The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is proud to 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 immersed in their respective internship placement sites, where they are actively developing professional skills, forming meaningful career connections, and gaining invaluable insights from established leaders within the disability rights and advocacy space during weekly community events.
Now in its fourth year, the AAPD Fall Internship Program builds firmly on the proven success of the organization’s broader internship model. The initiative is specifically engineered to foster and develop stronger disability identities among students and recent graduates with disabilities. By equipping participants with hands-on experience and a supportive peer network, the program empowers these emerging professionals to better shape the future of modern workplaces and local communities alike. Designed to meet the demands of contemporary education and career building, the program operates through a fully virtual and part-time format. This structure provides flexible, accessible opportunities for interns to secure meaningful employment, cultivate essential leadership skills, and anchor themselves within the broader disability community without the barriers often associated with traditional, rigid workplace environments. This year’s program officially commenced in late August and is scheduled to conclude in early December.
Throughout the duration of the program, AAPD ensures that its interns are thoroughly supported by providing competitive wages, necessary technology support, dedicated mentorship, and extensive access to diverse networking and educational opportunities. A cornerstone of the internship experience is weekly community engagement. During these regular gatherings, interns connect directly with prominent disabled leaders, build a cohesive and collaborative peer community, and receive training on how to effectively advocate for key policy issues and social justice initiatives affecting the disability community.
To help lay the foundation for a collaborative and unified cohort, the fall interns gathered in person in Washington, DC, at the end of July. This pre-internship gathering was strategically timed to coincide with the anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). During their time in the nation’s capital, the incoming fall interns participated in a wide array of educational events, civic activities, and networking sessions designed to help them forge lasting connections with one another while also introducing them to AAPD staff members and participants from the organization’s summer internship program. This immersive in-person orientation set a collaborative tone for the months that followed, ensuring that the interns entered their virtual placement sites with a strong sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.
The successful execution and continued growth of the 2026 AAPD Fall Internship Program would not be possible without the generous philanthropic support of the Arconic Foundation, whose ongoing partnership helps ensure that students and graduates with disabilities have equitable access to career-launching opportunities. Individuals interested in learning more about the accomplished individuals comprising this year’s cohort can read the full biographies of the fall 2026 interns by visiting the official AAPD website.
