Career Resources for Students & Alumni with Disabilities

MVCC’s Career Development Center is committed to supporting students and alumni with disabilities while navigating their career journey.

Exploring careers, developing professional skills, building your career toolkit (résumé, cover letter, LinkedIn), and searching for an internship or job can feel overwhelming—and it’s often hard to know where to start. That’s where we come in. The Career Development Center staff is here to guide you every step of the way and help you access the resources and accommodations you need throughout your job search.

MVCC Support Services

  • Office of Accessibility Resources: Committed to providing leadership, advocacy, and services to the college community to ensure a physical, academic, social, and attitudinal environment in which any student or visitor can participate with equity and dignity.
  • Career Transition Program: Provides pre-employment transition services designed to help students develop self-advocacy, job exploration, workplace readiness, (paid) work-based learning (e.g. internships), and post-secondary options and opportunities, to encourage growth and ensure future success. 

Tips and Guidance

  • Disclosure: When deciding on disability disclosure, you may ask yourself: “Do I have an obligation to disclose?” “When is the right time?” “How much information does the employer need?” and “How will disclosing the information affect my employment?” 

A to Z: Disability Disclosure and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Answers to many FAQs related to disability disclosure and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

  • Requesting Reasonable Accommodations: Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers (with 15 or more employees) to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. 

Requesting and Negotiating a Reasonable Accommodation: Help with deciding the how, who, why and follow up needed to request.

Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace: fact sheet which serves as a basic overview.

  • Interview Info: The ADA restricts the types of questions an employer can ask during an interview. With few exceptions, employers are prohibited from asking questions about an applicant’s disability prior to making an employment offer.

Interviewing 101 Guide: provides detailed information about what to expect, how to prepare for an interview, and how to format your ideal resume.

Interview Tips for New Grads on the Autism Spectrum: advice tailored to individuals whose neurodiversity may present unique challenges.

Job Search

  • AbilityJOBS:  Career website dedicated to employment of people with disabilities.
  • Career Circle: Recruitment solution dedicated to helping inclusive employers hire professional individuals and veterans with disabilities.
  • Job Accommodation Network: JAN is a comprehensive job resource that offers free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
  • My Plus Students’ Club: provides career advice to the 18% of students with a disability or long-term health condition. Website includes resources, tips, and guidelines for navigating the job search experience.
  • ACCES-VR: The Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services - Vocational Rehabilitation find and maintain suitable employment and meet independent living needs.

Professional Associations

The associations listed below represent just a small sample; many more exist, including numerous disability-specific professional organizations that can be found by searching based on specific diagnoses or disability types.

  • AHEAD: Association on Higher Education and Disability is the leading professional membership association for individuals committed to equity for people with disabilities in higher education.
  • Society of Healthcare Professionals with Disabilities: Provides free resources and support for its members including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, NPs, students, and other health care professionals.
  • Disabled Businesspersons Association: Dedicated to advocating vocational rehabilitation and enhancing the competitive performance of the enterprising disabled in the workplace.
  • NOD: The National Association on Disability focuses on increasing employment opportunities for Americans with disabilities who are not employed.
  • American Foundation for the Blind: AFB aims to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or visually impaired.
  • DREAM: Disability Rights, Education, Activism, and Mentoring mission is to advance the interests of students with disabilities and their allies. DREAM advocates for student rights, increased accessibility, social and policy change, and aims to support and mentor local campus groups.

Other Resources

  • Disability Mentoring Day (DMD): Opportunity for students with disabilities to job shadow in a career of their interest.
  • AAPD Internship Programs: Competitive internship program for college students with disabilities through the American Association of People with Disabilities.