Supporting Students with Disabilities in Work-Integrated Learning

Work‑integrated learning (WIL) offers students vital opportunities to build professional skills and connect classroom learning to real‑world practice. For students with disabilities, these experiences can be especially meaningful when appropriate supports are in place. Faculty and staff play a key role in helping students access these opportunities equitably. The good news: you are not doing this work alone. Our campus offers dedicated expertise through Accessible Learning Services and Advising & Career Services to support students with disabilities and their workplace hosts throughout the WIL and employability journey.

Why Early Support Matters

Work environments vary widely—what works well in a classroom may not translate automatically to a professional setting. Students with disabilities may encounter new physical, sensory, or digital barriers; differences in communication or supervision styles; or productivity expectations that require flexibility or adaptation. When faculty and staff connect students early with the right supports, students are better positioned to succeed, employers receive clear and professional guidance, and placements are more likely to be positive and sustainable.

Accessible Learning Services: Workplace Accommodations Made Clear

Accommodation Advisors and Specialists are available to support learners with disabilities and self-advocacy skills. We work collaboratively with students to identify functional needs and appropriate accommodations for workplace environments. One of the most effective supports ALS provides is a formal workplace accommodation letter. This document:

  • Clearly outlines approved accommodations based on the student’s documented needs
  • Translates academic accommodations into workplace‑relevant language
  • Helps employers understand how to support the student while maintaining role expectations

Examples of workplace accommodations may include alternative formats for training materials, adjusted communication methods or supervisor check‑ins, or ergonomic or environmental adjustments. Faculty and staff are encouraged to refer students to Accessible Learning Services early—ideally before a placement begins—to allow sufficient time for planning and coordination. Accessibility Advisors are also available to consult with faculty and staff about accessibility considerations in WIL programs.

Career Advising for Learners with Disabilities through Advising & Career Services

In addition to formal accommodations, students with disabilities benefit from career‑focused advising that takes individual strengths, interests, and access needs into account. Our Student Success Advisor prepares students for the workplace by using a strengths-based and self-advocacy approach to:

  • Review resumes, cover letters, and applications with disability in mind
  • Practice interviewing and workplace communication including discussing accommodation needs
  • Develop strategies for self‑advocacy and problem‑solving on the job
  • Completing the Disability Impact on Career and Employment (DICE) Questionnaire to support workplace preparation

This holistic approach helps students build confidence and navigate workplace expectations proactively — before challenges arise. Faculty and staff can help students proactively by:

  • Normalizing accessibility in WIL conversations. Encourage all students to explore available supports early.
  • Referring proactively. Connect students to Accessible Learning Services and Advising & Career Services as soon as WIL is discussed.
  • Reaching out for consultation. Both Accessibility Advisors and the Student Success Advisor are available to support faculty and program staff.

By leveraging the expertise of Accessible Learning Services and Advising & Career Services, faculty and staff can help ensure that students with disabilities are supported, empowered, and able to thrive in their workplace learning experiences.

For referrals or consultations, connect with:

Together, we can make work‑integrated learning accessible, inclusive, and impactful for all students.