Resources for Students, Mentors, Educators, and Employers

For Students

Everyone can benefit from work-based learning experiences before graduation from high school or college. This includes students with disabilities. 

College Students

• Career Preparation for College Students: Getting Started
  Learn how to explore career interests and hone job skills through work-based learning.
• It's Your Career: Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Students With Disabilities
  A brochure on how to gain work-based learning experiences.
• Career Guide for People With Disabilities
  A career guide with information on job searches, knowing your rights, great career options, and other resources.
• People with Disabilities at Work
  A resource guide to achieving economic independence and inclusion through employment and entrepreneurship.
• Research Briefs
  Research current topics related to college students with disabilities, summarizing key issues and making recommendations for researchers published by the National Center for College Students with Disabilities.

Precollege Students

• Career Preparation for Precollege Students: Getting Started
  Learn how to increase job skills, and key questions to ask career center staff, family members, and mentors.
• Learn and Earn: Tips for Teens
  A brochure on how the benefits of work-based learning experiences.
• Preparing for a Career: An Online Tutorial
  Learn how you can prepare for a career using online resources.
• More Career Preparation Tools
  Interview tips, sample resumes and cover letters, and how to match interests with skills. 

For Parents and Mentors

Having a mentor or support system can help a student with a disability feel encouraged to pursue opportunities they may not consider otherwise.

• Career Preparation Resources for Parents and Mentors
  A list of steps and services for those supporting individuals with disabilities.

For Educators

Educators at all levels can help provide meaningful work-based learning experience for students with disabilities. Consult the resources below for more guidance in doing so. 

Postsecondary Educators

• Creating an Inclusive Career Development Program
  How cooperative education, career service, and other postsecondary faculty and staff can help students with disabilities prepare for careers. 
• Access to the Future: Preparing Students with Disabilities for Careers
  Tips on including students with disabilities in college cooperative education and career services programs.
• Equal Access: Universal Design of Career Services
  Designing an accessible career services center.
• Opportunities! 
  A newsletter for students with disabilities that can be tailored to any postsecondary campus.
• Accessible Technology
  How to ensure that computers, websites, and other resources are accessible to employees and customers who have disabilities.
• It's Your Career
  College students with disabilities tell about work-based learning experiences and show how to gain access to these opportunities.

K-12 Educators and Advocates

• K-12 Educators and Other Advocates Helping with Career Preparation
  How K-12 teachers, parents, advisors, school-to-work staff and other K-12 educators can help students with disabilities prepare for employment. 
• Online Resources
  Search tools, workplace supports, and government regulations for job seekers and employees with disabilities.
• Learn and Earn: Tips for Teens
  See options for students to gain experience while also working towards a career.

For Employers

Corporate success depends on attracting the best minds. Many companies report their number one problem is locating talented workers. Having a more accessible and welcoming place of employment will attract a more diverse population to your company.

• Recruiting Students with Disabilities to Your Internship
  Learn about tax credit programs, how to offer accommodations, and a variety of other resources to make sure your internships are accessible to all.
• Returning from Service: College and IT Careers for Veterans
  See opportunities and challenges faced by veterans with disabilities as they transition to the postsecondary classroom and pursue degrees in computing and information technology fields.
• Job Accommodation Network: For Employers
  Learn more about job accommodations, including the accommodation process, accommodation ideas, product vendors, referral to other resources, and ADA compliance assistance.
• Neurodiversity in the Workplace
  Step-by-step tools and resources for hiring and retaining neurodiverse employees.