Purpose: to encourage disabled students to apply for internships
Background: A recent study found that disabled students are less likely than their non-disabled peers to take advantage of internship opportunities. The study also found that disabled students are more likely than their non-disabled peers to experience challenges with finding and applying for internships.
Objectives: To encourage disabled students to apply for internships by providing a platform that makes it easier for them to find, apply, and get accepted into internships.
Target audience: Disabled persons across the country who are interested in internships.
Strategy: Develop a website where disabled individuals can post their résumés and find information about available internships.
Internship For Disabled Students
The Internship and Career Center (ICC) is committed to providing students with disabilities the services and resources needed to be successful in the career planning process. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss choosing a career, making professional contacts, and marketing your unique skills and experiences so you can secure employment and advanced degree opportunities. We invite you to start by exploring some of the resources listed below.
Visit the Student Disability Center for additional information about services and resources available for UC Davis students with disabilities.
Career Resources
- JAN – Job Accommodation Network: includes accommodation ideas, how to negotiate, and helpful articles
- Project HIRED: career consulting resources for job seekers with disabilities
- USAJobs.gov – Federal jobs website: the Federal Government offers unique hiring paths to encourage hiring of individuals with disabilities
- CalCareers.ca.gov – State jobs website: the Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP) is designed to help persons with disabilities get jobs in the California state government
- Workforce Recruitment Program: connects federal and private-sector employers with college students and recent graduates with disabilities
Job Boards
- ABILITY Jobs: since 1995, the leading job posting site for individuals with disabilities
- Getting Hired: a website to connect inclusive employers to candidates with disabilities, including job seeker resources
Professional Associations
- American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
- Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
- Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)
Campus Resources
- Student Disability Center: addresses requests for accommodation, approves services, and coordinates support for students with disabilities to create equitable access to the University’s educational programs
- Center for Student Involvement: includes a list of registered student organizations on campus
Tips on how to find companies that are inclusive:
- Research online: Start with the company’s website and notice what you see in the photos. Read the “About Us” section, looking for metrics on inclusive hiring practices. You can also read employees’ reviews on sites such as Glassdoor.
- Look at the company’s employees: Find out who’s on the leadership team, on the website, or on LinkedIn. Look at the staff directory.
- Check the company’s core values: Do they have a mission statement or core values? If so, see if they mention diversity or inclusion as priorities.
- Check for Employee Resource Groups: Also known as ERGs, affinity groups, or business network groups, they are groups of employees who join together in their workplace based on shared characteristics or life experiences. For example, at UC Davis there is the DiversABILITY Employee Resource Group.
- Ask questions during your interview: When the interviewer asks if you have any questions for them, try inquiring about their inclusive practices. You could ask questions such as:
- I see diversity is listed in the company’s values. Can you share some examples of how you promote it?
- What does the organization do to ensure an inclusive workplace?
- Network: Reach out to your connections, or reach out through LinkedIn. Do you know anyone at the company? See if anyone who has worked at the company can share details on diversity and inclusion.
- Check employee benefits and personnel policies: Policies can reveal a lot. For example, does the medical leave policy encompass a variety of medical situations? Do they accommodate a variety of work accessibility needs? etc.
