In March, the Partnership for Inclusive Internships (PII) program was awarded as an innovative solution at the Zero Project Conference 2025 (ZeroCon25) in Vienna, Austria. Over 1,000 participants from 90 countries convened at the United Nations European Headquarters to discuss innovation, impact, and scalability for programs supporting employment of people with disabilities, including AHRC NYC’s Marco Damiani, CEO, Steve Towler, Senior VP for Employment & Day Services, and Employment & Business Services Directors, Hannah Millson and Michele Shapiro.
About PII
PII is a public-private partnership developed by AHRC New York City to foster diversity and inclusive hiring within New York City and State government through an inclusive internship program. Opportunities typically include internships in the fields of data entry and analysis, administrative support, IT, finance, and human service.
In 2019, AHRC New York City entered a partnership with the New York City Department of Social Services Office of Disability Affairs, with support from the Taft Foundation, for creating the program, to develop internship opportunities and a pathway to public sector employment for people with all types of disabilities.
PII works with the New York State Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Service – Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) and New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) to provide internships, or community work experiences, for people with disabilities across a wide variety of city, state and federal agencies.
“Internships for people with disabilities allow organizations to proactively address the stigma and stereotypes that their staff may have towards hiring and working alongside people who are different from them,” said Jennifer Shaoul, Executive Director of Disability Affairs at NYC Department of Social Services. “Instead of ‘telling’ them the benefits, they are ‘showing’ them the benefits in a way that is more likely to change the culture of hiring.”
In 2023, The City of New York and New York State selected the PII Program as a cornerstone model in their plans for making NY a “Model Employer” for people with disabilities, collaborating with AHRC NYC to grow the Partnership for Inclusive Internships.
Since, the program has successfully created over 200 inclusive internship opportunities for people with disabilities in NYC, with over 45% of interns moving on to competitive employment following an internship. In 2023 The City of New York and New York State selected the Partnership for Inclusive Internships as a cornerstone model in their plans for making NY a “Model Employer” for people with disabilities, collaborating with AHRC NYC to grow the program.
About the Zero Project
Founded by Austrian non-profit Essl Foundation in 2008, the Zero Project is a global and research-driven initiative to support the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Over the past decade, the Zero Project has established a global network of 10,000+ experts, policy makers, corporates, academics, and other persons with and without disabilities. This network works to foster a global community for disability inclusion.
About the Zero Project Award
Each year, the Zero Project conducts research into innovations worldwide. Following a call for nominations and an extensive selection process, exemplary solutions receive a Zero Project Award for their innovativeness, scalability, and impact. The vetted and peer-reviewed solutions identified through this research process are promoted across a variety of publications, events, initiatives, and marketing communication.
“These awardees are developing solutions that address systemic gaps—whether through accessible digital training platforms, tools that help employers create inclusive workplaces, or assistive technologies that support persons with disabilities in their careers,” said Martin Essl, Founder and President of the Essl Foundation and Initiator of the Zero Project. “Their work is a testament to the power of innovation in making employment truly accessible and inclusive for all.”
PII at ZeroCon25
PII’s recognition highlights its success in providing internship opportunities that lead to jobs for people with disabilities.
“There is growing evidence that one of the most effective pathways to long term employment for people with disabilities is a successful internship,” said Marco Damiani, CEO, AHRC NYC. “These life-changing internships provide people with disabilities a strong sense of purpose, but it goes beyond that. Workplace colleagues and managers become more open to the glidepath to long-term employment that an internship provides, and see firsthand the value of a diverse workforce.”
PII is playing an important role in making New York City an employment-first city, one that celebrates the capabilities of people with disabilities while supporting models that strengthen workforce inclusion efforts.