Career Services is committed to helping students with visible and non-visible disabilities find gainful and satisfying employment. We work closely with MSU’s Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities to answer questions you may have about disclosure, accommodations, and your legal rights.
Common Questions from Students with Disabilities
- How can I figure out if an employer will be supportive and suit my needs and values?
- How and when should I disclose my disability to an employer? (We can practice or role-play disclosure with you)
- What is considered a “reasonable accommodation” and how should I request one?
- What strengths might I bring to the workplace as a person with a disability?
- How do I overcome challenges or request accommodations for an interview?
Schedule an advising appointment through Handshake to discuss these and other questions with one of our experienced career advisors.
Accommodations: If you anticipate needing an accommodation to participate in a career services program or activity, or have questions about accessibility, please contact us ahead of time at 517-355-9510 or email CareerServices@csp.msu.edu.
Career Advising
Connect with a career advisor to learn more about:
- Assessing your range of skills and professional interests
- Including your unique experience on your professional documents (resume, cover letters)
- Gaining additional experience through internships, part-time work, and other professional development opportunities
- Developing a job search strategy, including identifying employers who value your perspective
- Building a professional network that utilizes Spartan mentors
- Preparing for interviews by highlighting your array of skills
- Applying to graduate/professional school
Appointments can be made via Handshake, where you can schedule time with a general or discipline-specific career advisor from the Career Services Network.
Connect with Professional Organizations and Resources
Students and job seekers with disabilities have a number of ways to seek out guidance and support. Several ways to get started:
- Professional Organizations: The American Association of People with Disabilities, National Business and Disability Council, National Organization on Disability, and National Center for College Students with Disabilities offer a robust range of resources and advice.
- Curated Resources from Career Services: Be sure to browse the catalogue of resources Career Services has curated for individuals with disabilities, which includes professional organizations, job search sites, and support services.
Disclosure Advice
Job seekers with disabilities must inevitably consider, “Should I or shouldn’t I disclose my disability?” The decision may be framed differently depending on whether you have a visible or non-visible disability. Ultimately, the decision is very personal and entirely up to you.
As you weigh your choices, consider:
- Why might you want to disclose in the workplace?
- When is the best time to disclose your disability?
- How should you disclose your disability?
- What about your disability should you disclose?
- To whom should you disclose your disability?
- What disclosure protections and responsibilities are you entitled to?
Consider disclosure advice from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) as you weigh your options and discuss with a career advisor.
MSU's Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities
A hallmark of MSU’s Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities is maintenance of collaborative partnerships aimed at helping students and employees with disabilities fully realize their academic, career, and life goals. Check out RCPD’s website to learn more about the ways they’re poised to help Spartans.
MSU Connect
Connect with other Spartan who share your professional interests by joining relevant interest groups on MSU Connect. There, you can find an alumni mentor based on your preferred location, industry, or specific organization.
