Students with Disabilities or Neurodiverse Students

You bring a wide range of strengths to the workplace, developed through your unique life experiences. These strengths add value to your career and the industries you choose to join.

You bring strengths and qualities such as:

  • accessibility awareness
  • adaptability
  • innovative problem solving

Then depending on your specific abilities and brain functions, you may find that you have:

  • experience with adaptive technology and universal design
  • heightened senses or abilities such as pattern recognition, attention to detail, communication, and focus especially on topics of interest
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At the same time, you may face some specific challenges in your career planning and search process
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Including:

  • Stigma, stereotypes, and discrimination
  • Accessibility issues
  • Reduced access to training, mentorship, and career development opportunities
  • Health, financial, and transportation challenges
  • Communication barriers
  • Underrepresentation of individuals with disabilities in various professions or leadership roles

These may be further compounded by your various intersecting identities which can impact your career development opportunities.

Below are some recommendations to help you identify opportunities, advocate for yourself, and strive to overcome these challenges:

Know Yourself

  • Know your interests, skills, and values
  • Know the emotional support, healthcare resources, transportation, and workplace accommodations you need to perform at your best

Speak with your current support network, including family, healthcare providers, mentors, academic advisors, career coaches, etc. to determine what you need to succeed.

Explore career options that allow you to perform at your best

Consider doing an informational interview with professionals in your potential industries or who work for employers of interest to make sure they are inclusive and align with your needs, interests, and skills.

Connect with Alumni

Alumni can offer guidance and support while also potentially connecting you to opportunities.

Determine if, when, and to whom you may want to disclose your disability or neurodiverse identity to a potential employer

  • Deciding “if” to disclose is a personal choice. It is up to you based on your comfort level within a particular context.
  • Disclose “when” you are comfortable. Typically, students disclose at the point that they need accommodations in the recruitment, onboarding, or employment process.
  • Determine “who” is the best person to disclose information.
    • Ask an employer contact for the best human resources professional to discuss and request accommodation. This way you are working with a confidential resource.
    • Familiarize yourself with the employer’s benefits and accommodations process.
  • Once you request accommodation, this should lead to an interactive process where you are directed to what you are required to disclose.

Familiarize yourself with the American Disabilities Act (ADA)

Understand your rights within the job search and employment process.

Consider connecting with campus resources designed specifically with you in mind

Additional Resources

Please consider making an individual career appointment at The Career Center to discuss your interests and identify academic and professional paths that work for you. Although we may not have all the answers, we would like to connect you to information and resources for support.

Non-campus resources: