Bridging the Gap Between Disability Services & Career
ServicesAlan D. Muir, Presenter
Executive DirectorFebruary 8, 2006
Background
• Observed low participation by students with disabilities in University of Tennessee Career Services
• Needed to identify methods of increasing traffic of these students
Background• Article and reference research
revealed • Extensive research on transition from
HS to work• Nothing on transition to work from
Higher Education• No statistics on the unemployment rate
of college graduates with disabilities
• Best unemployment rate estimate for this population is near 40%
Funding of Research • Tennessee State VR• Small grant, mainly for travel expenses• Alan Muir and Bob Greenberg
• Required results of research• Plan for relieving the problems found
Hypothesis• Collaboration between Disability
Services (DS) and Career Services (CS) is needed• CS is the only campus office at which
employers visit to recruit• Without students with disabilities
participating in CS programs, they are invisible to employers
• CS needs exposure to disability• DS needs exposure to careers
University Research• In-person meetings with 25
universities• Targeted by reputation in serving
students with disabilities• New Mobility Magazine• ODEP
• Attempted to identify a “model program” integrating students with disabilities into CS
University Research• Results• No active “model program”• Several attempts that withered away• Other possible programs were active
but ineffective• Assigning a specific person in CS as the
disability expert• Limited hours with limited disability
experience
• Some DS and CS offices unaware of each other
Employer Research
• In-person meetings with 35 national employers• Seeking “success stories” of
recruitment of college students with disabilities
• Identifying employers “ready” to recruit college students with disabilities
Employer Research• Results• More questions than answers• Where do we find students with
disabilities?• When we do find students, why are they
unqualified?
• Bounced between CS and DS in search• Great enthusiasm and recognition of
need to hire people with disabilities• Changing workforce with looming labor
shortage• Disability is a new source
UT Disability Careers Office• Liaison office between DS and CS
• Initial funding of $70,000 net from VR
• Does not replace or replicate CS
• Coordinator supervised by Director of CS
• Assists students with disability related issues for ultimate referral to CS• Self-Advocacy• Disclosure
UT Disability Careers Office
• Results after six years• Peak of more than 150 students served• Placement rate similar to CS rate with
general student population• Funding challenges with VR in ’03 – ‘04• Now on UT hard money• New Coordinator that will build it back
UT Disability Careers Office• Services to all students with
disabilities• One-on-one appointments• Basic resume and cover letter
assistance• Encouragement to seek CS internships• Hosting of WRP• AAPD, The Washington Center,
Emerging Leaders, AAAS Entry Point!• Community outreach
Bringing It All Together
• Employers• Specifically searching for students with
disabilities• Specific recruiting programs • Specialized personnel in Disability
Services role• Greater sophistication in disability
Bringing It All Together
• Career Services• Understanding of key role as liaison
between student and employer• Need to be more helpful and attuned to
needs of students with disabilities• COSD training is getting out there• COSD encouraging CS to reach out to
DS
Bringing It All Together
• Disability Services• Expanding the “continuum of service”• Understanding difference between
disclosure in higher education and workplace
• COSD encouraging involvement with students and employers
• COSD encouraging outreach to CS
Challenges• Confidentiality in sharing of student
information between CS and DS
• Suggestions• DS Staff belief in collaboration with CS
and employers as a way to assist students beyond graduation
• Outreach to CS to set guidelines• Need to find the best way for your
school – forms and procedures• Students need to “buy” into concept
Challenges• Confidentiality in sharing of student
information between CS and DS
• Further suggestions • Student awareness of the importance of
career preparation• Student understanding of the value of
work experience• Obtaining “buy-in” from Deans and VPs
at your school of the value of DS and CS collaboration
Challenges• Not enough time• At each encounter with a student, ask
questions• Have you chosen a major? (1st or 2nd Year)• Have you thought about the future of that
major? (1st or 2nd Year)• Would you like help with resume and cover
letter? (Sophomore through Senior Years)• Do you know which employers come to
campus? (Senior Year)• Would you like to know more about CS?
• Joint programs and mutual advertising of each other’s programs
Challenges• Not enough knowledge• DS folks do not need to be career
experts• Identify specific people to which you refer
students• Stress the importance of a career search• Part of your “tool box” along with Advising,
Counseling Services and Accommodations
• Reach out to CS for basic in-service training
Summary• Unemployment among college
graduates with disabilities is 40%• Resources on campus to help these
students find appropriate careers• Disability Services is primary
connection to these students and vital to refer them to these resources
• Disability Services vital to keep careers in the front of students’ minds
• Encouragement of students
COSD Contact Information
Alan D. Muir, Executive Director COSD
The University of Tennessee
100 Dunford Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996-4010
865-974-7148
E-mail: [email protected]
COSD Website: www.cosdonline.org