Daniel Poloner

This summer Daniel Poloner was awarded the Noah Krieger ’93 Memorial Internship, which has enabled him to pursue an unpaid internship with the Disability Rights Section of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The Disability Rights Section enforces and develops regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to the opportunities provided to every other American. Daniel has long been interested in public interest work, which can take many forms. At school he has engaged in direct service through outreach to Providence’s homeless population and policy advocacy by testifying in Rhode Island’s State House. His internship at DOJ has allowed him to explore another, more systematic approach to public service. So far, his assignments have included investigations into allegations of discrimination and outreach to explain the rights of people with disabilities and prevent/redress violations. Daniel is immensely grateful for the opportunity to assist the Department of Justice in representing the United States and vindicating the rights of Americans with disabilities. 

Over the rest of the summer, Daniel hopes to get exposure to a wide variety of disability legal issues and learn what life as a civil rights lawyer is like. He could not have asked for a better intern cohort or more gracious mentors at the DOJ, and he is excited to continue developing these relationships. Daniel will also continue taking advantage of his time in Washington, DC, visiting cultural events, museums, and other local sites. Some early highlights of his summer have been viewing the Emancipation Proclamation on Juneteenth weekend and meeting an attorney who worked on a case that he recently wrote a paper about.