Bobby Silverstein Fellowship
Launched in October 2024 to commemorate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), the Bobby Silverstein Fellowship honors the legacy of Robert “Bobby” Silverstein.
About Bobby Silverstein
Bobby was a leading disability rights advocate for over four decades. He spent much of his career in Congress, where he played an essential role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal legislation assisting people with disabilities. He served as the Director of the Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy, taught at The George Washington University, and wrote over 100 papers and articles about disability policy. In the 15 years that he worked as a principal at the law firm Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, PC, he focused on federal regulatory and legislative issues related to disability, healthcare, rehabilitation, and more.
About the Bobby Silverstein Fellowship
The Bobby Silverstein Fellow is part of AAPD’s Summer Internship Program. One fellow is selected every summer. The Bobby Silverstein Fellowship continues the legacy of Bobby Silverstein by supporting those who will shape the future of disability policy. The fellowship honors his commitment to the disability community through the advancement of landmark legislation that has had a significant and enduring impact on social justice and equality for all.
To be eligible for the Bobby Silverstein Fellowship, applicants must:
- Be a rising junior or higher
- Participate in-person in Washington, D.C.
- Be pursuing legal studies, law school, or a related pre-law/legal policy pathway
During their internship, the Bobby Silverstein Fellow will:
- Develop a public policy perspective on specific disability issues
- Participate at a placement site focused on law- and policy-focused disability work
- Meet with the Powers Law Firm and Silverstein family at least once during the summer
- Be paired one-on-one with a mentor with a background in law
- Participate in weekly community events, learning about local, state, and national level advocacy
How to Apply
Bobby Silverstein Fellowship applications are a part of the Summer Internship Program application. Applicants who are interested in the fellowship will answer an additional essay question as part of the Summer Internship Program application.
The 2027 Summer Internship Program applications will open by September 2026.
Support
The Bobby Silverstein Fellowship is supported by Powers Law Firm and the Center for Study and Advancement of Disability Policy. If you’d like to help honor and continue Bobby’s legacy, please consider supporting the fellowship by donating to AAPD.