At 91ÊÓƵ Career Development Center, we understand the added attention to coursework and other commitments students with disabilities encounter. With all this, it can be difficult to actively engage in career development. However, it’s important to make the time to seek out experiences in college that will help you identify your career interests and gain the skills needed to obtain employment upon graduation—if not before. Our career services team can help you start with your strengths, so you can communicate your value to employers.
91ÊÓƵ's Disability Access and Education Office
Further Information
- Career Assessment & Exploration
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Assessments
The Career Development Center offers assessments covering career interests, personality style, values and skills. These assessments are tools in self-discovery and will help you develop a profile of your interests and abilities.
- – Answer questions about the type of work you enjoy and My Next Move will suggest careers that match your interests and training.
- – Tell Career One Stop what you like and don’t like to do. They’ll show you careers that fit your interests.
- CDELC Assessments Page – Use these assessment tools to help you develop a profile of your interests and abilities.
Career Exploration
Discussing the results of any assessment with a trained career counselor is important, as he or she can help you make sense of your results and guide you in making a deliberate and thoughtful career development plan.
- – Presents an article that discusses good career choices for people with disabilities.
- – Discusses the best jobs for people with disabilities.
- – Learn details about different careers, and what's ahead for your career as well.
- – An article discussing top choice careers for people with physical disabilities.
- – Find career information on duties, education and training, pay and outlook for hundreds of occupations.
- – An article that discusses home-based jobs for people with disabilities.
- CDELC Career Exploration & Planning Page – Use the information and resources on this page to get the most out of your career exploration experience. When you have finished exploring, map out your career plan before making a move.
- Resume Writing for Students with Disabilities
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Three Easy Steps to Craft Your Resume
- Look at the job description of the position for which you are applying. Highlight areas in the job description for which you have experience, skills, knowledge and abilities.
- Use the highlighted language to craft your resume using this template, using the job description section to help you complete the profile section.
- Schedule an appointment to have your resume critiqued by Career Development Center staff.
Helpful Hint 1: It’s okay to repeat key words if they have been used multiple times in the job description, but don’t overdo it!
Helpful Hint 2: If you are changing careers, use a Relevant Work Experience section and Other Work Experience section. In the Other Work Experience section, focus only on transferable skills as they relate to the position for which you are applying. If necessary, you can also fill space by including course names of relevant coursework.
Helpful Hint 3: If you have very little or no work experience, you may use volunteer experience if it’s consistent. You can also utilize your experience from classroom research or projects. Any extracurricular activities such as leadership, sports, or student club positions can be included. You can also provide a summary of summer jobs, such as mowing lawns or babysitting, at the end of the experience section. If you still can't fill in the blanks and you don’t have a full page, you now know the skills, abilities, knowledge and experience you need to develop to reach your goal.
Resources
- Resume Guide – Describes how to create a resume and provides an example.
- Resumes & Cover Letters – Learn about the components of writing a winning resume and getting it noticed. Also learn what you should say in a cover letter.
- – Provides a sample resume walk-through.
- – Federal resume guide and what you should know when applying for a federal career
- Interviewing for Students with Disabilities
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Successful interviews don’t just happen. Learn interviewing skills by scheduling a practice interview with a career counselor or use our subscription to to learn and practice your interviewing responses.
Other Resources
– Prepare for interviews by knowing how to handle questions related to your disability.
Interview Preparation-91ÊÓƵ Career Development Center – Learn good interviewing skills and become fully prepared to help you make a winning impression and get the job you want.
- Internships for Students with Disabilities
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The internet can be a very useful tool in locating internships, but it is not the sole answer to your internship search. In addition to checking out the following links, stop by the CDELC to make sure your internships search is on the right track.
– Places eligible students and recent grads who self-identify with any type of disability in summer internships within Congressional offices and federal agencies, as well as non-profit and for-profit organizations in the Washington, DC, area.
– A highly competitive program that places top college students with disabilities in internships that providie meaningful leadership development and networking opportunities nationwide.
91ÊÓƵ Career Development Job Search Strategies – Learn about the four best job search strategies that work.
– Provides a job-seeker portal that connects job seekers with disabilities directly to businesses actively looking to diversify their recruitment pool.
91ÊÓƵ Career Development Internship Information – Use the listings on this page to search for internships if your department/program does not require and/or coordinate internships.
– A paid internship program at the Smithsonian for young adults with disabilities tailored to interns’ areas of interest.
– Identifies and recruits students with apparent and non-apparent disabilities studying in science, engineering, mathematics, computer science and some fields of business for internship and co-op opportunities.
– A project to increase disability inclusion in U.S. foreign affairs by supporting future generations of Americans to invest their skills and talents in this field.
- Employment for Students with Disabilities
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The internet can be a very useful tool in locating employment opportunities, but it is not the sole answer to your job search. In addition to checking out the following links, stop by the CDELC to make sure your job search strategy is on the right track.
91ÊÓƵ Career Development Center Job Search Strategies – Learn about the four best job search strategies that work.
– A job opportunity website for people with disabilities.
– The largest employment website for job seekers with disabilities.
– Helps find the perfect match between dedicated workers and employers looking to build a strong workforce and provides résumé and career advice.
– Job listing site for people with disabilities.
– Post your resume and look through job listings for people with disabilities.
– A job board for people with disabilities.
– Provides resources for individuals with disabilities to assist in developing their business.
– Job listing website that links job seekers with disabilities to employers looking to hire.
– Lists employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
– Article discussing tips to find the best jobs for people with disabilities.
– Job listings for people who are visually impaired or blind.
– A disability-owned and operated business dedicated to building employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
– A no-fee job board for job seekers with disabilities.
91ÊÓƵ Career Development Center Job Listings – Lists top job listing search engines, including 91ÊÓƵ’s Handshake; national, international and regional listings; top 10 local listings; local newspapers and listings and niche listings specific to your major or career field of interest.
- Disclosure & Other Helpful Resources
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— Addresses questions about how the ADA protects applicants with disabilities during the application process and beyond.
91ÊÓƵ's Disability Access and Education Office — Serves as the liaison between faculty and students in the coordination of academic accommodations and services, provides students with information regarding their rights and procedures and helps the whole campus reach a better understanding of the needs of a variety of students.