Overview
Do you have a disability? Are you trying to figure out how to balance your accessibility needs while working, searching for work or planning your career?
We understand that different barriers can impact your experience. Different types of disabilities can pose different barriers during your work search, on the job and if you want to study further. On this page, we have some tips, resources and things to remember about searching for work and working with a disability!
Finding the right opportunity that aligns with your core values and accessibility requirements may take some additional time and planning. Remember, you’re not alone in this process! We have resources and suggestions below that can support you in this journey and ensure you feel informed, prepared, and confident in navigating the workforce with your disability.
Self-reflect and network
You might consider multiple factors when thinking through where you might want to work!
Does this sound like you?
I can’t think of where I’d like to work and the type of work I want to do;
I need an income stream now to support myself and or my family, friends and community.
We’d like to affirm this! Sometimes, we have the space, time and privilege to think through where we’d like to work and other times we don’t. If you’d like to chat more, if you’d like support finding accessible work, if you’d like support preparing your application materials or if you’d like support preparing for an interview, connect with a career advisor.
Understanding your disability:
Remember, you are the expert of your own lived experience! You understand better than anyone what your disability means for you and what you bring to any employment opportunity. Take some time to reflect on what this means for you and if/how a disability has shaped your skillset or value assessment of yourself. Think about what you need to feel your best self at work. For example:
What options exist to support employees with disabilities?
How are employee well-being and retention supported? What support does the employer offer to employees who need to take a leave of absence? Is the process accessible/manageable for you?
What is the employee extended health and wellness benefits package?
Understanding your accommodation needs
It can help to think through what the employer may not be aware of regarding disabilities. That’s often where you will need to focus when requesting adjustments or accommodations.
Typically, there are supportive spaces within organizations to help you thrive in your work. First, what is your situation?
Maybe you suspect that you may have a disability, or you are not formally diagnosed. Do you experience any functional limitations when working? But you don’t have an accommodation plan? Consider visiting AccessAbility Services or Occupational Health to chat about what support options are available and would be a good fit for you. As well, you might find helpful resources on the Student Support Services page.
Maybe you have a non-apparent disability. Many employers are unaware that many disabilities are non-apparent or episodic and only sometimes apparent. Outsiders may struggle to understand all barriers that folks with non-apparent disabilities will navigate. Try looking through the supports listed on this page to find what might work best for you.
It is a challenge to know if you need accommodations. You might be asking yourself, how do I know what I need? Perhaps you have recently acquired a disability, or you are unaware of how your disability will impact your ability to do a job. You are the expert of your experience, so let that guide you in asking for what you may need. Here are some factors and associated questions you may wish to consider:
Values and characteristics of the organization/company
Do my goals and interests match the employer's?
Should I choose to share, how can I tell if the employer will be accepting of my full self?
What mentorship opportunities are available to me? What professional development or career planning support does the employer offer?
Employer location
Are you within proximity to your support system(s)? If not, are there options to manage that?
How affordable is housing?
How easily can you get to and from work? How accessible is the commute?
Connecting with others
Engaging with others can also help you gain a more transparent perspective of a potential employer!
You might connect with people you trust
You might join an already existing network for folks with disabilities, such as:
Discover Ability Network, is a job-matching platform where students can register, self-identify as having a disability, and access job postings from inclusive employers.
Lime Connect, is a resource that connects students with disabilities to a network of professionals, job opportunities, recruitment events, internships, and networking opportunities.
You might target job opportunities built specifically for people with disabilities like Federal Internship Program for Canadians with Disabilities or Specialisterne, a site specifically for students on the autism spectrum that connects them to meaningful job opportunities.
You might check out structured opportunities to connect on campus like Employer Information Sessions, Ten Thousand Coffees UWaterloo and off campus like Pride at Work Rendez Vous or Matrices, MentorAbility