American Association of People with Disabilities

AAPD is hiring! Are you committed to disability rights and looking to join a growing, flexible, hybrid, and/or remote workplace? Come join our team! We have four open roles with March deadlines (please note the Program Director application deadline is very soon: this Friday, March 7 at 11:59 PM ET). AAPD offers competitive salaries, flexible work schedules, unlimited PTO, 100% Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance for all employees and up to 2 dependents, professional development opportunities, and more. We are an equal opportunity employer; applicants with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply. Find the full job descriptions and applications at aapd.com/work-at-aapd. Image description in alt-text and comments.

You have probably heard a lot recently about diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI/DEIA). That's why AAPD put together a new resource to explain what DEIA is, why it is essential for disabled Americans, and explaining recent federal actions on DEIA. https://lnkd.in/eyVpGtqX

Action Alert: It's time for the Disability Community to come together to protect and defend Section 504! Join our partners at Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) tomorrow, February 12, 2025, at 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET for a Disability Community Briefing on Texas v. Becerra. Learn what’s at stake and how YOU can take action to defend disability rights. Texas v. Becerra is a lawsuit that threatens Section 504, a crucial disability rights law that ensures disabled people have equal access to healthcare, education, and other services. Seventeen states are suing to end these equal protections for disabled people. Register for the briefing here: https://lnkd.in/gBrTUxbw Learn more about the case from DREDF: https://lnkd.in/g_4ZpZaH

Action Alert: Congress is considering proposals that would cut Medicaid funding! Medicaid is a critical lifeline that provides health insurance for many disabled and low-income Americans. Our friends at the National Health Law Program are hosting a day of action today to #ProtectMedicaid: Call Congress via the Protect Medicaid hotline at 866-426-2631 and tell them to protect Medicaid. No cuts! AAPD put together a sample script for this action. If you're not sure what to say, you can read from the script! Image description in alt text and comments. #DisabilityAdvocacy #ActionAlert

Are you a disabled person who has been affected by the federal funding freeze? Have you been unable to access services, benefits, or care? Share your story with us tonight, February 4, for a Congressional hearing tomorrow. We need to make sure the Congressional record reflects the severe impact of this freeze on disabled Americans. Tell us how you've been impacted by emailing [email protected].

If you’re looking for opportunities to connect with disabled community, build skills, and gain work experience, being an #AAPDintern might just be for you. There are just a few days left to apply to AAPD’s 2025 Fall Internship Program! (And if you're not looking for an internship, but know someone who would be a great fit, tag them in the comments!) This is a paid, part-time, virtual internship opportunity for students and recent graduates with disabilities. Applications are due this Thursday, February 6, 2025 by 5 PM ET. AAPD Interns work remotely at placement sites 15 hours/week, build leadership and advocacy skills, explore career opportunities, and connect with mentors and the disability community. Interns also have the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC for a virtual gathering (with travel paid for by AAPD). You can find the application, FAQs, and new resources for applicants, including the recording, transcript, and slides from our recent applicant information session, on our Fall Internship webpage: https://lnkd.in/d8yyAJ5q Image descriptions in alt text and comments.

As we kick off Black History Month, AAPD is honoring and celebrating Black disabled history and Black disabled people. Our world has been shaped and improved by Black brilliance, Black advocacy, Black leadership, and the power of Black joy. All month long, we will highlight how Black disabled folks have changed our world and the disability community for the better. Today and every day, #BlackDisabledLivesMatter. Image description in alt-text and comments. #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackDisabledHistory

FAA employees with disabilities did not cause last night's tragic plane crash. DEI hiring did not cause last night's plane crash. Using this tragedy to push the President's anti-diversity hiring agenda is inappropriate and wrong. It does nothing to make Americans safer. Image description in alt text and comments.

AAPD is proud to partner with unseen - a documentary about Pedro, an aspiring social worker who faces the uncertainties of life as a blind undocumented immigrant - to bring you “So That The Weight of This Country Does Not Crush You”: A Virtual Community Healing Space. Join us on Wednesday, January 22nd at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET. You can learn more and register for the event using the following link: https://lnkd.in/gxcESe63 Image Description in alt text and comments. #DisabilityCommunity #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAdvocate #TheBarriersWeFace #DisabledPower #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #AAPD

A 2024 report by @NewAmerica looks at the growing national momentum to #EndSubminimumWage. As of January 1, 2025, at least 18 states have taken action to either eliminate the use of subminimum wage or are actively phasing it out. Research shows that ending subminimum wage is possible in any and all states, regardless of geographical location, political makeup, density, or other characteristics. While these successful state-level reforms have been incredible, right now we have a chance to end subminimum wage nationwide. But to do it, we need your help: go to www.EndSubminimumWage.org to submit a comment to the Department of Labor telling them why you support ending this outdated practice. If you want to learn more, you can read the New America report here: https://lnkd.in/gfJXKtMu Image description in alt text and comments.