The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is proud to formally announce its 2026 Fall Internship Program Cohort, marking another milestone in the organization’s ongoing mission to cultivate the next generation of leaders within the disability community. Over the past several weeks, the participants of this year’s fall cohort have been deeply engaged at their respective internship placement sites, immersing themselves in professional environments where they are actively developing valuable career skills, forging meaningful professional connections, and gaining vital insight from established leaders across the disability sector during weekly Friday community events.
Now celebrating its fourth year, the AAPD Fall Internship Program continues to build upon the proven success of the organization’s foundational internship model. This comprehensive program is specifically designed to foster and develop stronger disability identities among students and recent graduates with disabilities. By empowering these emerging professionals, the initiative ensures that they are well-equipped to actively shape the future of modern workplaces, community organizations, and public policy spaces.
Designed to accommodate the diverse needs of emerging professionals, the program utilizes a fully virtual and part-time format. This thoughtful structure provides flexible opportunities for interns to access meaningful, high-caliber employment, build essential leadership competencies, and connect deeply to the broader disability community without the rigid barriers often associated with traditional workplace settings. The 2026 autumn program officially commenced in late August and is scheduled to conclude in early December, offering participants a robust, multi-month professional development experience.
Throughout the duration of the program, AAPD ensures that its interns are fully supported by providing competitive wages, necessary technology support, dedicated mentorship, and extensive access to a wide array of networking and educational opportunities. A cornerstone of the internship experience is the participation in weekly community events. These gatherings provide a dedicated space for interns to connect directly with prominent disabled leaders, build a supportive peer community, and learn critical strategies on how to effectively advocate for key policy issues and social justice initiatives impacting the disability community.
In a unique and impactful addition to the program structure, the fall interns had the opportunity to meet in-person earlier this year. The cohort gathered in Washington, DC, at the end of July during the momentous week marking the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This gathering took place just prior to the official start of the internship cycle, allowing participants to build authentic interpersonal connections, get to know one another on a personal level, and establish early lines of communication with AAPD staff members as well as peers from the summer internship cohort.
During their intensive and inspiring visit to the nation’s capital in July, the incoming fall AAPD interns participated in a wide variety of events, educational activities, and cultural engagements designed to ground their upcoming professional placements in the rich history and ongoing advocacy efforts of the disability rights movement. These foundational experiences in Washington, DC, served to reinforce the historical significance of disability advocacy and provided a powerful backdrop for the academic and professional achievements that the interns would go on to pursue at their respective placement sites during the fall semester.
The launch and ongoing success of the 2026 AAPD Fall Internship Program represent a significant collaborative effort within the disability advocacy sector. Such comprehensive initiatives, which combine competitive financial compensation, essential technological resources, individualized mentorship, and high-level professional networking, require robust philanthropic backing to achieve their full potential. The realization of the 2026 AAPD Fall Internship Program has been made possible through the generous support of the Arconic Foundation, whose ongoing commitment to inclusive workforce development and educational opportunity has helped sustain this vital pipeline for emerging disabled talent.
As the fall cohort approaches the final weeks of their program leading up to its conclusion in early December, the impact of their placement work, mentorship sessions, and community engagement continues to resonate within their host organizations and across the broader professional landscape. By prioritizing accessibility, professional rigor, and disability identity development, the AAPD Fall Internship Program remains a leading national model for inclusive career development, ensuring that students and graduates with disabilities are provided with the platforms, resources, and recognition they deserve as they step forward to lead the workplaces and communities of tomorrow.
