JFActivist

Deadline Approaching for AAPD Summer Internships

To all College Students with Disabilities,

Well, it's here!  December is upon us and that means that you only have a short while to get your applications in for AAPD's Summer Internship Programs!  Applications for either the 2008 Congressional or Internet/Technology Internship positions must be received by AAPD before 5:00PM (EST), Friday, December 14, 2007.

These PAID internships in our nation's capital are incredible opportunities for college students with disabilities to further their educations and careers with invaluable experience and contacts in politics, law, technology, and employment in D.C.  Those selected for this prestigious honor will receive complementary round-trip airfare to Washington, D.C.; free, accessible housing in the heart of Georgetown; and a living stipend to cover other expenses while enjoying what will surely be a life-changing experience.  AAPD's Interns not only are placed in some of the most coveted internship spots in D.C., but they also get a summer full of exploration, networking, socializing, and other fun opportunities.

If selected as an AAPD Summer Intern, you will play a significant role in helping determine your placement in Washington, D.C.  Congressional Interns will be placed in a Senate or Congressional office, according to their interests in a particular area of law and policy or geographic preference.
I/T Interns will be placed in technology-level positions in either a federal or federally-related office; past placements including the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Transportation Security Administration of the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Science Foundation.  Successful completion of these internships can provide mentors, longer-term internships, and even long-term employment in Washington, D.C., or in other related careers around the country.

Applicants must be college or university students with disabilities, enrolled in an associate's or bachelor's degree program, when they begin the internship program.  For the Congressional Internship, students must be either Sophomores or Juniors, with at least one semester to complete after the internship.  For the IT Internship, students must have completed at least one semester of college credits at the time of the application.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are 18 years or older.

Current college students, with any type of disability, are invited to apply for these Internships.  The full application instructions are attached, including providing a copy of your resume and your responses to a few short-answer essays; there is no form to fill out.  View the online application instructions or download them below.

Download the 2008 AAPD Congressional Internship application instructions

Download the 2008 AAPD IT Internship application instructions

Remember:  The deadline is December 14!  Qualified individuals will be contacted for telephone interviews after the first of the year.  I look forward to reviewing your application! 

Sincerely,

David Hale
Program Manager
AAPD
1629 K Street NW, Suite 503
Washington, DC  20006
(202) 457-0046 x32
FAX (202) 457-0473
AAPDDavid@aol.com
www.aapd.com

Online Communication Aids Mentoring

From the Boston Globe:

"Strengthening Their Bonds"
Online communication enhances relationships for those with disabilities

By Dan Aucoin

WELLESLEY, MA - Gregory Walsh and Austin Lam sit facing each other in their wheelchairs, saying nothing.

Outwardly, that is. But on a level beyond speech, the 28-year-old Walsh and the 13-year-old Austin are communicating plenty.

The two have a special relationship: Walsh, who lives in Braintree, is Austin's mentor and role model. Through his own example, he teaches the Wellesley boy how to live day-to-day with the challenges posed by their shared disability: cerebral palsy.

Soon, though, the two will be able to communicate even more fully. Austin's parents plan to soon acquire a specially equipped computer device that will enable him to access the Internet. That means he and Walsh will join the growing ranks of disabled mentors and their younger proteges who communicate online under a program run by Partners for Youth with Disabilities, a nonprofit organization based in Boston...

...Read the rest of the article.

AAPD Summer Intern Featured in Local News

An article from Friday's Beloit Daily News (Beloit, WI) highlights the positive internship experience of Jason Corning, one of the 2007  AAPD / Microsoft summer interns, at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Jason, who is deaf and partially blind, worked for ten weeks at TSA, gaining real hands-on experience in the field of information technology, in which he is majoring. Jason was accompanied by a sign language interpreter for most of each work day.

Learn More about AAPD Summer Internship Opportunities:

• Microsoft-AAPD Summer Information Technology Internship
• Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation-AAPD Summer Congressional Internship.

[Picture Description: Jason Corning, standing left with his guide dog, poses with Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), standing right, in a Congressional office.]