Career Success Guide

Job Search - Students with Disabilities

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Career Exploration As a student with a disability, you may find that your additional attention to academics and other commitments leave little time for career planning. Devoting time to looking beyond your disability at how your interests and skills lead to next steps is important. This process includes choosing a major and a career path that aligns with interests and skills and understanding how your disability may impact academic and employment settings. Meeting with a career coach can help with narrowing down your choices and help you choose a major that aligns best with you and your unique strengths, skills and traits. Logging into Handshake is the first step; set up your account and make an appointment to begin the career exploration process. Internship and Job Seeking Your first step in your internship or job search is to complete your profile in Handshake and learn how to search Handshake for positions appropriate to your skills and experiences and that are of interest to you. Your LinkedIn profile is also critical to your job search success. Finally, never underestimate the power of your network — friends, family, faculty, staff, and others you meet as a college student. 70% of all jobs that people get can be attributed to personal networking. Handshake includes internships and job postings that are updated daily. As you search for positions, read the qualifications section to ensure you understand the requirements of the position. Many employers, particularly local, state and federal agencies, will include a statement about their commitment to hiring individuals with disabilities.

Other helpful job, internship, and scholarship seeking sites include: • ABILITYJobs.com • ABILITYE.com • Chronically Capable • disABLEDperson.com • Disability Employment Source • Galt Foundation • GettingHired.com • Hire Disability Solutions • Peak Performers • Recruit Disability • Talent Acquisition Portal • Getting Hired • Entry Point • The American Association of People with Disabilities Resumes and Cover Letters Resumes and cover letters are a great way to showcase and highlight your experiences and transferable skills. Think outside the box to how being comfortable with your disability is a skill that many students may not have. Employers want to see the experiences that make students stand out and are applicable to their industry. Cover letters are crafted based on your experiences and the individual job or internship you are applying for. You are encouraged and welcome to set up an appointment with a career coach to assist with reviewing and editing your documents. Appointments can be made in Handshake. Disclosure and Accommodations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a nondiscrimination law which protects qualified individuals with disabilities. Title I of the the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in recruitment, hiring, promotions, training, pay, social activities, and other privileges of employment. Disclosing your Disability Deciding when and how much information to disclose regarding your disability to an employer is a personal decision that will likely vary based on your specific disability and what type of accommodations you need. An employer may know that an applicant has a disability because it is obvious or the applicant voluntarily reveals the existence of one. The ADA restricts questions that can be asked about an applicant’s disability before a job offer is made.

Accommodations If an applicant or employee indicates that an accommodation will be necessary in order to perform essential functions of the job, then the employer may ask what accommodation is needed. An applicant or employee with a disability must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job, even with reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations include any change or modification in the work environment that enables a qualified individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities and/or perform the essential functions of a position. To learn more, utilize these sites packed full of resources, tools, and best practices: ADA.gov - A selection of technical assistance documents that provide an overview of the rights and responsibilities under the ADA and the Department’s implementing regulations. US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - A selection of technical assistance by EEOC who is responsible for enforcing non-discrimination laws within employment. Job Accommodation Network (JAN)- The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Employment of Workers with Disabilities US Department of Labor - This website provides access to information about the Fair Labor Standards Act section 14(c) employment and provides links to additional resources that workers with disabilities and/ or their family members, employers, and advocates may find useful. Consider Taking Part in the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) - The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private-sector employers nationwide with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to demonstrate their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs. If interested, contact Career Services, or apply on the UW-Stout WRP page.

44