AAPD Announces
Its 2006 Summer Congressional Interns
College Students with Disabilities
Working in Congressional Offices on Capitol Hill
July 8, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mariana V. Nork
202-457-0046
Washington, DC — The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) announces that eight students were selected to participate in the 2006 Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation–AAPD Congressional Internship Program. This program is made possible by a generous grant from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.
This congressional internship program, a paid summer internship program that was launched in 2002 with a grant from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, was designed to provide college and university students with disabilities the opportunity to obtain first-hand knowledge of the legislative and political process, and a unique learning experience that enriches their educational endeavors and enhances their future career opportunities.
2006 Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation–AAPD Congressional Internships have been awarded to the following students, who were selected on the basis of a written application and personal interviews.
Carlos Cruz of Puerto Rico, attends the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he is majoring in Journalism with a minor in Comparative Literature, and will graduate in December of 2007. Carlos has experience in radio and newspaper. As a test proctor for the Disability Services office at his university, he learned firsthand about the range of students with disabilities at his school, and in turn, learned new ways to interact and work better with these students. His interest in this internship opportunity is due in part to a class he took called “The Politician and the Journalist” that was taught by U.S. Representative Richard Neal (D-MA). Representative Neal told the students that, by the class’s conclusion, they would want to run for political office or become a political journalist. When the class finished, Carlos realized that, he wanted to pursue the field of political journalism, and identified this internship as an opportunity that would allow him to experience this political-journalistic exchange. In addition to political journalism, his interests lie in higher education for students with disabilities and financial assistance. Carlos is interning in the office of Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA).
Haley Kimmet of Allentown, Pennsylvania, attends Trinity College and will graduate in May 2008. Her major is currently undecided but she is considering Neuroscience or Public Policy. Haley is very active with her school activities, which include co-founding her college’s disability awareness student organization, Disability Awareness Theme Housing Group. She also participates in Best Buddies, the Alexander Graham Bell Association of the Deaf (Ag Bell) College Leadership Committee, and the Varsity Crew team at Trinity College. A former high school track and field state medalist, she was also involved with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Leadership Opportunities for Teenagers (Ag Bell), and the 4H Seeing Eye Puppy Project. Haley believes that her disability has given her the ability to see and better comprehend the difficulties that others face in their daily lives. This ability and her previous experiences allow her to have a wider perspective when advocating on behalf of those with disabilities. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has provided many accommodations, she feels that the minimum requirements are still not enough and would like to change this. Haley is splitting her internship between the offices of Congressman Charles Dent (R-PA) and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS).
Elizabeth Kolbe of Tiffin, Ohio, is pursing a Biology degree at Harvard College and will graduate in the Spring of 2008. She is also working on a certificate in Health Care Policy and is an Honors candidate. Elizabeth was her high school class valedictorian and a former U.S. Paralympic National Swim Team member. In May 2005, she won her first international medal and has carried that experience to the Harvard Women’s Swimming and Diving Team. Elizabeth was active with the Ohio Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities as a conference presenter, Program Assistant and Counselor. She has also volunteered at St. Vincent’s Hospital’s (Ohio) Physical Therapy and Neuroscience Departments and in educational settings (in Ohio and Boston, MA). A National Youth Leadership Network Conference participant, Elizabeth dreams of becoming a civil rights lawyer or writing and implementing policy issues. She realizes that the unemployment rate is high in the disability community and sees this internship opportunity as a way to demonstrate her unique contributions and experience to the work force. Elizabeth is interning in the office of Senator John Kerry (D-MA).
Jennifer Marshall of Okemos, Michigan, will graduate in December 2007 from Michigan State University (MSU). She is currently exploring the field of Psychology with a concentration in Disability Studies. Jennifer is a founding member of the Adapted Sports Festival, currently serving as co-chairperson, and the MSU Brain Injury Group, where she also serves as the president. She is also actively involved with Paws with a Cause Foster Puppy Raiser, MSU Council for Students with Disabilities, and the MSU University Activities Board Member. In addition, she works for the Associated Students of MSU and the MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities. Jennifer sees this Congressional Internship as an excellent opportunity to continue her work with a variety of diverse disability issues. Not only does she want to take ownership of her own disability, she would also like to continue her work towards enhancing learning and growth in order to develop a better nation. Jennifer is interning in the office of Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI).
