). As a result of the university partnership, interns could opt to pay to take the course for credits that can be transferred to their home university.

In 2022, due to the low interest in interns taking the course for credit and feedback on the Certificate Program, AAPD decided not to continue a partnership with the university. The program was redesigned to focus on preparing interns to be knowledgeable and effective advocates in the disability community through storytelling. This also includes understanding their individual, local, state, and national audience.

By the end of the course, interns learn how to:

Communicate their story to different audiences across multiple mediums (e.g. social media, blog posts, policy memos, Hill visits, presentations, etc.)
Identify a variety of advocacy strategies and tactics to address issues the disability community faces.
Describe approaches to developing relationships and coalitions.
Apply an intersectional lens to their advocacy.
Understand their role and responsibility in the collective disability movement.

They receive a certificate from AAPD upon completion of the program.

In 2020, AAPD started offering honorariums to Certificate Program speakers. We also prioritized guest speakers who identify as a person with a disability. This is an opportunity to not only pay disability experts for their work and knowledge, but also uplift community members and provide professional development opportunities for them. As of 2023, we offered the following honorariums:

$300 for a single speaker on a topic between 1 – 2 hours, including breaks
$150 each for co-speakers on a topic between 1 – 2 hours, including breaks
$75 for each panelist on a topic up to 1.5 hours, including breaks

In 2023, AAPD started collecting the other identities of speakers in addition to disability identity. Guest speakers can opt in to share this information, and only demographics are shared publicly. This allows AAPD to better understand how we are engaging disabled people with intersecting identities.

COVID-19 Protocols

The pandemic continues to impact the lives of people with disabilities. Despite the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ending in May 2023, AAPD continued to implement COVID-19 protocols for all in-person components of our internship programs.

In 2022 and 2023, AAPD had COVID-19 protocols and contingency plans to ensure in-person interns could safely participate. For both years, any in-person intern could change their preference to work remotely (up until a reasonable “drop date” of March, to allow time for coordination). Reasonable accommodations were provided upon request.

AAPD asked questions about individuals’ COVID-19 safety precautions as part of the roommate match process for DC-based interns.

The 2022 and 2023 protocols applied to all of the in-person internship program participants, including remote interns who participated in-person for Orientation week, personal care attendants, and AAPD staff.

Requirements included:

Most recent COVID-19 booster vaccine as of the time of the internship program
Weekly COVID-19 rapid antigen test, provided by AAPD
Wearing masks provided by AAPD during weekly Friday programming
In-person interns have their own private bathrooms in their dormitories
HyperHEPA air purifier in the room during Orientation week and Friday classes

Interns could request a private suite instead of a shared suite. A shared suite is defined as having multiple private bedrooms with private bathrooms, but shared living spaces, such as a kitchen and living room.

For remote interns who opted to visit Washington, DC, they had their own hotel room.

If an intern tested positive for COVID-19, they were required to immediately notify both AAPD and GW University Housing in 2021 and just AAPD in 2022. From there, interns were expected to isolate themselves in their room for at least five days or until a negative test, whichever was longer. In both 2022 and 2023, AAPD provided additional rapid tests as needed, thermometers, and pulse oximeters. GW University Housing provided support to interns on a case-by-case basis, including supporting delivery services related to food and/or essential items.

If an intern tested positive and their suitemate did not, the suitemate took daily rapid tests for up to 1 week. AAPD provided daily test kits.

AAPD also reserved the right to shift the Friday Certificate Program class to a fully virtual format if the following occurred:

Five (5) interns and/or one AAPD Summer Internship Program staff member tests positive
When fewer than five (5) in-person interns attend due to concerns about COVID-19 or due to accommodation needs

Guest speakers and access vendors (e.g., ASL interpreters) participating in-person during community events or the Disability Advocacy Certificate Program were required to have a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test and wear a mask. AAPD provided masks and tests.

What Comes Next: Challenges, Opportunities, and Our Goals for Future Improvement

Systemic Challenges

Even with numerous changes to our program, there remain significant national systemic changes needed to ensure students and recent graduates with disabilities have access to meaningful career and leadership opportunities. This impacts people with disabilities’ future employment opportunities. Some existing barriers include, but are not limited to:

Interns have concerns about risking their benefits due to asset limits. AAPD has to consider how much financial support to give interns without impacting their benefits long-term.
While many remote opportunities increased during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many workplaces are reversing their policies.
Interns may lose their access to home and community-based services if they are away from their homes for too long.
Interns are only eligible for home and community-based services in their home state, not when they travel or temporarily relocate.
Interns are concerned about the accessibility of travel, such as how airlines may damage their mobility aids, or whether they will receive the accommodations they need for travel.
Placement sites may not have the budget for accommodations due to limited funds. If the placement site is a small organization under 15 employees, they may be less willing to provide accommodations because the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require workplaces of this size to provide reasonable accommodations.
If interns are not local to the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia area, then they may not have access to their healthcare providers for the summer.
Due to the lack of access to vaccines and public health guidance, interns may not feel comfortable risking their health to accept a hybrid position.
Lack of enforcement of the ADA may affect whether placement sites and transportation are accessible for interns.

It is important to note that the systemic barriers listed above are existing challenges at the point when interns are connected with AAPD. There are several challenges that happen long before they are accepted in the program, such as accommodations in primary and secondary education or access to inclusive volunteer or after-school activities that impact their opportunities to enter post-secondary education. There are also numerous challenges to accessing employment after they complete the program.

To address some of the systemic barriers and propose long-term solutions, AAPD works with our community to bring awareness and solutions. AAPD collaborates with our Policy Team to educate policymakers on the impact of their policies. We continue to engage and educate our federal partners on the impact of our program. We also share contextual information with our placement sites and mentors to help them understand the challenges that people with disabilities have entering the workforce. AAPD also aims to partner with other internship programs or workforce coalitions, even if they do not have a focus on disability, to share inclusive practices.

Future Improvements

For AAPD, advancing access and equity is a continuous commitment and practice. The AAPD Internship Program team continues to improve the program annually, incorporating feedback from Third Sight, conducting internship program evaluations, and responding to policies impacting people with disabilities.

Looking ahead, AAPD has begun planning some next steps to ensure the internship program continues to be reflective of the diverse disability community, as well as continuing to measure the program’s impact. Below are some of our priorities.

Internship Goals and Objectives

Assess our program activities to ensure they align with the program goals and objectives.
Develop pre- and post-evaluation surveys for interns and alumni to better understand the impact of the AAPD Internship Program.
AAPD has received feedback that interns often feel like they have competing priorities regarding the internship component and the Disability Advocacy Certificate Program. Despite AAPD staff reducing the number of assignments and classes, interns continue to report challenges balancing their workload. AAPD will revisit the Certificate Program model to ensure interns maximize their career opportunities, leadership development, and community building.

