Disability Careers Office

The Disability-Careers Office (DCO) is a collaboration of UT Career Services and the Office of Disability Services that offers career development and employment preparation assistance to UT college students and alumni who have various disabilities. The DCO works with students with all types of disabilities including but not limited to: learning disabilities (including ADHD and TBI), psychological disabilities, mobility disabilities, hearing disabilities, visual disabilities, and chronic health disabilities.

 

We are happy to provide many services including: 

• major and career exploration counseling
• information on job-seeking skills
• self-advocacy and self-disclosure skill development
• information on interviewing techniques and preparation
• information regarding rights, responsibilities, and options for reasonable accommodations in the workplace

 …and many other informational and career counseling services!

 

Along with our day to day individual appointments, the DCO also provides many programs and events for students to participate in. October is going to be a big month for our office as we host Disability Mentoring Month and the Workforce Recruitment Program!

 

Disability Mentoring Month is officially recognized during the third Wednesday of October, but the DCO is recognizing the importance of mentoring for the entire month of October! Participation in this program offers you an opportunity to be mentored by a professional in a career field that interests you. During this experience you can learn about the workplace, participate in informational interviews, observe a professional through job shadowing, and learn about potential internships and other opportunities.

 

The Workforce Recruitment Program is co-sponsored by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Defense. Each year a government recruiter visits the UT campus to interview current students and recent graduates with disabilities. Students are interviewed and then have the opportunity to be contacted for internships and employment at federal and private worksites throughout the Unites States (and abroad!). Approximately 2,200 students are interviewed through this program each year and in 2011 over 500 of the participants were hired!

 

It is never too early or too late to get involved with the DCO! We strongly encourage you to start utilizing the many resources that the DCO offers. Whether you are a freshman looking for a part-time job, a sophomore looking for an internship, or an alumni looking to start a new career, we are here to assist and support you through the process!

 

If you would like to learn more about any of these events or would like to set up an individual appointment, contact the DCO Coordinator, Sarah Helm by email at shelm1@utk.edu or by phone at (865) 974-6860 or the DCO Graduate Assistant, Myranda Bertrand by email at maustin3@utk.edu or by phone at (865) 974-5549.