Career Guide for Students With Disabilities

Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in February 2021 showed that 17.9% of people with disabilities were employed in 2020, while the rate of employment for nondisabled people was 61.8%. When seeking employment after college, students with disabilities face many barriers, including lack of mentorship and discriminatory hiring practices. This guide serves as a career resource that can help disabled students determine a career path, providing strategies for a successful job search.

Physical barriers refer to structural obstacles that make an environment physically inaccessible for some people. These physical barriers can include curbs or steps that may limit a person’s ability to use a sidewalk or access a building. Physical barriers also include inaccessible transportation and a lack of wheelchair ramps and elevators.

Communication may be a barrier to employment for those whose disabilities relate to hearing, writing, reading, comprehension, and/or speaking. This can include people who use augmentative and alternative communication. These barriers include technical language, videos without closed captioning, oral communication without American Sign Language, and a lack of screen readers and braille.

In 2019, the employment rate for nondisabled people was more than double the employment rate for people with disabilities. Many employers have low expectations of applicants who have disabilities. Employers who don’t believe these job seekers can contribute as meaningfully as nondisabled applicants may hire a nondisabled person over a disabled person.

Employees with disabilities may need more time to complete a task. Or they may need longer lunch breaks, more frequent breaks, or a flexible schedule that allows them to work from home half the week. Many times, citing workplace policies, employers fail these employees by not providing them with appropriate accommodations.

Due to all of these barriers, many disabled people find that there aren’t as many opportunities for them. For example, they may not have had access to internships or co-ops, or they may have been unable to maintain their positions. This could result in a lack of confidence or limited work history.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

While ideally you’ll have a presentable work history, you should take time to target your career interests, learning what type of work you’d like to do and where you might fit. You should then take time to prepare for your job search, perhaps researching internships and graduate programs.

The best way to determine your career path is to follow your interests, keeping your skills in mind. Consider what kind of work you’d enjoy and where you’d like to work. Also, look into typical salary expectations. Here’s a list of online job boards and communities for job seekers with disabilities:

The first contact you’ll make with an employer will likely be through some form of written communication. The main documents you’ll need while job seeking are a resume, cover letter, and list of references. Some companies don’t ask for references. Also, if you use a recruiter or certain websites, such as LinkedIn or Indeed, you’ll find many jobs that don’t require cover letters.

If, however, you need to write a cover letter and include a reference list, make sure to format them in the same style as your resume to create a cohesive package. If you plan to disclose during the interview, consider carrying documentation of your disability.

The Workforce Recruitment Program, located at ODEP, is a recruitment and referral program that connects college students and recent graduates with disabilities with summer internships and permanent jobs. Check your school’s Career Services and Disability Services office to find out if your school is a participant.

AAPD’s summer internship program places college students, law and graduate students, and recent graduates with disabilities in paid summer internships in Washington, D.C. Interns are paired with a mentor, given transportation to and from D.C., and provided with a stipend.

NBDC runs the Emerging Leaders Internship Program, which places undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities in nationwide internships. Interns are given opportunities for networking and leadership development.

The Workforce Recruitment Program at Cornell University offers students and recent graduates with disabilities a variety of internship and full-time employment opportunities in the federal government.

AAAS’s Entry Point! is an internship program for students with disabilities who have demonstrated skills in STEM fields. Applicants must be U.S. citizens with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Many jobs are filled through networking. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many professionals are working from home, which means they are relying on online support. Virtual hiring saw an increase during the pandemic, and it is likely here to stay. This means more recruiters are turning to the internet to find their new hires.

You can make accounts with sites like Inclusively, Mentra, Specialisterne, and Zavikon.These organizations and others like them help companies find neurodivergent talent and skilled workers with disabilities — they’re changing hiring processes. Specialisterne, for example, offers a recruitment process that allows neurodivergent candidates to work on projects rather than participate in interviews.

All of these companies offer mentorship and accommodations, including the ability to work from home.

People with disabilities have rights. You do not have to disclose your disability during the application process, and it is illegal for an employer to refuse to hire or promote you due to a disability. You do not have to answer questions about your condition, and you have the right to accommodations.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits employers from discriminating against people with disabilities, either through the hiring process or during that person’s employment. Again, you are not required to disclose. Employers, however, are not required to provide accommodations if you do not disclose.

If you do disclose your disability, whether during the interview process or while on the job, your employer is required to provide accommodations unless the accommodations cause “undue hardship” to the employer. Accommodations may include text-to-speech software, adjustable furniture, flexible work schedules, and the use of headphones and sensory devices.

Discrimination on the basis of a person’s disability or perceived disability is prohibited under federal law. If you’ve experienced discrimination on the job, report it to a senior employee or a trusted colleague. You can also file an ADA complaint. If you’ve experienced criminal harassment, you should report it to authorities or take legal action.

Get in the habit of reading employers’ statements regarding inclusion. If they don’t have one, they may not be invested in creating an equitable workplace environment. You could also talk to any of your peers with a disability. What companies do they trust? Which sectors have worked for them? Seek employers who are affirming of people with disabilities.

Visit your school’s career services office where you can practice your interview skills and find help writing a resume and cover letter. Find a partner to work with, or ask a friend for help. You can also locate people online. Many professionals meet on LinkedIn.

Tailor each resume and cover letter specifically to the job you’re applying for. And proofread them before sending. Printing out your documents and then writing notes on them can be helpful. This can aid you in catching mistakes you may miss when looking at the documents on a computer screen.

Also, ask for feedback from a trusted peer or family member. Utilize the career center on campus where you can request free services. Accessibility services will likely employ a staff member who works specifically with students with disabilities.

Consider your energy levels and salary expectations, and only apply to jobs that match your needs. For instance, if you receive an offer from a job that pays a bit less but allows you to work from home half the week, that may be a worthwhile trade-off. Keep a list of nonnegotiable accommodations you’ll need.

Self-employment is also an option. Many disabled people, unable to find an employer who makes adequate accommodations, turn to entrepreneurship. Some well-known entrepreneurs with disabilities include Daymond John and Richard Branson, though there are countless others making successful careers as business owners and influencers.

Feature Image: FG Trade / E+ / Getty Images