Processes and Support for Interns

Research best practices for the application and interview processes, such as submitting application information in alternative formats, sharing interview questions ahead of time, etc.
Identify additional supports for the internship program, such as access to mental health and healthcare, job coaching accommodations, and more.
Explore options for providing a housing stipend without impacting interns’ income.
Strengthen the mentorship component based on alumni’s feedback.
Create more materials in plain language.
Continue to build intentional relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions, college programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and community and technical colleges for recruitment efforts.

Alumni Network

Continue building out the Alumni Network to increase and sustain engagement.
Provide a transition period when interns complete the program and get involved in the Alumni Network.

Processes and Support for Supervisors and Mentors

Gather more resources to provide support for supervisors who may not have experience with an intern or employee with disabilities.
Build in capacity to support supervisors and mentors during the internship program.

Throughout the development and implementation of new initiatives or practices, AAPD plans to engage intern alumni and community members to ensure our approach is accessible and equitable.

Conclusion

Since the inception of the AAPD Summer Internship Program in 2002, the program has played a vital part in preparing disabled people to be in decision-making roles that impact our future workplaces and communities. AAPD cultivates an environment to strengthen disability identities for students and recent graduates during their internship experience. Many alumni have reported that the internship program positively impacted their self-confidence in the work environment. As the evaluation found, many alumni who go through our program are more likely to graduate from college, obtain full-time employment, and earn higher wages than the national average of people with and without disabilities.

The Summer Internship Program not only increases the power of people with disabilities through career and leadership opportunities, but it is also a program that prioritizes and values community connection by instilling and embracing disability identity. AAPD builds in many opportunities for interns to connect with the broader disability community by exposing them to leaders with disabilities across all sectors and participating in a cohort of all people with disabilities to support building their social capital. As their disability identity strengthens throughout the internship program, interns become more engaged in the disability community. When we have more people who are aware and proud of their disability identity, we believe they will positively shape and impact our collective future.

The AAPD Summer Internship Program has gone through significant changes since new leadership joined the team in 2019. AAPD has increased the number of and strengthened the quality of our resources to support disabled people looking for career opportunities, leadership development, and connection to the broader community. While the AAPD Summer Internship program has changed significantly since its inception, the model of the program remains a flexible yet strong foundation for continued program improvement.

This allows AAPD to:

Implement changes to address the inequities and inaccessibility that impact how people with disabilities access meaningful employment.
Broaden our understanding of what meaningful employment, leadership, and community looks like for people with disabilities.
Provide a variety of experiences for interns to learn more about themselves as individuals, and their experience as a person with a disability in a broader community of disabled people and in their workplaces.
Adapt and respond to society’s changing conditions (e.g. COVID-19 pandemic).

Due to our program’s flexibility, AAPD has implemented incremental and systemic changes to improve our program between 2019 and 2023. The incorporated changes have been guided by feedback and input from program participants and alumni, placement site supervisors, mentors, supporters of the program, and the broader disability community. AAPD will continue to engage with them to guide future program improvement and expansion efforts.

AAPD is committed to building a future where all people with disabilities can live and thrive in our communities by providing opportunities and resources for them to influence our future. The Summer Internship Program is more than just a program that provides career and leadership opportunities. The program recognizes the power of disability pride and having access to inclusive communities. This has a ripple effect, since mentors and supervisors who participate in the program also feel the impact of people with disabilities in the workplace.

Yet, significant challenges and barriers remain for people with disabilities to access meaningful employment opportunities, which impacts many other aspects in their life, such as education, housing, healthcare, transportation, and more. AAPD shares our strategies, findings, and impacts in the hopes of increasing disability awareness and demonstrating best practices of how to plan inclusive programming. In order to truly have a more inclusive society, it takes all of us to advocate for policies and implement equitable practices to ensure all disabled people have equal access and opportunities.

Works Cited

Briel, L., & Getzel, E. (2001). Internships in Higher Education: Promoting Success for Students with Disabilities. Disability Studies Quarterly, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.18061/dsq.v21i1.254

EEOC’s Final FY 2023 Enforcement Statistics Show 10% Increase in Charges Filed. (2024, May 20). Center for Workplace Compliance. https://cwc.org/CWC/CWC/Updates/2024/EEOCs-Final-FY-2023-Enforcement-Statistics-Show-10-Increase-in-Charges-Filed.aspx

Emerson, E., Fortune, N., Llewellyn, G., & Stancliffe, R. (2021). Loneliness, Social Support, Social Isolation and Wellbeing Among Working Age Adults With and Without Disability: Cross-Sectional Study. Disability and Health Journal, 14(1), 100965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2020.100965

Losen, D. J., Martinez, P., & Shin, G. H. R. (2021). Disabling Inequity: The Urgent Need for Race-Conscious Resource Remedies. The Center for Civil Rights Remedies at the Civil Rights Project, UCLA. https://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/reports/disabling-inequity-the-urgent-need-for-race-conscious-resource-remedies/

Musu-Gillette, L., de Brey, C., McFarland, J., Hussar, W., Sonnenberg, W., & Wilkinson-Flicker, S. (2017). Status and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups 2017. National Center for Education Statistics.

National Council on Disability. (2023). 2023 Progress Report: Toward Economic Security: The Impact of Income and Asset Limits on People with Disabilities. https://www.ncd.gov/report/2023-progress-report-toward-economic-security-the-impact-of-income-and-asset-limits-on-people-with-disabilities/

Nutakor, J. A., Zhou, L., Larnyo, E., Addai-Danso, S., & Tripura, D. (2023). Socioeconomic Status and Quality of Life: An Assessment of the Mediating Effect of Social Capital. Healthcare, 11(5), 749. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11050749

Shaw, L. R., Chan, F., & McMahon, B. T. (2012). Intersectionality and Disability Harassment: The Interactive Effects of Disability, Race, Age, and Gender. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 55(2), 82–91. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355211431167

Third Sight LLC authors’ calculation, U.S. Census, American Community Survey (2020).

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Persons With a Disability: Labor Force Characteristics — 2022. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/disabl_02232023.pdf

Introducing the 2025 Fall Internship Program Cohort

Kyle Khachadurian — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 20:21:49 +0000

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is pleased to announce its 2025 Fall Internship Program Cohort!

