2027 AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award

Through the AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) recognizes outstanding emerging leaders with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community.

Two (2) recipients will each receive $10,000 in recognition of their outstanding contributions and $15,000 to further a new or existing project or initiative that increases opportunities for people with disabilities.

Please note: If all required fields, which are all denoted with an asterisk (*), are not filled, an error message will appear, preventing applicants from submitting their form. Please be sure to answer these questions AND re-attach all documents before re-submitting your application.

More information on the Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award can be found on AAPD’s website. You can preview the entire application through the Google document.

If you have any technical difficulties or questions, please email info@aapd.com.

Applications are due Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 5:00pm ET/2:00pm PT (note time zone!)

Section 1: Applicant Information

Question Title

Full Name: (Required.)

Question Title

Email Address: (Required.)

Question Title

Address (Required.)

Question Title

Phone Number (Required.)

Question Title

I am applying as a: (Required.)

Individual

Pair / 2-person group

Question Title

If applying in a pair, please list the other group member’s first and last name (only one other name permitted):

Question Title

The applicant(s) identify as a person with a disability. (Required.)

Yes

Question Title

For AAPD to continue to improve our outreach and dissemination, please let us know how you learned about the AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards. (Required.)

AAPD website or email

Social Media (e.g. Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc)

College / University disability resource office

Handshake

Google Search

Recommended by a friend or colleague

Other disability-related organization

Other (please specify)

Question Title

Have you previously applied for or participated in any of the AAPD Programs? (note: this will not impact the decision regarding your application) (Required.)

Disability Mentoring Day (DMD)

Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program

Internship Program (Summer or Fall)

In-house AAPD internship or fellowship

REV-UP Coalition

Tony Coelho Media Scholarship

I have not previously applied and/or engaged with AAPD programs.

Other (please specify)

2027 AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award

Question Title

* Full Name: (Required.)

Question Title

* Email Address: (Required.)

Question Title

* Address (Required.)

Question Title

* Phone Number (Required.)

Question Title

* I am applying as a: (Required.)

Question Title

* If applying in a pair, please list the other group member’s first and last name (only one other name permitted):

Question Title

* The applicant(s) identify as a person with a disability. (Required.)

Question Title

* For AAPD to continue to improve our outreach and dissemination, please let us know how you learned about the AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards. (Required.)

Question Title

* Have you previously applied for or participated in any of the AAPD Programs? (note: this will not impact the decision regarding your application) (Required.)

Full Name: (Required.)

Email Address: (Required.)

Address (Required.)

Phone Number (Required.)

I am applying as a: (Required.)

If applying in a pair, please list the other group member’s first and last name (only one other name permitted):

The applicant(s) identify as a person with a disability. (Required.)

For AAPD to continue to improve our outreach and dissemination, please let us know how you learned about the AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards. (Required.)

Have you previously applied for or participated in any of the AAPD Programs? (note: this will not impact the decision regarding your application) (Required.)