Career Resources for Students with Disabilities

The following links will provide information to students with disabilities who are seeking internships and jobs as well as exploring other career-related support.  Please contact Career Services for assistance with career and major exploration as well as your internship and job hunt.

Building Out-of-Classroom Experience

Some of the best ways of building skills and making professional contacts is through out-of-classroom experiences.  Among the opportunities offered at BSU include:

Job Shadow Program During Winter Break - Students can shadow a professional for one day during Winter Break. 

Internships - BSU offers both for-credit and not-for-credit internships. 

The following Internship programs are specifically developed for students with disabilities:

The Kennedy Center Internships: offers an internship in performing arts administration to students with intellectual disabilities.

Mobility International USA: offers internships and exchanges abroad for young adults with disabilities.

American Association of People with Disabilities Internship Program: Students with disabilities interested in working in Congress or the IT field can receive a stipend and funds for travel and free, fully-accessible housing while interning in Washington DC.

Entry Point Internships for Students with Disabilities: Offers internships in science, mathematics, computer science and some fields of business.

Smithsonian Internship for People with Disabilities: The Office of Accessibility and the Smithsonian jointly offer four funded internships annually at the Smithsonian.

The Washington Center - Spend a semester or a summer interning in Washington DC.  This program offers a scholarship for selected students with disabilities.

Community Service - BSU's Community Service Center offers great opportunities to volunteer, build experience and network all at the same time.

Undergraduate Research - This BSU office provides funded opportunities to undergraduates from all disciplines who wish to pursue independent research, scholarship or creative activities under the guidance of a full-time BSU faculty or librarian mentor.

We Connect Now - This website provides information about events, programs, internships and jobs for students with disabilities.

Schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor at 508-531-1328 or stop by Room 8 in the Campus Center to schedule an appointment to discuss internships and other opportunities.

Employment Information

Accommodation - The Job Accommodation Network provides a good database for reviewing ADA compliant accommodations by disability.

Disclosure - The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability has created a workbook that helps youth with disabilities make solid decisions about disclosure to a potential employer.

Organizations - In addition to working with Career Services, there are a number of organizations and websites that may be able to help you during your job search.  They include:

Employers Embracing Diversity

Careers and the Disabled magazine has Readers Choice Awards for employers in the public and private sector.

The Federal Government is committed to hiring people with disabilities.  Most agencies have a Selective Placement Program Coordinator who recruits people with disabilities, who can be contacted directly about jobs.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts strongly encourages people with disabilities to apply for their positions. The state's Diversity Officers and ADA Coordinators can be contacted to arrange informational interviews about state positions available.

The United States Department of Labor provides a listing of companies by state, that have indicated to the agency an interest in recruiting and hiring qualified individuals with disabilities.

EOP Publications produces job fairs to bring people with disabilities together with recruiters from industry and government.

Important Note to Students with Disabilities

Career Services does not handle questions regarding disability access, accommodations, or academic issues. For information regarding services provided to students with disabilities at Bridgewater State University, contact the Disability Resources Office.

Last Modified: November 6, 2012