Students with Disabilities/Special Needs

UMBC's Career Services is committed to ensuring nondiscriminatory participation for all students with disabilities.

All career services are available to students with disabilities and we encourage you to take advantage of the services and resources available to assist with your career planning and job search needs. For a list of services and resources not specific to your special needs please see the other pages of this websites directed to your year in school (available from the above menu).

It you will need special accommodations in order to utilize our services, please contact the Career Services Center at careers@umbc.edu. We will work with you to make any necessary special arrangements.

Accommodations

UMBC Office of Student Support Services (SSS) is designed for registered students with disabilities from all racial and ethnic backgrounds who have a need for academic and other support services in order to successfully complete their college education.

SSS can assist with physical and learning disabilities. If you need any special accommodations, you are encouraged to register with them as soon as possible. Accommodations could include additional tutoring, academic advisement assistance, and counseling services. Resources for students with disabilities such as a braille writer, tape recorder, visual tek reading machine, talking calculators, TTY, etc. are available.

The Student Support Services Department is located in the Mathematics/Psychology Building, Room 213, (410) 455-2459, TTY: (410) 455-3233.

Counseling Appointments and Resume Critiques

If you have limited mobility and would prefer to speak with a Career Specialist remotely, we would be happy to arrange an on-line or phone appointment.

Resume critiques can also be done by phone. Set up an appointment to speak with a Career Specialist in order to determine what information should be disclosed on your resume and if and when it should be disclosed during the job search process. They can offer advice based on your individual circumstances.

Job Fairs and Special Events

Pre-registration is not required for most of our fairs and special events (with the exception of the Business and Dining Etiquette seminar). However, if you will be attending and will need accommodations, please contact the Career Center reception desk at (410) 455-2216 so that we can assist you.

A list of employers participating in each of the Job Fairs is made available on our website a few weeks prior to each respective fair and also in hard copy at the fair. The hard copy version is distributed at all of our fairs and usually includes the organization's contact information, majors they are recruiting and some information on possible vacancies.

Employment and Job Search Resources

AFBCAREER CONNECT
The American Foundation for the Blind - a "free resource for people who are blind or visually impaired to learn about the range and diversity of the jobs that are performed throughout the United States and Canada by adults who are blind or visually impaired."

Business Leadership Network
The US Business Leadership Network (USBLN) is the national organization that supports development and expansion of its BLN chapters across the country, serving as their collective voice. It is the only national disability organization led by business for business. The USBLN recognizes and promotes best practices in hiring, retaining, and marketing to people with disabilities.

Disability and the Workplace: An Internet Primer
Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, this is an extensive guide to Internet Resources dealing with several levels of physical and mental disability and the workplace and also includes job search information.

DisabilityInfo.gov
Sponsored by several government agencies and provides one-stop access to helpful information on employment, education, housing, transportation, health, income support, civil rights, and more.

Entry Point!
Sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), students with disabilities can apply for great Internship opportunities in science, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and some fields of business.

Employment Opportunities posted at Hearing Loss Web
Employment opportunities targeted to the deaf and hard-of-hearing; They include college faculty positions, teachers at various levels, and social workers fluent in American Sign Language.

JobAccess
Provides job listings for people with disabilities; you must register and post your resume before you can access the job listings.

Lift, Inc.
Recruits, trains and places people with disabilities in information management and information technology positions; established in 1975.

Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
Below are a few of the services available through DORS:

National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
Information for the hearing disabled as well as their families and communities, and you can also learn about sign language and interpreter certification. While some sections of the site are limited to members, the NAD Job Market is open to all for viewing.

National Business & Disability Council
The leading national corporate resource on all issues related to the successful employment and integration of individuals with disabilities into America 's workforce. Includes access to job listings and a free resume database open to all college graduates with disabilities.

New Mobility's Interactive Café
One of the largest on-line communities for disability news, resources and culture. Also includes a Jobline for job listings and a resume database.

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Additional Resources
List of books and magazines in the Career Resource Center (MP 212)

In addition, the following hard-copy resource information may be of special interest to students with disabilities:

Job Search Handbook For People With Disabilities
by Dr. Daniel J. Ryan © JIST Works

Resources for People with Disabilities (Vol. 1)
© Ferguson Publishing Company

Resources for People with Disabilities (Vol. 2)
© Ferguson Publishing Company

CAREERS & the disABLED: The Career Magazine for People with Bisablities © Equal Opportunity Publications, Inc.