Connecting Talent to Opportunity
Students with disabilities face unique challenges to securing employment. Obstacles to obtaining transportation and relocation, disability stigma and a lack of awareness regarding reasonable work accommodations result in the population of people with disabilities being statistically under-employed or unemployed. We know our students and graduates are brimming with talent that our workforce needs! It’s time to connect Talent to Opportunity!
The “Campus 2 Careers Initiative” connects students and recent graduates with disabilities to meaningful internships and career opportunities, and facilitates relationships between companies and UMass to build a talent pipeline. Funds collected through UMass Gives will support students with disabilities by:
- informing the community of job/internship opportunities via web support and social media,
- funding transportation to conferences/career fairs, and
- providing training on the essential skills of employment:
- self-advocacy
- interviewing skills
- accessible technology products
- interviews with successful people with disabilities in the workforce.
Through your generosity, we can greatly reduce the employment rate of our UMass students and graduates. Employing people with disabilities helps far more than the employee. The company benefits from their talent. Colleagues benefit in awareness. Future applicants benefit from a workplace accustomed to considering accessibility needs. The University benefits from successful alumni. MA benefits from a reduction in unemployment and increased tax revenue. It’s a WIN, WIN for everyone!
Students seeking more information about the Campus 2 Career Initiative should contact the Disability Services Office.
