AAPD’s Congressional Internship Program in Washington DC
The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) offer a congressional internship program for undergraduate students with disabilities. The program provides an opportunity for students with disabilities to work in Washington DC for eight weeks and acquire valuable work experience to 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. For more information and an application, visit www.aapd.com/what-we-do/employment/internship-program/.
Emerging Leaders Summer Internship Program for College Students with Disabilities
Coordinated by the National Business & Disability Council (NBDC) at The Viscardi Center, the Emerging Leaders internship program places top undergraduate and graduate college students with disabilities in fulfilling summer internships nationwide that provide them with meaningful leadership development and networking opportunities. Visit www.viscardicenter.org/services/nbdc/emerging-leaders/ for more information.
Workforce Recruitment Program
The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) connects public and private sector employers with highly motivated postsecondary students with disabilities who are eager to apply their abilities in the workforce. Employers seek to fill both temporary and permanent positions in a variety of fields, using WRP applicants. During fall, students complete an online application and participate in interviews. By late March, a database of student information is made available to employers. Interested employers make direct contact with students about internship and job offers. Ask your school’s disability services or career services coordinator if your school works with WRP.
Check out internship programs at companies or organizations that you might be interested in working for. AccessComputing students have worked for a wide variety of employers, including: Amazon, AT&T, Bank of America, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Cisco, the Department of Defense, Facebook, Google, IBM, Kaiser Permanente, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Liberty Mutual, Microsoft, Prudential, Rockwell Collins, Yahoo!, and more.
ENTRY POINT! Summer Internship Opportunities
ENTRY POINT! offers outstanding internship opportunities for students with disabilities in a variety of fields, including computing. Students with disabilities can apply their skills in a real-world setting in competitive summer internships. For more information and an application, visit www.entrypoint.org.
Google Lime Scholarship
Google is committed to helping the innovators of the future make the most of their talents by providing scholarships and networking retreats for computer science students with disabilities. Recipients receive a scholarship, may be invited to attend the annual Google Scholars’ Retreat at the Googleplex in Mountain View, California, and are considered for internship opportunities at Google. Scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of candidates’ academic background and demonstrated passion for computer science. For more information, visit www.limeconnect.com/opportunities/page/google-lime-scholarship-program.
Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities
COSD is a unique consortium composed of large and small universities, national employers, and US Government agencies focused on the career employment of college graduates with disabilities. Their conferences are a great opportunity to learn about careers. For more information, visit www.cosdonline.org.
Other Computing Internships
AccessComputing students have interned at a variety of organizations, including many universities, the federal government, Amazon, Bank of America, Booz Allen Hamilton, Cisco Systems, Cox Communications, Facebook, Google, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Red Hat, Rockwell Collins, Time Warner Cable, and Yahoo. Many students connect with internships through on campus interviews, job fairs, or other events organized by their universities’ career centers. You can also visit the websites of these companies to learn more about their internships and how to apply.