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Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)

• Currently housed in the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy
• Summer work experience
• In some cases, full-time employment
• http://www.dol.gov/odep/programs/workforc.htm

The program develops partnerships with other federal agencies, each of which makes a commitment to provide summer jobs and a staff recruiter. Each year, recruiters interview more than 1,500 students with disabilities at college and university campuses across the nation, and develop a database listing the qualifications of each student. 

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars - Public Service Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities

• Offered by the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy
• American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) offers technical guidance and support to the program
• Fall semester and Spring semester (The scholarship is not available in the summer)
• http://www.twc.edu/disability_services.shtml 

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is an educational nonprofit organization serving hundreds of colleges and universities in the U.S. and other countries by providing selected students challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credit. The Washington Center provides diverse, highly motivated interns to thousands of organizations in government, business and the non-profit sector. They contribute significantly to their placements and often prove to be of longer-term interest as prospective employees. The Washington Center is able to provide a total of 50 competitive scholarship awards in the amount of $8,500 for students with disabilities interested in working in the executive, judicial or legislative branches of the federal government.  Although the scholarship program for students with disabilities has only been around for a few years, the overall program has been in existence for 31 years.   

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation AAPD Congressional Internship Program

• 8-week Summer program
• Selected participants will receive a $1,500 stipend to be disbursed in three installments throughout the internship period.
• Academic credit may be arranged; students must initiate this process
• http://www.aapd.com/internships/internship08/MEAFinternInfo08.htm

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation - AAPD Congressional Internship Program was created in 2002 to provide an opportunity for students with disabilities to work on Capitol Hill for eight (8) weeks and acquire valuable work experience that will enrich their academic studies. As congressional interns, participants gain insight into congressional office operations, public policy development, and constituents’ roles in the legislative and political processes. The internship program, administered by AAPD, was created in 2002 through a major grant from Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.

Microsoft-AAPD Federal I.T. Internship Program

• Ten (10) students ultimately selected for the I.T. internships will begin their eleven (11) week internships with an orientation in Washington, D.C.
• Selected participants will receive a $2,500 stipend to be disbursed in three installments throughout the internship period
• http://www.aapd-dc.org/internships/federal/federal06/MS-AAPDinternInfo06.htm

The Microsoft-AAPD Federal Information Technology (I.T.) Internship Program was created in 2003 to provide undergraduate students with disabilities, who have demonstrated interest in I.T. careers, with the opportunity to participate and benefit from highly sought-after federal internships. The internship is made possible through a generous grant from Microsoft and will be administered by AAPD. In 2006, this internship program will provide ten (10) students with disabilities with the exclusive opportunity to participate in an eleven (11) week I.T. internship at a federal agency in Washington, D.C.

Entry Point!

• Paid Summer internship program
• Established by IBM in conjunction with AAAS
• www.entrypoint.org

ENTRY POINT! is a program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) offering Outstanding Internship Opportunities for Students with Disabilities in Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, and some fields of Business.  To meet the challenge of the competitive global economy in the new millennium, private industry and government research agencies must expand the pool of technical talent. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has developed unique partnerships with IBM, NASA, Merck, NOAA, Google, Lockheed Martin and university science laboratories to meet their human resources needs. Working with its partners, AAAS identifies and screens undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities who are pursuing degrees in science, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and some fields of business, and places them in paid summer internships. The ENTRYPOINT! Program includes opportunities in private industry and government agencies. Students with disabilities can apply their skills in a real-world setting in competitive summer internships.

Emerging Leaders Summer Internship and Leadership Development Opportunities for Students with Disabilities

• Paid Summer internship program
• Founded by Booz Allen Hamilton
• www.emerging-leaders.com

Emerging Leaders partners with businesses to help them find outstanding young talent while also considering diversity and inclusion in their hiring practices. Student applicants are matched with businesses through a careful screening process that helps ensure that the internship placement is a good fit for both parties. Booz Allen Hamilton founded Emerging Leaders in 2001. The National Business & Disability Council currently administers the program.  A few additional examples of participating businesses are CVS Pharmacy, Lehman Brothers, JP Morgan Chase and SunTrust Banks.

This material is provided with the courtesy and permission of Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD)