American Association Of People With Disabilities

PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE: THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WORKS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY ACTING AS A CONVENER, CONNECTOR, AND CATALYST FOR CHANGE, INCREASING THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC POWER OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AAPD SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM SINCE 2002, THE AAPD SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM HAS DEVELOPED THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS WITH DISABILITIES AND OFFERED HOST EMPLOYERS ACCESS TO A TALENTED, DIVERSE WORKFORCE. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES COLLEGE STUDENTS, GRADUATE STUDENTS, LAW STUDENTS, AND RECENT GRADUATES WITH ALL TYPES OF DISABILITIES WITH PAID 10-WEEK SUMMER INTERNSHIPS IN CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES, FEDERAL AGENCIES, NON-PROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA. IN 2020, DUE TO CONCERNS RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AAPD PIVOTED FROM AN IN-PERSON PROGRAM TO A VIRTUAL PROGRAM. AAPD ENGAGED STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND RECENT GRADUATES WITH DISABILITIES IN A DISABILITY ADVOCACY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. EACH INTERN IS MATCHED WITH A MENTOR WHO WILL ASSIST THEM WITH THEIR CAREER GOALS. AAPD PROVIDES THE INTERNS WITH A STIPEND, FUNDING FOR TECHNOLOGY, AS WELL AS OTHER CAREER RESOURCES AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.

OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE:PUBLIC POLICY AND RESEARCH AAPD'S STAFF WORK ON NATIONAL DISABILITY POLICY ISSUES AND DISABILITY RELATED RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE THE GOALS OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: HEALTHCARE AND RELATED SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT THAT LEADS TO GREATER ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY, COMMUNITY INTEGRATION & HOUSING. THESE PUBLIC POLICY AND RESEARCH ISSUES INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY, HEALTHCARE, EMPLOYMENT, BIOETHICS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION. AAPD HOLDS A MONTHLY TECHNOLOGY FORUM THAT SERVES AS A STRATEGIC MEETING OF NATIONAL DISABILITY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY WITH A MISSION TO HOLISTICALLY DRIVE AND ACCELERATE INNOVATIONS TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS. THE ACCESSIBILITY OF VARIOUS TECHNOLOGIES, DEVICES, AND APPLICATIONS CONTINUES TO BE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE FORUM'S DELIBERATIONS.EMPLOYMENT - DISABILITY MENTORING DAY (DMD) IS A LARGE-SCALE NATIONAL EFFORT COORDINATED BY AAPD TO PROMOTE CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS AND JOB-SEEKERS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH HANDS-ON CAREER EXPLORATION AND ONGOING MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS. THE DISABILITY EQUALITY INDEX (DEI) IS A NATIONAL, TRANSPARENT BENCHMARKING TOOL THAT OFFERS MAJOR EMPLOYERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE AN OBJECTIVE SCORE ON THEIR DISABILITY INCLUSION POLICIES AND PRACTICES AND IDENTIFY AVENUES FOR CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT. IT IS ALSO INTENDED TO HELP BUILD A COMPANY'S REPUTATION AS AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE. THE TOOL IS A JOINT PROJECT WITH DISABILITY:IN.NBCUNIVERSAL TONY COELHO MEDIA SCHOLARSHIP - THE NBCUNIVERSAL TONY COELHO MEDIA SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS EIGHT SCHOLARSHIPS TO 2ND YEAR ASSOCIATE STUDENTS; UNDERGRADUATE SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS, AND SENIORS; AND GRADUATE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE PURSUING COMMUNICATIONS OR MEDIA-RELATED DEGREES. EACH RECIPIENT RECEIVES $5,625 FOR TUITION AND FEES AT THEIR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.WE WILL RIDE COALITION - AAPD (SERVING AS ORGANIZER AND CONVENER), DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND, NATIONAL COUNCIL ON INDEPENDENT LIVING, PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA, AND UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION ARE THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE WE WILL RIDE COALITION. THE COALITION WORKS TO INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES IN BOTH THE NEAR AND LONG TERM. THEY DO THIS BY WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY AND OTHER ENTITIES INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING AND DEPLOYMENT OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES ON PUBLIC ROADS. LED BY AAPD, THE COALITION MEETS MONTHLY.TOTAL IN-KIND SERVICES DONATED FOR THE ABOVE PROGRAMS TOTAL $5,000.

AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARDS GALA AND AAPD PAUL G. HEARNE EMERGING LEADER AWARDS- THE AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARDS GALA HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2002 IS AN ANNUAL FORUM THAT PAYS TRIBUTE TO DISABILITY COMMUNITY LEADERS, BRINGS TOGETHER HIGHLY DIVERSE CONSTITUENTS, AND PROMOTES ADVOCACY. ATTENDEES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, OTHER KEY CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATES, THE MEDIA, CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES, STATE GOVERNMENT AND ELECTION OFFICIALS, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, ADMINISTRATION REPRESENTATIVES AND OTHER POLICYMAKERS. THE AAPD PAUL G. HEARNE EMERGING LEADER AWARDS ARE CASH GIFTS OF $7,500 EACH AWARDED ANNUALLY TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE EMERGING LEADERS IN THEIR FIELDS AND HAVE POSITIVE VISIONS FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. EACH PRIOR AWARDEE IS NOW USING THEIR AWARD TO FURTHER THEIR WORK NATIONALLY TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS - THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS ARE CONTINUALLY HIGHLIGHTED TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARTNERS, SUPPORTERS, AND LEGISLATORS. AAPD ACHIEVES THIS GOAL BY CREATING HIGH QUALITY DIGITAL CONTENT THROUGH PRINT, SOCIAL, AND ONLINE MEDIA; AS WELL AS CREATING VISUAL CONTENT, SUCH AS VIDEO PRODUCTIONS AND DYNAMIC GRAPHICS. AAPD'S WEBSITE FEATURES A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER CALLED THE DISABILITY DOWNLOAD WHICH SERVES AS AN ONGOING MEDIUM FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH. THE DISABILITY RIGHTS STORYTELLERS FELLOWSHIP PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO LEARN AND APPLY SKILLS IN DIGITAL MEDIA STORYTELLING AND DISABILITY ADVOCACY.THE REV UP CAMPAIGN AIMS TO INCREASE THE POLITICAL POWER OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY WHILE ALSO ENGAGING CANDIDATES AND THE MEDIA ON DISABILITY ISSUES. REV UP STANDS FOR REGISTER! EDUCATE! VOTE! USE YOUR POWER! FULL POLITICAL PARTICIPATION FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES IS A TOP PRIORITY. AAPD WORKS WITH STATE AND NATIONAL COALITIONS ON EFFECTIVE, NON-PARTISAN CAMPAIGNS TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO VOTING, PROMOTE ACCESSIBILITY OF VOTING TECHNOLOGY AND POLLING PLACES; EDUCATE VOTERS ABOUT ISSUES AND CANDIDATES; PROMOTE TURNOUT OF VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY; ENGAGE CANDIDATES AND THE MEDIA ON DISABILITY ISSUES, AND PROTECT ELIGIBLE VOTERS' RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS.AAPD SERVES AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THE NATIONAL DISABILITY LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE. THE NATIONAL DISABILITY LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE (NDLA) IS A NATIONAL CROSS-DISABILITY COALITION THAT REPRESENTS THE AUTHENTIC VOICE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. NDLA IS LED BY 18 NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS RUN BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WITH IDENTIFIABLE GRASSROOTS CONSTITUENCIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE NDLA STEERING COMMITTEE INCLUDES: ADAPT, THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND, THE ASSOCIATION FOR PROGRAMS FOR RURAL INDEPENDENT LIVING, THE AUTISTIC SELF ADVOCACY NETWORK, THE HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, LITTLE PEOPLE OF AMERICA, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF, THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON INDEPENDENT LIVING, THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND, THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF NURSES WITH DISABILITIES, NOT DEAD YET, SELF ADVOCATES BECOMING EMPOWERED, AUTISTIC WOMEN & NONBINARY NETWORK, PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA, DREDF AND THE UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION.