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American Association of People with Disabilities

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Mark Perriello, Former President & CEO, American Association of People with Disabilities at Accessing Social Media Event, July 17, 2014

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which advocates for the legal rights of people with disabilities.[1] One of the primary purposes of the AAPD is to further the implementation of the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 50+ million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation.[2]

History

AAPD was founded on July 25, 1995, by Paul Hearne, Senator Bob Dole, John D. Kemp, Justin Dart, Tony Coelho, Pat Wright, Jim Weisman, Lex Frieden, Sylvia Walker, Paul Marchand, Fred Fay, I. King Jordan, Denise Figueroa, Judi Chamberlin, Bill Demby, Deborah Kaplan, Nancy Bloch, Max Starkloff, Mike Auberger, Neil Jacobson, Ralph Neas, Ron Hartley and others.[1]

Activities

Political activism

Voting

AAPD's REV UP (Register, Educate, Vote, Use your Power) campaign works to increase voter registration and turnout among people with disabilities, fight election barriers and voter suppression, and educate voters on issues facing the disability community.[3] AAPD works with the non-partisan VoteRiders[4] organization to spread state-specific information on voter ID requirements.

AAPD held the first National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW) in 2016, prior to the 2016 US Presidential Election.[5] Previously held during the third week in July, as of 2021 NDVRW takes place during the third week of September.[6]

Internship Program

Launched in 2002, the AAPD Summer Internship Program places college students, graduate students, law students, and recent graduates with disabilities in paid summer internships with Congressional offices, federal agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations within the Washington, DC area.[7] Additionally, interns are matched with a mentor, and participate in a Disability Advocacy Certificate Program. Notable alumni of the program include Lydia X. Z. Brown, Ari Ne'eman, Stacey Milbern and Leah Katz-Hernandez.[8][9][10]

Disability Mentoring Day

Following a 1999 proclamation from President Bill Clinton, Disability Mentoring Day was established to provide mentorship and career advice for people with disabilities.[11][12] AAPD administers the program as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards

Named for disability rights activist Paul G. Hearne, this award recognizes emerging leaders with disabilities. Recipients receive funding to further a new or existing project or initiative that increases opportunities for people with disabilities. Past recipients include Claudia L Gordon, Lauren Ridloff, Jerry White, Cheri Blauwet, Victor Pineda, Maureen McKinnon-Tucker, Anjali Forber-Pratt, Jason DaSilva, Alice Wong and Lydia X. Z. Brown.[13]

Disability Equality Index

The Disability Equality Index, joint facilitated by AAPD and Disability:IN, is an annual benchmarking tool for disability inclusion in the workforce. Companies are scored across 6 categories: Culture & Leadership, Enterprise-Wide Access, Employment Practices, Community Engagement, and Supplier Diversity.[14]

NBCUniversal Tony Coehlo Media Scholarship

Named for former United States Representative and primary sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Tony Coehlo, this scholarship is funded by NBCUniversal. Eligibility is restricted to students with disabilities who are pursuing careers in media, communications, or entertainment industries.[15]

Disability Rights Storytellers Fellowship

Managed by Rooted in Rights, the fellowship program provides the opportunity for individuals to combine disability advocacy with digital media storytelling.[16]

Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program

Named for black disabled civil rights and voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, the leadership program provides stipends to young black disabled advocates to create national campaigns that promotes voter registration and participation.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b Imparato, Andrew J. 2005. "AAPD In Its Second Decade," AAPDnews (Spring 2005), p. 2.
  2. ^ "American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  3. ^ "Voter Turnout Surged Among People With Disabilities Last Year. Activists Want to Make Sure That Continues in 2020". Time. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  4. ^ VoteRiders Partner Organizations
  5. ^ Abrams, Abigail. "How Donald Trump Inadvertently Sparked a New Disability Rights Movement". Time. Time. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  6. ^ "National Disability Voter Registration Week 2021". REV Up!. 2021-04-02. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  7. ^ "AAPD Summer Internship Program". AAPD. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  8. ^ "White House Highlights "Champions of Change"". abilitymagazine.com. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  9. ^ "Meet the Current Interns". Archived from the original on 2009-12-20. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  10. ^ "In Her Own Words: Remembering and Honoring Stacey Park Milbern". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  11. ^ "Supporting Americans With Disabilities". clintonwhitehouse4.archives.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  12. ^ "Disability Mentoring Day | U.S. Department of Labor". www.dol.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  13. ^ "Previous AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award Recipients". AAPD. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  14. ^ "Disability Equality Index". Disability:IN. Archived from the original on 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  15. ^ "NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship". AAPD. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  16. ^ "Video Storytellers Program". Rooted in Rights. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  17. ^ "AAPD Announces the Launch of the Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program". AAPD. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
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