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: amuir@tennessee.edu

COSD Website: www.cosdonline.org