In 2002, AAPD launched the Summer Internship Program to develop the next generation of leaders with disabilities. For 20 years, we have placed college students, graduate students, law students, and recent graduates with all types of disabilities in paid summer internships with Congressional offices, federal agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations within the Washington, DC area. The AAPD Summer Internship Program advances participants’ career opportunities, deepens their leadership skills, and meaningfully connects them to the broader disability community.

• Identify as a person with a disability
• Be a current student or recent graduate of a U.S. based school or program
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent by May 2025

We often get questions about who can apply, so below is some additional information about the requirements:

• You will not be required to share your specific disability or provide any documentation. You just need to identify as a person with a disability
• A recent graduate is anyone who has graduated from an educational setting or a skills-based program in the last five years. For Summer 2025, this includes anyone who graduated in Summer 2020 or later
• U.S. citizenship is not required for our program. It may be required for specific placement sites. However you must have the required work authorization documents.
• You do not need to be a traditional degree-seeking college student.  A U.S. based school or program could include a university, a community or technical college, a skills-based transition program, a non-degree seeking inclusive college program, an apprenticeship or trade school.