Career Planning for Students and Alumni with Disabilities

In cooperation with UT Career Services and the office of Disability Services, the Disability-Careers Office (DCO) assists individual college students and alumni who have various disabilities by providing career planning services and guidance pertaining to their specific disability related issues.

Specifically, the DCO provides assistance in developing self-advocacy skills, in recognizing strategies for appropriate disclosure of a disability to employers, and in requesting reasonable workplace accommodations. The student’s interaction with the DCO coordinator teaches her or him how to effectively utilize the existing campus career development resources.

The DCO provides assistance to all students with a documented disability as evidenced by their registration with the Office of Disability Services and/or with Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

Statistics: Why You Should Use the DCO

• Approximately 1 in 5 Americans have a disability.
• Individuals with disabilities are less likely to be employed when compared to their non-disabled peers, representing a significant loss of willing and able talent to both private and public sector organizations.
• Most students with disabilities are not knowledgeable about the legalities of disclosure rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
• Students need more information about the variety of accommodation options, more information about factors to be considered when requesting reasonable accommodations, and more practice in requesting those accommodations.
• Career development opportunities such as internships and other work-based experiences can enhance employment opportunities for all students.