[Excerpt] In 2003, The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy forged a partnership with The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars to establish an academic internship program for college students with disabilities. The initiative builds on the Department of Labor's 10-year track record of providing summer internships for students with disabilities through the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP). The Washington Center initiative provides federal agencies access to a pool of highly qualified, diverse candidates to help with its workforce development needs of the future. The public-private partnership of offering internship opportunities in the spring and fall semesters makes student participation in academic internships accessible year-round.