Summer Internship Program
The AAPD Summer Internship Program is a professional and career development opportunity for disabled students and recent graduates to access meaningful employment, gain leadership skills, and connect to the broader disability community.
In 2002, AAPD launched the Summer Internship Program to develop the next generation of leaders with disabilities. For over 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.
Photo on the left by Jeevan Portraits
The 2026 Summer Internship Application Is Now Open!
Applications for the Summer 2026 cohort will close on October 21, 2025.
Throughout the summer, AAPD interns will:
- Participate in a 1-week orientation to prepare for their internship, meet with the cohort, and learn about the disability rights movement
- Work at their a paid internship program Monday – Thursday
- Participate in weekly programmings on Fridays
- Attend events and network on Capitol Hill, conferences, community events, briefings, and more
- Connect one-on-one with a mentor who provides career guidance
AAPD interns are paid a living stipend and transportation to and from Washington, D.C. In-person interns are provided fully accessible housing. Remote interns receive a technology, internet, and a housing stipend if applicable. Through minimizing barriers to participation, we are able to recruit a diverse cohort of interns. As a result, we connect our host employers to talented emerging leaders with disabilities.
Deadline to apply: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 5 PM ET
AAPD held an information session on Thursday, October 9 for people who are interested in applying to the 2026 AAPD Summer Internship. The information session recording, transcript, slides, and answers to FAQs can be accessed below.
If you still have questions, please email internships@aapd.com
Internship Application Process and FAQs
Please note: These FAQs were written for the Summer 2026 application process, and some details vary year-to-year.
Who can apply?
To be an AAPD summer intern, you must:
- 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 2026
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 2026, this includes anyone who graduated in May 2021 or later.
- 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.
Within the AAPD Summer Internship, we host a Bobby Silverstein Fellow. The Fellow is still a part of the 2026 summer cohort.
The Fellowship honors Bobby Silverstein’s legacy, particularly 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. The Fellowship is for an individual with a strong interest in disability issues from a legal standpoint. The Fellow will be a rising junior or higher and participate in person in Washington, DC, and develop a public policy perspective on specific disability issues. Video: Meet Bobby Silverstein.
If you have a question about if you are eligible to apply, please email info@aapd.com or call 202-521-4316.
AAPD is committed to cultivating a diverse class of interns every summer. We select interns who demonstrate their passion and vision of contributing to an inclusive workforce. In order to create gainful employment opportunities for people with disabilities, we recognize the importance of selecting a class of interns that reflect the diversity of our community. We strongly encourage individuals from historically excluded groups to apply.
How to apply?
You can view the entire Summer 2026 application in our Summer Application Google Document.
You must submit your application through the online portal. It will include:
- Applicant information
- Internship placement preference
- Essays
- Resume
If the online portal is not accessible or you would like to request a disability accommodation to fill out the application, please contact out to info@aapd.com or call 202-521-4316.
Placement Sites
AAPD’s Internship placements fall into the following categories:
- Congressional offices: Current Representative or Senator’s office in U.S. Congress
- Federal agency: Government organizations that direct policy, programs, and resources at the national level.
- Nonprofit: Organizations that typically use its funds for the community to further a social cause or advocate for a shared point of view rather than using the funds internally
- For-profit: Private sector companies that have an interest in disability inclusion
- STEM-focused internship: Placed in any sector with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
- Bobby Silverstein Fellowship: Placement at a legal-based organization or law-firm, Congressional office or federal agency that focuses on disability law and policy.
Intern Expectations
By participating in the program, AAPD interns will:
- Work full-time four days a week for 32 hours in paid internships with Congressional offices, federal agencies, nonprofits, or for-profit organizations.
- Attend AAPD-sponsored activities.
- Communicate regularly leading up to and throughout the program. We will use technology like Google Suites, Zoom, Slack, and email to communicate.
- Attend orientation at the beginning of the program.
- Follow the Code of Conduct and if participating in-person, follow roommate and housing agreements.
- Follow the AAPD COVID-19 protocols. For information about COVID-19 precautions, see our 2025 COVID-19 protocols. These are subject to change based on current public health guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is a placement site and why does it matter?
A: A placement site is the place where an intern will work full-time during the summer. It can be at a federal agency, congressional office, not-for-profit organization, or for-profit organization.
Q: How can I learn more about potential placement sites?
A: Please review the AAPD Placement Site Overview for more information.
Q: Can I choose my placement site?
A: AAPD will strive to place all interns with a placement site that matches their career goals and preferences, but AAPD has the final decision on all placement sites.
Q: What if I want to be placed in a specific Congressional office or only in Congressional offices of a specific political party?
A: Since AAPD is a nonpartisan organization with many relationships with Congressional offices, we cannot guarantee a placement with a specific member of Congress and/or member of a specific party. AAPD places interns in both Republican and Democratic offices.
Q: What is a skills-based program?
A: A skills-based program combines learning and job training to help prepare you for a career. AAPD requires that the skills based program be from an accredited institution or government agency. An accredited program is a program that has been checked in detail to make sure it is good quality and meets high standards. Some examples of skills-based programs are apprenticeships, transition programs, or inclusive college programs.
Q: How much is the stipend?
A: For Summer 2025, AAPD interns received a stipend equating to $20 an hour for 32 hours over 10 weeks. This stipend covered living and meal expenses for the interns for the summer. For 2026, the stipend will be at least $20 an hour.
Q: If I want to participate remotely, will I get a housing stipend?
A: Yes. AAPD will provide a housing stipend of up to $2,000 per month. The housing stipend is determined on rent and utility bills.
Q: What if I live in the Washington D.C. area and I want to stay in my own housing? Can I still participate in the classes and events in-person?
A: You will need to apply as a remote intern. You can still participate in the classes and events in-person. “In-Person” internships require interns to live in AAPD’s provided housing.
Q: I am an International student studying in the U.S., can I apply for the internship program?
A: Yes, international students can apply if they have the required work authorization documents. Please note that some of our placement sites (especially federal agencies and Congressional placement) require U.S. citizenship.
Q: If I join in-person in Washington, D.C., where will I live?
A: AAPD will cover housing for interns to live in fully accessible dorm-style housing at George Washington University. Interns will have an opportunity to request specific housing accommodations.
If you still have questions, please email internships@aapd.com.
Support for the 2026 Summer Internship Program is provided by:
- Arconic Foundation
- Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy
- Coca-Cola Foundation
- Powers Law Firm
- United Airlines
Thank you so much to our generous sponsors for supporting these talented up-and-coming professionals.
Placement Sites
AAPD has previously placed interns in a variety of organizations. Learn more about past and potential future placement sites
Related Content
Announcing the Summer Internship Cohort of 2024
2023 Summer Interns