The Fall Internship Program, now in its third year, builds on the success of AAPD’s Internship Program model to develop stronger disability identities within students and recent graduates with disabilities, so they can better shape the future of our workplaces and communities. Due to the fully virtual and part-time opportunity, our Fall Internship Program provides more flexible opportunities for disabled students and recent graduates to access meaningful employment, gain leadership skills, and connect to the broader disability community.

During the program, AAPD provides interns with a competitive wage, technology support, mentorship, and many networking and educational opportunities. Interns also participate in AAPD’s Disability Advocacy Certificate Program and learn about effective advocacy methods and key issues within the disability community. The Fall interns met in-person at the end of July during the week of the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, prior to the start of the internship, to build connections and get to know each other (and some of the summer interns!).

ID: A group of AAPD interns wearing masks are gathered around the yellow AAPD sign at the AAPD office.The interns in the group are diverse in their races, genders, and disabilities.

During their visit to DC in July, the AAPD AAPD interns attended many disability community events and activities, such as:

Welcome Dinner with fellow fall interns and the AAPD Internship Staff
Disability Object Talk with curator Katherine Ott at the National Museum of American History
AAPD’s American with Disabilities Act Anniversary Celebration with NCIL
Disability Trivia
Dessert Social to network with AAPD staff
Professional headshots by Jeevan Portraits

The 2025 Fall Internship Class is:

Ahna Guillaume (he/they) – National Black Justice Collective
ileim moss – Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies
Jason Green (he/him) – Caring Across Generations
Joshua Blackwell (he/him) – Unlock Access
Kemper Gingerich (he/him) – Center for Democracy and Technology
Maddox O’Rourke (he/him) – World Institute on Disability
Makayla Allen (she/her) – Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network
Marrow Kilgore (they/them) – Project LETS
Nicole (they/she) – New Disabled South
Rocío Díaz (she/her) – National Disability Rights Network

You can read the Fall 2025 Intern’s full bios and learn more about them here.

The 2025 AAPD Fall Internship Program would not be possible without the generous support of Arconic Foundation.

The post Introducing the 2025 Fall Internship Program Cohort appeared first on AAPD.

Announcing the Fall 2025 Internship Cohort

Kyle Khachadurian — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:18:39 +0000

2025 Fall Interns

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is pleased to announce its Fall Internship Program Cohort of 2025!

The Fall Internship Program, now in its third year, builds on the success of AAPD’s Internship Program model to develop stronger disability identities within students and graduates with disabilities, so they can better shape the future of our workplaces and communities. Due to the full virtual and part-time opportunity, our Fall Internship Program provides more flexible opportunities for disabled students and recent graduates to access meaningful employment, gain leadership skills, and connect to the broader disability community.

The 2025 AAPD Fall Internship Program would not be possible without the generous support of Arconic Foundation.

Photos by Jeevan Portraits.

Meet the 2025 Fall Interns

Ahna Guillaume (he/they) - National Black Justice Collective

Ahna Guillaume is a Criminology and Psychology student at George Mason University, and is a traveling member of George Mason’s nationally ranked Forensics Team. With a double major, Ahna plans to work further in advocacy and eventually get his PHD in Psychology to service children going through the criminal justice system. Ahna’s first-hand experience and observation of how marginalized children are often harmed and traumatized by the criminal justice system drives him with a passion to help children break cycles that many communities suffer from. Outside of studies and extracurriculars, Ahna is dedicated to fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and especially cares for his home state, Florida. In Ahna’s free time, he enjoys crocheting, watching documentaries, and planning the next project he will craft.

ileim moss - Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies

ileim moss is a philosophy student and disability advocate living in Oakland, California, on the unceded land of the Confederated Villages of Lisjan. This fall, ileim is attending UC Berkeley with a major in Philosophy and a minor in Disability Studies after graduating from Sacramento City College in the spring. ileim’s academic interests lie in wrestling with big questions in disability studies, biopolitics, and epistemology: how do we come to know and define disability in difference? How does political power shape who is seen as disabled, and how they are treated?

ileim is a proud autistic self-advocate invested in empowering disabled people to own and honor our agency as community members who both give and receive care. Outside the classroom, ileim volunteers with Hand in Hand: the Domestic Employers Network, Mask Bloc East Bay, and the North Bay Regional Center Self-Determination Advisory Committee. In 2022, ileim co-founded the Disability Justice Committee at Kehilla Community Synagogue to further disability access and inclusion within the community, and ileim’s writing has been published in Trans Halakha Project’s Tefillat Trans: Blessings and Rituals for Trans Lives.

Jason Green (he/him) - Caring Across Generations

Jason Green is a third-year journalism student at California State University, Long Beach who focuses on disability and education. As a previous special education student, Jason understands the importance of advocating and self-advocating in the disability community. He has spread awareness on disability through his own podcast called Shougai with a co-host who is a veteran, and has published personal essays on multiple student publications and the non-profit organization, 3DA. He aspires to be an education reporter to unravel its intricacies and injustices.

Naturally, he enjoys meeting new people and being with friends, as you can always spot him talking.

Joshua Blackwell (he/him) - Unlock Access

Joshua is a rising junior at the University of Memphis majoring in Political Science with a minor in Public Administration. He was diagnosed with autism when he was thirteen years old. He was always interested in helping people, but when he felt like his voice was never heard and when he kept feeling underestimated, he decided he needed to get invested in policy to make sure others don’t feel that same way. At the University of Memphis, he is involved in Student Government, Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature, Honors Student Organization, and is a Diversity Ambassador. As Honors Student Organization Director of Membership, he created the idea to let honors students make ideas for future events. He also has worked to bridge the gap between undergraduate and post undergraduate opportunities. In the future, he wants to get a dual JD/MPP to help people around him feel they can be represented and heard.

Kemper Gingerich (he/him) - Center for Democracy and Technology

Kemper Gingerich is a junior at Boston University studying political science, with plans to pursue a career in law. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he now lives in San Francisco, California. As a biracial individual, Kemper is passionate about issues of race, justice, and policy, which drive both his academic and professional pursuits. He has worked extensively on voting rights legislation, advocating for fair and accessible elections, and has led political organizing efforts aimed at empowering marginalized communities. In addition to his policy work, Kemper teaches and mentors others, using education as a tool for advocacy and social change. His experience navigating diverse cultural and geographical spaces informs his dedication to creating meaningful change through law, policy, and community engagement.

