Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation– AAPD Congressional Internship Program
2007 Summer Congressional Internships
for College Students with Disabilities
• Read the 2007 Summer Congressional Intern Biographies
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2007 INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) are proud to offer, for the sixth consecutive summer, a congressional internship program for undergraduate students with disabilities.
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.
In summer 2006, the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation-AAPD congressional interns worked in the offices of the following Members of Congress: Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS); Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY); Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA); Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA); Senator John Kerry (D-MA); Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI); House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD); Representative John Conyers, Jr., (D-MI); and Representative Charles Dent (R-PA).
The 2007 Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation-AAPD Congressional Internship Program is designed to:
- Allow students with disabilities to obtain first-hand knowledge
of the legislative and political processes by working in congressional offices.
- Enable students with disabilities to acquire valuable work experience
that will enhance their academic studies and career prospects.
- Demonstrate to Members of Congress, their staff, and fellow
interns the talents that students with disabilities can bring to a professional work environment.
- Introduce students to members of the Washington disability policy
community and to national disability leaders through a series of
seminars and special events such as the anniversary observance of
the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Here's how it works:
Undergraduate students studying at a college or university who, at the time of application,
are first semester sophomores through second semester juniors are eligible to complete an official application. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
- After reviewing all eligible applications, a group of finalists will be asked to participate in phone interviews.
- Eight (8) students ultimately selected for the congressional internship will begin their 8-week internships with an orientation in Washington, D.C. to be held in late May 2007.
- Selected participants will receive a $1,500 stipend to be disbursed in three installments throughout the internship period.
- Transportation expenses to and from Washington, D.C. will be reimbursed by AAPD.
- Accessible housing will also be provided, free-of-charge, to each intern.
- Students will work with congressional staff members to select a significant policy issue.
- Academic credit may be arranged; students must initiate this process.
For additional information on the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation-AAPD
Congressional Internship Program, please contact AAPD at (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY) or email.
The submission period for the 2007 Summer internships is now closed.
PROGRAM SPONSORS
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a national membership organization dedicated to promoting the economic and political empowerment of all people with disabilities; educating businesses and the general public about disability issues; and providing membership benefits, such as financial services and product discounts. AAPD was founded in 1995 by a group of cross-disability leaders to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their families, friends, and supporters. AAPD was founded to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. For more information on AAPD, visit the AAPD website.
The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) is the founding sponsor of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation-AAPD Congressional Internship Program. Based in the Washington, D.C. area, the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation was established in February 1991 by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Japan and the Mitsubishi Electric U.S. companies which produce, sell, and distribute a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial and professional electronics products. With a current endowment of $19 million, the Foundation has contributed nearly $5 million to organizations assisting young Americans with disabilities to lead fuller and more productive lives. For more information about Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, visit the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation website.
