Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation–AAPD Congressional Internship Program
2005 Summer Congressional Internships
for College Students with Disabilities
Read the 2005 Summer Congressional Intern Biographies
2005 INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation and the American Association
of People with Disabilities (AAPD) are proud to offer, for the fourth consecutive
summer, a congressional internship program for undergraduate students with disabilities.
The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation–AAPD Congressional Internship
Program was created in 2002 to provide an opportunity for students with disabilities
to work on Capitol Hill for eight (8) weeks and acquire valuable work experience
that will enrich their academic studies. As congressional interns, participants
gain insight into congressional office operations, public policy development,
and constituents’ roles in the legislative and political processes.
The internship program, administered by AAPD, was created in 2002 through
a major grant from Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.
In summer 2004, the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation-AAPD congressional
interns worked in the offices of the following Members of Congress: Senator
Sam Brownback (R-KS); Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN); Senator Judd
Gregg (R-NH); Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA); Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA); House
Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO); Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL); House
Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD); Congressman Major Owens (D-NY); Congressman
Bernard Sanders (I-VT); and Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
The 2005 Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation-AAPD Congressional Internship
Program is designed to:
- Allow students with disabilities to obtain first-hand knowledge
of the legislative and political processes by working in congressional
offices.
- Enable students with disabilities to acquire valuable work experience
that will enhance their academic studies and career prospects.
- Demonstrate to Members of Congress, their staff, and fellow
interns the talents that students with disabilities can bring to
a professional work environment.
- Introduce students to members of the Washington disability policy
community and to national disability leaders through a series of
seminars and special events such as the anniversary observance of
the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“The best parts of my internship were working with such
wonderful people, attending briefings on topics that interested me, and really
feeling that my work, which I put so much effort into doing, was helpful for
the staff in my office.” – Leanne Handelsman, 2004 congressional
intern for Representative Major Owens
Here's how it works:
Undergraduate students studying at a college or university who, at the time of application,
are first semester sophomores through second semester juniors are eligible
to complete an official application. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Applications can be obtained by visiting the AAPD website
at www.aapd.com or calling AAPD at (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY). Applications
may be submitted electronically or via U.S. Postal Service, and must be received
by 5:00pm
(Eastern Time) on Wednesday, December 15, 2004.
- After reviewing all eligible applications, a group of finalists will
be asked to participate in phone interviews.
- Eight (8) students ultimately selected for the congressional internship
will begin their 8-week internships with an orientation in Washington,
D.C. to be held in late May 2005.
- Selected participants will receive a $1,500 stipend to be disbursed
in three installments throughout the internship period.
- Transportation expenses to and from Washington, D.C. will be reimbursed by AAPD.
- Accessible housing will also be provided, free-of-charge, to each intern.
- Students will work with congressional staff members to select a significant policy issue.
- Academic credit may be arranged; students must initiate this process.
For additional information on the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation-AAPD
Congressional Internship Program, please contact AAPD at (800)
840-8844 (V/TTY) or email.
PROGRAM SPONSORS
The
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a national membership
organization dedicated to promoting the economic and political empowerment of
all people with disabilities; educating businesses and the general public about
disability issues; and providing membership benefits, such as financial services
and product discounts. AAPD was founded in 1995 by a group of cross-disability
leaders to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including
their families, friends, and supporters.
AAPD was founded to be a national voice
for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA): equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living,
and economic self-sufficiency. For more information on AAPD, visit the AAPD website.
The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) is the founding
sponsor of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation-AAPD Congressional
Internship Program. Based in the Washington, D.C. area, the Mitsubishi Electric
America Foundation was established in February 1991 by Mitsubishi Electric
Corporation of Japan and the Mitsubishi Electric U.S. companies which produce,
sell, and distribute a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial and
professional electronics products. With a current endowment of $19 million,
the Foundation has contributed nearly $5 million to organizations assisting
young Americans with disabilities to lead fuller and more productive lives.
For more information visit
Mitsubishi
Electric America Foundation website.
“Interning in the Senate was definitely one of the
best experiences of my life... I’ve been active in the blind community
for a long time, but this summer I learned that people with all types of
disabilities share a common experience and we’re all in this together.” – Stacy
Cervenka, 2004 congressional intern for Senator Sam Brownback
|
AAPD offers year-round internship programs for college students with
disabilities in Washington, DC. The interns work in the executive, legislative, and judicial
branches of the federal government to gain real world work experience as well as valuable
employment contacts in the federal sector and disability community. Your contribution
will allow AAPD to continue offering programs that enhance employment opportunities for
students with disabilities. |
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