Maddox O’Rourke (he/him) - World Institute on Disability

Maddox O’Rourke attended Bard College as a Davis Scholar after graduating from the United World Colleges campus in Japan. His activism at UWC focused on the experiences and rights of LGBTQ students both on and off campus. He graduated from Bard in 2025 with a joint degree in Politics and Human Rights. His senior thesis explored how queer activists build solidarity and negotiate differences in social movements in South Africa and Turkey. He has worked as an intern advocating for access to healthcare in prisons. He has also interned for UnidosUS analyzing mental health policy in the Latinx community. While in college, he led an ENL program offering free English classes for the community. He has been a freelance English teacher for 5 years and teaching is one of his greatest passions. When he is not working or studying, Maddox enjoys playing the marimba and going for hikes in upstate New York. He is excited to expand his understanding of human rights and politics to include disability advocacy and accessibility, and he welcomes the opportunity to work with and learn from other disabled people.

Makayla Allen (she/her) - Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network

Makayla Allen is a recent first-generation honors graduate from California State University, Northridge, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Television with a concentration in Entertainment Media Management. As a passionate, creative advocate, Makayla takes inspiration from her experiences as an Autistic woman into influential work focused on inclusion, accessibility, and mental health awareness – especially within underrepresented communities in Pasadena, Altadena, and Los Angeles. Makayla held leadership and creative roles throughout her undergraduate career in her program, and her journey has been influenced by the challenges of being misunderstood and doubted. Using these experiences, she has transformed into a passion for advocacy. Makayla’s commitment to disability and mental health representation is reflected in her work with the Autism in Entertainment Organization, where she supported efforts to create job opportunities in entertainment for neurodivergent individuals.

Makayla is a dedicated Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health volunteer, offering support and creating compassionate spaces. She is also actively involved in Eaton Fire relief efforts, continuing to assist her beloved Altadena community. Her commitment to service reflects her core belief in community-driven change and the importance of uplifting marginalized voices. As a proud recipient of the 2024 NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship program, Makayla was recognized for her passion for increasing disability representation in media and communications. She plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Marketing and Public Relations to create inclusive and impactful media campaigns that amplify stories from BIPOC and disabled communities. Makayla is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the AAPD Internship Program, viewing it as a meaningful step toward expanding her advocacy and continuing her personal and professional growth. She looks forward to working alongside like-minded leaders and mentors, using her voice to challenge barriers and promote more authentic, inclusive representation in the disability community.

Marrow Kilgore (they/them) - Project LETS

Marrow Kilgore is a recent graduate from Wesleyan College, where they earned their B.A. in English and Religion, Philosophy and Social Change. A first-generation college student, Marrow has spent the last several years designing youth-centered programs, organizing for public education justice, and working on Medicaid redetermination efforts across Georgia. Their work focuses on building community-rooted, justice-forward learning experiences that are accessible, imaginative, and sustainable.

Their approach to social change has been shaped by national fellowships that center equity, accessibility, and narrative strategy. As an Unum Fellow with E Pluribus Unum, Marrow facilitated creative writing workshops for middle schoolers rooted in Afrofuturism and speculative fiction. Through the Fall 2024 Dinah F.B. Cohen Fellowship with Partners for Youth with Disabilities, they deepened their practice in disability justice and accessible design. As a Diversity Scholar with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, they examined how public history and cultural memory can serve movements for justice. As a 2025–2026 Youth250 Bureau member with Made By Us, Marrow is helping shape national civic engagement projects leading up to the U.S. Semiquincentennial, centering youth voice and participatory design.

Now based in Roanoke, Virginia, with their incessantly vocal cat in tow, Marrow is always on the lookout for new ways to (re)imagine and build radically better futures. In their free time, they love watching horror films, thrifting vintage glassware, and listening to concerningly long podcast episodes.

Nicole (they/she) - New Disabled South

Nicole (they/she) is a climate justice advocate whose work is deeply informed by their experience of living in an environmental Sacrifice Zone. They are interested in developing community-driven policies that apply a disability justice framework to challenge environmental racism and spatial inequities in the built environment.

This Summer, they engaged in applied research, data analysis, and grassroots outreach to advance land conservation and to develop a statewide policy agenda for water justice. They are also experienced in nonprofit development, and are keen on equipping organizations with capacity building skills that ensure sustained advocacy and long-term community impact.

Rocío Díaz (she/her) - National Disability Rights Network

Rocío Díaz is a recent graduate of Universidad Central de Bayamón in Puerto Rico, where she majored in English. From a young age, she developed a deep appreciation for literature and the liberal arts, often finding joy in the diverse worlds that books offer. Throughout her college experience, Rocío refined her language skills as an English tutor, assisting her peers in enhancing their grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, and pronunciation. She also took on the role of a peer mentor, guiding freshmen in the Liberal Arts department as they navigated their transition to college life.

In her final undergraduate semester, Rocío embraced the challenge of developing a senior thesis on a topic of her choice, ultimately focusing on an important issue within the disability community: the underrepresentation of individuals with disabilities in literature and media. After completing this project and fulfilling her dream of graduating with honors, she sought to further engage with disability advocacy, an area that resonated deeply with her values. Rocío is committed to fostering a society where individuals with disabilities are authentically represented in mainstream media and celebrated for their unique contributions. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, playing video games, and streaming her favorite shows.

The post Announcing the Fall 2025 Internship Cohort appeared first on AAPD.

Autism Leaders United in Call for Action Following Roundtable in Washington D.C.

AAPD Press Team — Thu, 15 May 2025 16:31:54 +0000

For Immediate Release: May 15, 2025

Contact: Jess Davidson at jdavidson@aapd.com; 202-465-5528

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, as Congress examined the Administration’s proposed restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in hearings on May 14th, a powerful coalition of Autism organizations convened a first-of-its-kind roundtable to address the state of Autism services, civil rights, scientific integrity, and representation of disability in federal policy. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, was invited to participate, however did not respond to the request to attend; Mary Lazare, Principal Deputy Administrator at the Administration for Community Living, was in attendance.

Hosted by the Autism Society of America (ASA), the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), the Autistic People of Color Fund (APOC Fund), the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN), the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), The Arc, and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), the roundtable brought together Autistic self-advocates, parents, caregivers, researchers, and service providers to discuss the urgent needs faced by our community and to chart a united path forward.

These organizations, along with the roundtable participants, coalesced around the urgent need for our nation’s policies, systems, services and research to reflect the reality that autistic lives are lives worth living. Whether someone has complex needs, is non-speaking, has co-occurring disabilities, or is navigating daily life with non-apparent disabilities — every person deserves dignity, support, and opportunity.

“Something that hurts me a lot isn’t my Autism, it’s other people’s assumptions,” shared Perri Spencer, an Autistic self-advocate and a user of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). “I’m more like their child than they realize. I hit my head, I struggle with verbal and non-verbal communication, I need a lot of sensory input, because my presentation is very dynamic and my abilities vary from day to day.”

