MICROSOFT-AAPD FEDERAL I.T. INTERNSHIP PROGRAM Expanding Tomorrow's I.T. Workforce
2008 Summer Information Technology Internships for College Students with Disabilities
2008 INTERNSHIP PROGRAM For the sixth consecutive summer, Microsoft Corporation and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) are proud to offer a summer internship program designed specifically for college and university students with disabilities interested in careers in information technology.
The Microsoft-AAPD Federal Information Technology (I.T.) Internship Program was created in 2003 to provide undergraduate students with disabilities, who have a 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 2008, 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.
The 2008 Microsoft-AAPD Federal I.T. Internship Program is designed to:
Enable students to gain work experience and further enhance employment opportunities.
Enhance students' skills and interest in I.T. careers.
Increase placement in I.T. jobs for interns who complete the program.
Demonstrate to prospective employers that students with disabilities are solid prospects for the I.T. workforce.
Introduce students 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).
The 2007 Microsoft-AAPD Federal I.T. Interns worked in the following federal departments and agencies: Corporation for National and Community Service Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Science Foundation Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Patent and Trademark Office U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
______American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 503, Washington, D.C. 20006 Phone: (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY) E-mail: [email protected] 2 U.S. Department of Interior
Here’s how it works:
Eligibility:
Applicants must be college or university students with disabilities, enrolled in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program, when they begin the internship program. They must have completed at least one semester of college credits at the time of the application.
Current college students, with any type of disability, are invited to apply.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are 18 years or older.
How to Apply: Applications can be obtained by visiting the AAPD website at www.aapd.com or calling AAPD at (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY).
Applications may be submitted electronically or via U.S. Postal Service, and must be received by 5:00pm (Eastern Time) on Friday, December 14, 2007.
What Happens Next: After reviewing all eligible applications, a group of finalists will be asked to participate in phone interviews. Ten (10) students will ultimately be selected for the I.T. internships. The ten interns will begin their 11-week internships with an orientation in Washington, D.C. that will be held in late May 2008. Interns will receive a $2,500 stipend to be disbursed in three installments throughout the internship period. AAPD will arrange roundtrip transportation for each intern to arrive in Washington, D.C. in May and return home in August. Accessible housing will also be provided, free-of-charge, to each intern. Academic credit may be arranged; students must initiate this process. For additional information on the Microsoft-AAPD Federal I.T. Internship Program, please contact AAPD at (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY) or e-mail [email protected] .
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 503, Washington, D.C. 20006 Phone: (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY) Email: [email protected] 3 PROGRAM SPONSORS
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) 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: www.aapd.com.
Microsoft Corporation Microsoft's 22-year history of community engagement has fostered a variety of key community partnerships built on the mutual commitment to find sustainable technology solutions that make real and lasting differences in people's lives. Through monetary grants, software, technology solutions, curriculum donations, and employee volunteer hours, Microsoft supports numerous projects and organizations to expand opportunities through technology access and training. This includes support of hundreds of disability organizations and initiatives worldwide and a long-standing commitment to developing accessible software that is designed to empower people with disabilities. Microsoft is proud of the progress our partners have made in the areas of technology and workforce training, job placement, career development, research, and outreach to empower people with disabilities to realize their full potential by achieving success through employment.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their potential. For more information, visit the Microsoft website at www.microsoft.com/giving.
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 503, Washington, D.C. 20006 Phone: (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY) Email: [email protected] 4 2008 Microsoft-AAPD FEDERAL I.T. INTERNSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATION Deadline: 5:00pm (Eastern Time) on Friday, December 14, 2007
**NOTE: Please ensure that each page of your application contains your full name, phone/TTY number, and/or e-mail address.
SECTION 1: QUALIFICATIONS
A. RESUME: should include the following (not to exceed 2 pages)
Contact Information Full name Permanent address, phone and/or TTY number, e-mail address Academic year contact: your mailing address, phone and/or TTY number, e-mail address
Education Name of college/university G.P.A. both cumulative and in major number of completed semesters & number of credits needed to graduate expected graduation date other colleges/universities previously attended & dates of attendance
Work Experience; Volunteer Activities; Awards previous work experience (including other internships); dates of employment; nature of the work community service, teaching, or other civic activities organizations or clubs of which you have been a member in the past five (5) years (include titles & dates of any offices held) awards and/or honors you received other job skills that would help you perform the functions of the internship
SECTION 2: SHORT ANSWERS AND ESSAYS
A. Why do you want to be considered for this internship, and what do you hope to gain from this experience? (250 words or less)
B. Aside from your technology skills, tell us about other skills (e.g. leadership, interpersonal, etc.) you bring to this internship experience. (300 words or less)
C. In terms of complexity, what’s the most difficult technical project that you’ve completed so far? (Include the following in your response: indicate if it was an individual or group project; the project goal or objectives; how you approached the project; and the final outcome.) (350 words or less)
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 503, Washington, D.C. 20006 Phone: (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY) Email: [email protected] 5 SECTION 3: REFERENCES
A. Contact information for two (2) references who are familiar with your qualifications and personal character. Please provide their: full name, affiliation, mailing address, phone and/or TTY number, e-mail address.
B. Letter of recommendation from one (1) of the above-mentioned references. (500 words or less)
SECTION 4: OPTIONAL
A. In order for us to continue to improve our outreach and dissemination, please let us know how you heard about this program and/or received the application:
B. To ensure a diverse group of participants, please share with us your:
Type of disability: Age: Gender: Ethnic Group:
**NOTE: If selected for the internship program, any information provided in the application will be shared with potential employers and used in press releases.
------SUBMISSION:
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS: Completed applications and recommendation letters sent via e-mail should be addressed to: [email protected].
SUBMISSIONS BY MAIL: Completed applications and recommendation letters sent via U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to:
Attn: Microsoft-AAPD Federal I.T. Internship Program 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 503 Washington, D.C. 20006
FAXED applications will NOT be accepted.
DEADLINE: Applications sent via e-mail or by U.S. Postal Service MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:00p.m. (Eastern Time) on Friday, December 14, 2007.
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 503, Washington, D.C. 20006 Phone: (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY) Email: [email protected]