Jeffrey McCaffrey of Belton, Missouri, attends the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he is majoring in business administration, and will graduate in December 2007. With a life long dream of serving his country in the United States Armed Forces, Jeffrey now has a goal of serving his country in a different capacity. After being medically honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force Academy due to a spinal cord injury, he is now keeping his dream alive by working towards holding public office. Until then, he is a student member of the Center for Practical Bioethics, an advocate and speaker for the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, and a speaker for the Think First Injury Prevention Program. Jeffrey also participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk for his 8 year old cousin. He received the 2004 Spirit of JDRF Award after completing the 3.1 mile JDRF Walk for a Cure in leg braces and a walker, and was a keynote speaker at the JDRF Gala held in Omaha, NE. He believes that life, able-bodied or not, is never completely “accessible,” but what one chooses to do with his/her life ultimately determines how “accessible” things can be. Jeffrey is interning in the office of Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY).
Ahmed Salem of Fresno, California, is pursuing a degree in Government and Economics at Cornell University. He will graduate in May 2008. He has been very active with student organizations on campus, which include the Cornell University Student Assembly (International Students Liaison), Cornell Union for Disabilities Awareness (Publicity Chair and Co-president), Cornell Daily Sun (Opinion Columnist), Multicultural Advisory Committee (Honorary Member), National Federation of the Blind: Student Division of the State of New York (Vice President) and the Campus Life Student Advisory Committee (Resident Advisor). Ahmed was an active leader in the planning for the Cornell Union for Disabilities Awareness Disability Awareness Month - this portrays his belief that awareness is the spark that will solve accessibility problems. In addition, Ahmed has earned many awards and honors, two of which include lifetime memberships into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the California Scholastic Federation. Ahmed is interning in the office of Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA).
Kristen Schiavone of Gaithersburg, Maryland, attends James Madison University. She will graduate in May 2007 with a degree in Justice Studies and Political Communications. On campus, she is very involved as a Student Senator for the Student Government Association, a founding member of the Phi Alpha Belta Pre-Law fraternity, a member of Circle K International, and a volunteer for an elementary school in the emotionally disabled special education program. Previously, she had three other internship experiences: as a Workforce Recruitment Program Intern through the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor; Research Assistant for the James Madison University Graduate School; and Psychology Intern for the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents. Kristen’s goal is to be a voice for people with hidden disabilities because she believes that often the legislatures focus on visible disabilities, and they do not see that hidden and visible disabilities both have a legitimate need. She believes that it creates inequity in disability policies, text and application for people with hidden disabilities. Kristen is interning in the office of Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD).
Margaret Sheets of Williamston, Michigan, is pursuing a degree in International Studies at American University. She will graduate in May 2008. A Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient, which is the highest honor one can achieve through the Girl Scouts of America, Margaret is active with American University’s Latin American Student Organization and American University’s Gospel Choir. She earned her Gold Award by raising $500 in order to purchase journals and pens for hospitalized chronically ill children as a way to express their emotions. Margaret has participated in the Presidential Classroom program Media and Democracy, National Youth Leadership Forum on Defense, Intelligence and Diplomacy, Georgetown University’s International Relations Program, Girls State Program at Michigan State University, and the World Affairs Seminar at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. As a young girl, Margaret never realized that there were so many people with disabilities, and now works towards giving others a sense of empowerment and support. This internship opportunity allows her to acquire first hand knowledge about the legislative and political process, which she sees as vital to her career goals. Margaret is splitting her internship between the offices of Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY).
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country’s largest cross-disability membership organization, promotes the economic and political empowerment of all children and adults with disabilities in the U.S. AAPD was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
For information regarding internship opportunities available
through AAPD, contact AAPD toll-free at 800-840-8844 (V/TTY) or by
e-mail,
or visit the AAPD website.
American Association of People with Disabilities
1629 K Street NW, Suite 503
Washington, DC 20006