The roundtable centered on six interwoven themes:

The danger of proposed, and enacted cuts, to services and programs, like Medicaid
The lack of comprehensive services for Autistic individuals with complex needs
The urgent need for accessible, inclusive education
A call for research that reflects community priorities—especially services and support
Recognition of communication access as a fundamental human right
Rejection of divisive narratives within the Autism community in favor of unity and inclusion

Participants emphasized that meaningful policy must reflect the full spectrum of Autistic experience—including those with high support needs, intellectual disabilities, co-occurring mental health and medical conditions, non-speaking individuals, and those multiply marginalized by race, gender, and poverty. The convening reaffirmed a unifying message: the path forward must be built on solidarity, dignity, and action rooted in lived experience.

“In terms of functioning labels – the functioning label can actually depend on what type of supports I have available, both informal and formal,” said Gyasi Burks-Abbott, an Autism self-advocate, educator, and author. “My functioning has changed over the years. I can do things I can do now that I couldn’t do in the past. But also, there are things that I can do now because I have certain help. I have assistance.”

The convening took place amid the Administration’s controversial plan to cut up to 20,000 HHS staff, reduce funding by 25%, and reorganize agencies under a new “Administration for a Healthy America.” Advocates warned that these so-called ‘cost-saving measures’ include cuts to key disability-specific programs and civil rights enforcement. These cuts are further compounded by Congressional efforts to overhaul Medicaid and end marketplace subsidies, which could strip coverage from at least 13.7 million Americans.

“If Medicaid cuts were to happen, my son’s life would be in danger,” said Dr. Robert Naseef, a psychologist and father to an Autistic son. “The tragedy in my life would be if my son didn’t have around-the-clock care – that he couldn’t be alive today.”

Additionally, there are concerns about how HHS intends to sustain meaningful, ongoing Autism research through the NIH and CDC, given the significant budget cuts to these agencies. While the majority of funding continues to be directed towards studying the causes of Autism, only a small fraction—estimated at around 8%—goes towards research into services and supports that impact and improve daily life. This misalignment is particularly troubling given that most Autistic people spend the majority of their lives in adulthood, yet funding remains disproportionately focused on early childhood.

“There’s a misalignment between the types of shifts in research funding that are being proposed by HHS versus what autistic people have said that they want, which in my understanding is heavily focused on services research,” shared Anne Roux, Researcher at Drexel University

At the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing, Secretary Kennedy described the proposed Autism registry as opt-in with opt-out protections, framed as a tool to better understand Autism and evaluate therapies. Autism community members stressed the need for greater transparency, particularly regarding data use, consent processes, ethical oversight, and concerns that a registry could support harmful or unfounded research priorities. Any attempt to repurpose personal data in service of controversial theories or experimental interventions, without full community oversight, risks further erosion of trust.

In the aftermath of Secretary Kennedy’s budget hearings and as Congress considers FY 2026 appropriations, roundtable organizers call on Congress to listen to those directly affected by systemic neglect and harmful cuts, alongside qualified and credentialed experts.

“We are not fighting about ideology. We are fighting for our lives, our families, and our future,” said a parent and self-advocate. “We won’t accept division in our community or in our policies. We must protect everyone, especially those with the most significant needs.”

The participating organizations reaffirm their shared commitment to solidarity, inclusion, and the transformation of public policy to reflect the full spectrum of Autistic experience. This roundtable reaffirmed that partnership with government is possible—but it must be paired with accountability. As we look ahead to what happens in Congress, in the Administration, and in actual implementation, we are committed to continuing this dialogue. It is critical that Autistic people and the supporting community are not just invited to the table—but that the table is reshaped to reflect their priorities, leadership, and rights.

Joint Statement Signatories

Autism Society of America
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Autistic People of Color Fund
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network
American Association of People with Disabilities
The Arc
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities

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AAPD Announces its Second Fall Internship Class – Fall 2024

Jess Davidson — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 18:54:54 +0000

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is pleased to announce its second annual Fall Internship Class.

This year’s program continues to build on the success of AAPD’s Internship Program model to develop stronger disability identities within students and graduates with disabilities, so they can be better equipped to shape the future of our workplaces and community. Due to the fully virtual and part-time opportunity, our Fall Internship Program provides more flexible opportunities for disabled students and recent graduates to access meaningful employment, gain leadership skills, and connect to the broader disability community.

During the program, AAPD provides interns with a competitive wage, technology support, mentorship, and many networking and educational opportunities. Interns also participate in AAPD’s Disability Advocacy Certificate Program and learn about effective advocacy methods and key issues within the disability community. The Fall interns had an opportunity to meet in-person at the end of July prior to the start of the internship to build connections and get to know each other. AAPD planned activities such as an inclusive art activity, disability object talk at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and a welcome dinner.

For this Fall, AAPD placed ten interns in a variety of different placement sites based on the intern’s career goals and interests.

The AAPD 2024 Fall Internship Class is:

Alexandria Kiel (she/her), Keri Gray Group
Alondra Rodriguez Solis (she/her), The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies
Bella Fassett (she/her), U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Fabiola Daphne Amaya (she/her), U.S. Department of Labor
Jaydon Antoine (he/him), U.S. Department of Energy
Kyanda Bailey (she/her), Center for Racial and Disability Justice
Liam Holland (he/him), TechOWL, Institute on Disabilities
Samhit Utlapalli (they/them), New Disabled South
Shruti Bharatia (she/her), New America
Z’Leah Liburd (she/her), Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs

You can read the Fall 2024 Interns full bios and learn more about them here: https://www.aapd.com/2024-fall-interns/

The 2024 AAPD Fall Internship Program would not be possible without the generous support of our partners. Thank you to Arconic Foundation for supporting our Fall Internship Program.

The Fall 2024 Intern Class gathers in Washington, DC

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2024 Fall Interns

AAPD Press Team — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 19:03:33 +0000

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is pleased to announce the first-ever Fall Internship Class.

The AAPD Internship Program strives to develop stronger disability identities within students and recent graduates with disabilities, so they can be better equipped to shape the future of our workplaces and communities. Our inaugural Fall Internship Program builds on the success of our Summer Internship Program to provide more opportunities for disabled students and recent graduates to access meaningful employment opportunities, gain leadership skills, and connect to the broader disability community.

The 2024 AAPD Fall Internship Program would not be possible without the generous support of our partners. Thank you to Arconic Foundation for supporting our Fall Internship Program.

Meet the 2024 Class

Alexandria Kiel – Keri Gray Group

Alexandria Kiel (she/her) is a recent graduate from Western Governor’s University, but her journey is far more than academic. As a childhood abuse survivor and former foster care youth, Alexandria has navigated significant challenges while committing to advocacy work across state legislative reform addressing poverty, housing, disability rights, and foster care. During her tenure as the youngest governor-appointed state commissioner in Michigan, Alexandria spearheaded efforts to reduce the rate of children born into poverty.

Despite facing multiple long-term hospitalizations, she played a pivotal role in achieving over 10 statewide policy changes and the implementation of three federal laws, including the Foster Care Independence Act and the Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. Her advocacy efforts directly contributed to improved high school and college graduation rates for former foster care youth with disabilities. As a survivor of sex trafficking, Alexandria continues to face challenges, including an acquired brain injury, anterograde amnesia, and mild cognitive impairment. However, she remains undeterred in her pursuit of education and advocacy. Alexandria regularly conducts coping skills workshops and speaks engagements to support former foster care youth with disabilities.

Driven by empathy and a deep understanding of the effects of poverty and lack of family support on individuals with disabilities, Alexandria aspires to change the landscape of employment rights and opportunities. She is passionate about eradicating the stigma surrounding mental illness and trauma by openly sharing her story with others. As a Coehlo Fellow (2024-2025), Alexandria aims to attend Cornell University Law School in the Fall of 2025 to further her education and expand her impact in the field of disability rights law. Outside of her advocacy work, Alexandria finds solace in listening to music, writing poetry and screenplays, and capturing the beauty of nature through amateur photography.

Alondra Rodriguez Solis – The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies

Alondra (she/her) is a Palm Springs, California native who has dedicated herself to developing and strengthening community based initiatives. She studies Social Welfare and Global Environmental Politics at the University of California, Berkeley. Navigating her undergraduate experience as a student with a disability, she has made it her mission to provide support to other disabled students by working to break down barriers that make it difficult for students to obtain the proper accommodations.

Through her work in student advocacy and government she has shown commitment to creating an environment where students with disabilities can thrive. Her knowledge in social welfare has inspired her work in developing stronger social safety nets for people with disabilities. As she takes on the next step in her advocacy work, she aims to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy and a Juris Doctor degree to support legislative and legal efforts in advancing disability justice. She is excited to engage in meaningful work through AADP this Fall.

Bella Fassett – U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Bella (she/her) is an undergraduate student at Georgetown University studying Culture and Politics in the Walsh School of Foreign Service and is originally from Bend, Oregon. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of law, feminist disability studies, and postcolonial studies. As a student activist, Bella contributed to advocacy that led to the establishment of Georgetown’s Disability Cultural Center. As a founding member of Hoyas Advocating for Slavery Accountability (HASA) Bella has led initiatives that demanded institutional recognition and redress for Georgetown’s historical ties to and participation in slavery. Among her past experiences are teaching sex education to middle school students and coordinating service-learning projects in Costa Rica and Washington, DC. In her free time, Bella enjoys doing photography and photo editing, going to concerts in DC, and collecting stickers, pins, and other tchotchkes from her travels.

Fabiola Daphne Amaya – U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy

Fabiola Amaya is a rising senior at the University of Texas at Austin where she is majoring in Social Work with a minor in Critical Disability Studies. Her interest in disability advocacy began in 2019 when she began a social media advocacy page as a content creator. Through her experience as a disabled person and research, she learned about the systemic inequities affecting disabled communities.

Inspired by advocacy efforts in her community she founded an initiative at the University of Texas at Austin called On the Moov. On the Moov is a program rooted in disability justice which hopes to fill in the accessibility gaps left by the university while advocating for disabled individuals. When she is not advocating for her community, she enjoys reading fantasy books, writing poetry, and painting.

Jaydon Antoine – U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Minority Programs, The Office of Energy Justice and Equity

Jaydon Antoine has entered his first year of college at Northampton Community College after studying abroad in India with a strong interest in political science. His chosen major is Global Studies, concentrating on political science, along with aspirations to become a space lawyer. Jaydon has been wowed by four significant things in life: outer space, international travel, the unique cultures of each country, and the law that binds us to sovereign land.

These interests have all contributed to his career goals as well as shaping much of his creative expression in the medium of writing. Jaydon partakes in various activities and leadership roles centered around advocacy for at-risk groups, with further interest in climate change. Jaydon deeply values diversity and recognizes the extraordinary value of people and their culture, complimented by the beauty of the environment, the sky, the planets, and the stars that we all share.

Kyanda Bailey – Center for Racial and Disability Justice

Kyanda Bailey (she/her) is a dedicated advocate committed to championing the rights of marginalized communities, with a particular focus on healthcare equity, disability rights, racial justice, and legal advocacy. She focuses on bridging the gap between lived experiences of disabled people and theory. Kyanda has an unwavering passion for addressing systemic inequalities. With a background in Sociology and Psychology, Kyanda believes it’s important to understand social issues and their impact on individuals and communities.

During her academic journey at the University at Albany, she developed a profound interest in research which led to her becoming a research assistant. As a research assistant, she worked on various projects that explored social phenomena, such as the aftermath of immigration enforcement episodes. Her advocacy skills strengthened during her academic career. Kyanda’s advocacy extends beyond academic realms, as she actively engages in initiatives aimed at promoting inclusivity, equity, and access to essential resources for marginalized populations. In her role as a Youth Program Coordinator at a non profit, she spearheaded the design and implementation of survivor-led workshops, fostering community engagement and addressing pressing social issues affecting youth. Kyanda has worked as an Education Advocate where she advocated for students with disabilities.

She also has worked as a Program Facilitator, where she designed and executed weekly psychosocial programming for siblings of kids with disabilities. Kyanda has always been a dedicated community volunteer and believes that volunteering fosters empathy, learning and growth. She aspires to dive into work centered on the intersection of disability, health and race. She is always eager to promote the voices and experiences of black and brown disabled people. In her free time (she always makes time to relax + rest), she enjoys reading, learning random things, thrifting, and going for walks.

Liam Holland – TechOWL, Institute on Disabilities

Liam Holland (he/him) is a first-year graduate student at Villanova University pursuing a Liberal Studies certificate. He just completed his undergraduate degree at Villanova with minors in Disability Studies, Mathematics, Irish Studies, and Peace and Justice. He has Cerebral Palsy, which has helped him learn how to adapt and persevere.

At Villanova, he was involved in LEVEL, a student-run organization designed to help and advocate for students with disabilities. Liam is passionate about disability rights and helping others to be comfortable with their own disability identity. Recently he discovered an interest and excitement in film production when he became part of the documentary film team for EmpowerU, which reignited his passion in AbilityBoss, his disability advocacy YouTube channel.

