There are many reasons that employers might want to recruit individuals with disabilities:
- Diversity:
Some businesses are looking for diverse characteristics in their workforce, and consider individuals with disabilities part of a broader definition of diversity that may include criteria such as race, gender, or ethnic identity. - Unique Expertise:
Many employers believe that individuals with disabilities have unique expertise that can be applied in a work setting. - Innovation:
Many people with disabilities are required to engage in creative problem solving on a daily basis. In a work setting, such resourcefulness can translate into innovative thinking and creative solutions to problems. - Attracting Business:
Many American consumers say they prefer to support businesses that hire people with disabilities. Further, customers with disabilities often do business with companies that best meet their needs and reflect their values.
UW’s Accessible Futures Program:
Accessible Futures is a paid summer internship program for UW students with physical disabilities. If you’re interested in hosting a summer intern who has a physical disability, please reach out to Briana Randall, Executive Director of UW’s Career & Internship Center, at brianakr@uw.edu no later than February 1 2026.
Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP):
The University of Washington participates enthusiastically in the WRP, a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private sector employers nationwide with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to prove their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Diversity Management & Equal Opportunity (ODMEO) manage the program. Annually, trained WRP recruiters from federal agencies conduct personal interviews with interested candidates on college and university campuses across the country- including a strong candidate pool at the University of Washington. Information from these candidate interviews is compiled in a searchable database that is available to both public- and private-sector hiring officials.
Opportunities Newsletter for UW Students with Disabilities:
This newsletter is delivered twice each academic year to about 1,000 UW students with disabilities. It announces opportunities for students to apply for internships and scholarships, access community and campus resources, engage in research, and attend local job fairs. Recruiters who wish to submit announcements to the newsletter are encouraged to contact Scott Bellman, DO-IT Project Manager. Subscribe for the newsletter on the DO-IT News webpage.
UW’s AccessSTEM Careers:
Through this project, funded by the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, employers engage with STEM students with disabilities regarding career development, internships, and labor market trends. Employers have access to student resumes and participate in workshops for students and job seekers with disabilities. The project is led by the Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT) Center.
UW’s Access Computing:
This National Science Foundation-funded project helps students with disabilities successfully pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in computing fields, and helps students find internships and jobs in computing fields. The project is led by the Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT) Center.
More UW Information:
Additional information about the employment of individuals with disabilities can be found at the DO-IT Knowledge Base, a growing collection of hundreds of articles related to employment, accommodations, technology, college, and careers for individuals with disabilities.
Additional Resources:
#AbleTo
A Canadian group, the David C. Onley Initiative for Employment and Enterprise Development (DCOI), in partnership with a number of Canadian universities, has created robust resources for recruiting students with disabilities.
– Tap Into Talent
– Myth-busting for Employers
– Build an Inclusive Workplace
– Applying Universal Design
Job Accommodation Network
JAN helps employers recognize the valuable contributions that qualified workers with disabilities add to the workforce by providing job accommodation solutions, trusted interactive process strategies, and practical guidance on Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Job accommodations play a vital role in increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
– Workplace Accommodations: Low Cost, High Impact
– Employers’ Practical Guide to Reasonable Accommodation Under the ADA
– Employers’ Practical Guide to Reasonable Accommodation During the Hiring Process
– Sample Accommodation Policies, Processes, Forms
