AHRC NYC is excited to announce that its Partnership for Inclusive Internships (PII) has been recognized as a Zero Project Awardee for 2025. The Zero Project is a global, research-driven initiative that awards exemplary solutions for their innovation, impact, and scalability. More than 350 experts, with and without disabilities, were involved in the extensive selection process, with this year’s research centered on Employment and ICT.
A total of 522 nominations from 90 countries were submitted for an Award. We’re honored to see our work highlighted among global innovations that make a meaningful impact. As part of this recognition, we will present our innovation at the Zero Project Conference 2025, taking place from March 5-7 at the United Nations Office in Vienna. More than 1,000 participants from 100 countries are expected to attend.
This exciting announcement coincides with the UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities. We are honored to have PII receive this prestigious recognition on a day that highlights the promise of an equitable future for all people regardless of ability.
Martin Essl, Founder and President of the Essl Foundation and Initiator of the Zero Project, said: “Employment is essential for ensuring equality and empowerment for persons with disabilities, and Zero Project Awardees are breaking down barriers to make inclusive employment a reality. Inspired by the UN-CRPD, 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. Their work is a testament to the power of innovation in making employment truly accessible and inclusive for all.”
Join us in celebrating this achievement!
READ ZERO PROJECT’S PRESS RELEASE
For more information about the Zero Project visit zeroproject.org.
About AHRC NYC’s Partnership for Inclusive Internships
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 Partnership for Inclusive Internships, to develop internship opportunities and a pathway to public sector employment for people with disabilities. This internship program is open to people with all types of disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, blindness and low vision, deafness and hard of hearing, health impairments, and social disabilities. Opportunities typically include internships in the fields of data entry and analysis, administrative support, IT, finance, and human service.
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.