Samhit A. Utlapalli – New Disabled South

Samhit Utlapalli (they/them) is a senior at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. They are pursuing a major in Sociology, with a minor in Justice and Equity Studies. Samhit enjoys their sociology classes greatly and is always excited to learn more. They plan to go on to get their master’s degree in social work. Samhit wants to use their degrees and experiences to work in disability or education justice.

Their involvement with social justice issues began in high school, with their involvement in their school’s Young Advocates for Equality organization. In previous years, Samhit has worked with Forward Promise and Camp Kesem. These experiences have motivated them to focus on early interventions.

In their personal life, Samhit is the parent of two dogs and a cat who bring them endless joy and comfort. Their hobbies include reading, writing, crocheting, and watching movies.

Shruti Bharatia – New America

Shruti Bharatia (she/her) is a recent graduate from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) with a Bachelors in Applied Psychology. After spending over 14 years helping care for her younger autistic brother, Shruti’s first-hand experience working with South-Asian families of disabled individuals propelled her into a career in helping disabled people and their families. Originally intending to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Shruti became a research assistant and behavioral technician at the Cognition Behavior and Mindfulness (CBM) Clinic within UIC.

Through her experience with applying neurodiversity to Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy, Shruti developed a passion for integration of the social model of disability, specifically neurodiversity, with direct services provided to disabled individuals as a way to bridge the gap between disability medicalization and the disability community. Shruti accumulated this passion into a research project exploring the connection of environmental variables such as socioeconomic status to parents’ levels of autism acceptance and mental flexibility around stigma. Shruti continued to explore these passions as a Andrew Mellow Scholar within UIC’s Engaged Humanities Initiative (EHI), where she created a 2 year-long personal journaling project called “Experiencing Disability, Changing Mindsets, and Identity Discovery as a Caregiver, Neurodivergent and Researcher.” Due to in-depth exploration into the disability community required by this project, Shruti came to identify herself as disabled and neurodivergent.

After graduating in May 2023, Shruti became a fellow in UIC’s Psychology Post-Baccalaureate Research and Teaching Fellowship program. Here she works in Early Childhood Education research with Dr. Kate Zinsser. Further, Shruti continues her exploration of disability studies through work with the CBM clinic as a research assistant and graduate classes such as disability policy. Today, Shruti aspires to pursue a career in policy research, specifically the integration of neurodiversity, early childhood education, and disability justice in education policy.

Z'Leah N. Liburd – Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs

Z’Leah Liburd is a twenty-two-year-old recent graduate in Social Work from the University of South Florida. Born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, she is an alumna of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. She holds an A.A. (Honors) in Human Services and Counseling from Hillsborough Community College (HCC). She is a recipient of the HCC Foundation, Kenneth Jernigan, Florida Council of the Blind, National Federation of the Blind of Florida, Chautauqua Summer Scholar, and Jenkins Scholarships.

Throughout her life, she has strived to support others in realizing their full potential, and has done so as vice-president for the NFBF’S FABS (Florida Association of Blind Students), Co-Chair for the National Association of Blind Student’s Content Creation committee, board member of the Statewide Chapter for the State of Florida, and member of the Tampa Bay chapter. Her involvement with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has continued as a two-time delegate of Florida at Washington Seminar, lobbying on Capitol Hill for NFB’s constituents. Z’Leah has practiced service learning and leadership through the HCC Honors College as Social Chair of student government, as a board member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and as Vice-President of Public Recruitment for NSCS (National Society of Collegiate Scholars).

She attended her first national service convention in New Orleans in 2022, followed by others in Baltimore, Houston, Jacksonville, and Tampa. Such experiences of service tie into her love for children, who have always had a special place in her heart, and her goal to help them and other disadvantaged persons at the culmination of her education only drives her to further success. In her free time, Z’Leah enjoys traveling, reading, listening to music, singing, and spending time with friends and family.

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2023 Fall Interns

AAPD Press Team — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 22:34:03 +0000

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is pleased to announce the first-ever Fall Internship Class.

The 2023 AAPD Fall Internship Program would not be possible without the generous support of our partners. Thank you to Arconic Foundation for supporting our Fall Internship Program.

Meet the 2023 Class

Alana Walker – Paul K. Longmore Institute

Alana Walker (she/her) is ready to delve into film programming and its pertinence to broadening awareness of disability activism. Alana, a Bay Area native, graduated from Grinnell College with a B.A in History in 2022; studying the impact of historical events and social norms through various courses in film, literature, art history, and visual arts. She commemorated her studies by spending her final semester studying film and art cultures in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Alana interned at the Palo Alto Art Center and Grinnell Museum of Art, aiding in researching how the institutions could better their programming to engage their local communities. She also interned for the Jim Henson Company and Skydance Animation, assisting the development teams in further developing their content to be more inclusive, entertaining, and resonate with audiences. Alana is excited to continue working with film and cultural institutes by interning with the Longmore Institute, exploring how film programming pertains to art and disability.

Alana’s lifelong struggle of grappling with her speech impediment and finding solace in film and television inspired her to pursue this opportunity to understand the relationship between media, activism, and inclusion. She is excited to work with artists creating disabled-centered media and assist with programming to cultivate community through an art form that comforted her.

Elian Sorensen – Administration for Community Living

Elian Sorensen is a research associate for World Enabled/The Pineda Foundation, a disability consulting non-profit working to promote accessible and inclusive urban design. Elian recently graduated summa cum laude from Hamilton College with a Bachelor’s in Public Policy, where he completed his senior thesis on the potential for disability theory to inform elder advocacy efforts and improve long-term care services for seniors.

While at Hamilton, Elian founded the college’s first Disabled Students’ Network and served as the organization’s president for two years, where he worked to develop a peer mentoring program for students with academic accommodations, promote accessibility improvements, and build community for other disabled students. Elian is a recipient of the 2021 U.S. State Department Critical Language Scholarship for Arabic.

Kaeli Dalton – Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network

Kaeli Dalton (she/her) is a graduate student studying Web Design at the University of Florida. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Media Production, Management, and Technology with a concentration in TV and Video Production and a minor in English in December of 2022. She is the former President and current Vice President of Operations of the Epsilon Tau chapter of Delta Alpha Pi, an honor society for disabled university students. Kaeli aspires to pursue a career in graphic design and own her own design studio. In her spare time, Kaeli spends her time reading, crocheting, and analyzing new movies and TV shows.

Karlee Rojas – National Disability Rights Network

Karlee Rojas (she/her) is attending Austin Community College, pursuing an Associate of Science in Computer Science. She has a goal to get her Masters in Computer Science following her graduation. Karlee has experience teaching assistive technolog at Austin Lighthouse to those who are new to the blindness community.

Karlee is also a social media influencer who aims to educate about the topic of service dogs. Writing is a huge part of her life and she wants to use that passion to write about the issues that people with disabilities face, beyond issues just relating to service dogs. Combinding her two interests of computer science and advocacy together in her work, Karlee aims to have an impact on the disability community at large.

Kunyeul Lee – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Kunyeul Lee (he/him) is an Economics major at the University of Southern California, set to graduate in May 2024. Immigrating from South Korea at 16, he quickly became a family mediator in their new culture. His leadership shines as Secretary for the Georgia Association of Blind Students and as a Student Advocate with the National Federation of the Blind.

As a Summer Technology Instructor at the Colorado Center for the Blind, Kunyeul champions accessibility and resilience. Beyond academia, he has developed projects like an Advocacy Toolkit for blind students. Passionate about digital accessibility, Kunyeul is dedicated to promoting inclusivity in technology. Outside of work and advocacy, he enjoys watching soccer, listening to music, and spending time with friends.

Oluwaseyi Onifade – Elevance Health

Oluwaseyi Onifade (he/him) is an incredibly inspiring young man whose potential and passion for making a difference in the healthcare industry is second to none. As a senior at Rochester Institute of Technology, he is currently pursuing a degree in Healthcare Administration & Global Health Management, with double minors in Global Public Health and Health Communications. It is evident in his coursework that Seyi has a genuine passion for healthcare management, which is why he dedicates himself wholeheartedly to his studies.

Despite facing the challenge of sensorineural hearing loss, Seyi is a perfect example of resilience and perseverance. He believes that his motto, “Resilience and Zeal for Success will Undoubtedly Lead to Greatness,” is a guiding principle that has helped him exceed expectations. His strong work ethic and leadership qualities have been honed through various student organizations at RIT, where Seyi has developed invaluable skills in communication, teamwork, and leadership. Seyi’s passion for healthcare is rooted in his personal experiences, where he has witnessed firsthand the struggles and challenges of navigating the healthcare system. This has shaped his desire to make a positive impact and contribute to the industry by working towards the goal of ensuring that everyone has access to quality healthcare.

Overall, it is clear that Seyi is a driven, resilient, and passionate individual who is sure to make a significant impact in the healthcare industry. His dedication to his studies and his ambition to make a difference are matched only by his unwavering determination to succeed.

Ruby Elbert – U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Ruby Elbert (she/her) is a recent graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she double majored in Disability Studies and Spanish and minored in Mathematics. At Illinois, she played on the women’s wheelchair basketball team and was a co-founding member of the Feminist Disability Justice Coalition, a student organization focused on bringing together and empowering the disabled community on campus.

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Ruby is particularly passionate about the inclusion of disability in conversations about diversity, as well as the protection and advancement of educational and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. She looks forward to connecting with a group of fellow interns with similar interests and goals and gaining more experience with the policy side of disability advocacy while actively contributing to the promotion of disability rights. In her free time, Ruby enjoys reading, painting, cooking, and making playlists.

Shannon Stubblefield – New Disabled South

Shannon Stubblefield (they/she) presently resides in Los Angeles, California. An alumnus of the 2022 AAPD Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program, Shannon is also a 2023 Care Fellow with Caring Across Generations. They have earned a B.A. in Gender Studies and are currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. With a background of 7 years in community organizing, their passion lies in building solutions to counteract the material consequences of racism, ableism, poverty, and medical neglect on individuals, communities, and healthcare systems.

Shannon is a Black disabled working-class asexual person and their experiences inform their mission to foster a culture of communal care and accessibility. Redwoods hold a special place in Shannon’s heart as their favorite trees, and they enjoy reading Afro-futurism novels and finding cool free documentaries.

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New Fall Internship Program from the American Association of People with Disabilities

AAPD Press Team — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 19:01:10 +0000

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.

###

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.

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Fall Internship Archives - AAPD

Disability Economic Power & AAPD Internships

Disability Economic Power & AAPD Internships

Introduction

Organization Overview

AAPD Summer Internship Program Overview

Career Development

Leadership Development

Community Building

Formal Evaluation

Key Findings

Alumni

Mentors

Supervisors and Internship Placement Sites

Recommendations

Program Structure

Greater Intern Interest Alignment and Support

Alumni Engagement

Diversity in Recruitment

Internship Expansion

Mentorship Component

AAPD Summer Internship Program Changes

Staff and Personnel

Budget

Program Format

Recruitment and Outreach

Interview Process

Intern Onboarding Materials

Program Supports

Hourly Wage

Housing

Meal Stipends

Technology and Equipment

Sustained Engagement

Information and Preparation

Placement Site Matching

Mentors

Disability Advocacy Certificate Program

COVID-19 Protocols

What Comes Next: Challenges, Opportunities, and Our Goals for Future Improvement

Systemic Challenges

Future Improvements

Internship Goals and Objectives

Processes and Support for Interns

Alumni Network

Processes and Support for Supervisors and Mentors

Conclusion

Works Cited

Sponsors

Introducing the 2025 Fall Internship Program Cohort

Announcing the Fall 2025 Internship Cohort

2025 Fall Interns

Meet the 2025 Fall Interns

Ahna Guillaume (he/they) - National Black Justice Collective

ileim moss - Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies

Jason Green (he/him) - Caring Across Generations

Joshua Blackwell (he/him) - Unlock Access

Kemper Gingerich (he/him) - Center for Democracy and Technology

Maddox O’Rourke (he/him) - World Institute on Disability

Makayla Allen (she/her) - Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network

Marrow Kilgore (they/them) - Project LETS

Nicole (they/she) - New Disabled South

Rocío Díaz (she/her) - National Disability Rights Network

Autism Leaders United in Call for Action Following Roundtable in Washington D.C.

AAPD Announces its Second Fall Internship Class – Fall 2024

2024 Fall Interns

Meet the 2024 Class

Alexandria Kiel – Keri Gray Group

Alondra Rodriguez Solis – The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies

Bella Fassett – U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Fabiola Daphne Amaya – U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy

Jaydon Antoine – U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Minority Programs, The Office of Energy Justice and Equity

Kyanda Bailey – Center for Racial and Disability Justice

Liam Holland – TechOWL, Institute on Disabilities

Samhit A. Utlapalli – New Disabled South

Shruti Bharatia – New America

Z'Leah N. Liburd – Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs

2023 Fall Interns

Meet the 2023 Class

Alana Walker – Paul K. Longmore Institute