The Ontario government’s Career Ready Fund—a part of Ontario’s Career Kick-Start Strategy—recently granted Carleton $800,000 to help kickstart careers for students with disabilities.
According to a news release, Carleton is “arguably the most accessible post-secondary institution in Canada for students with disabilities.” But, getting these students their first jobs after graduation can be challenging.
“Ontario’s students are highly educated and incredibly talented, but without some work-related experience on their resumé, it can be challenging for them to land that first job after school,” Mitzie Hunter, Ontario’s Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, said in the release.
In response to these challenges, Carleton’s Career Services Office and the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities (PMC) are creating the Carleton University Accessible Experiential Learning (CUAEL) project. The project is aimed at giving students with disabilities entrepreneurial and work experience through summer jobs, internships, and part-time jobs during the school year.
Emily Miller, a second-year Carleton public affairs and policy administration student, said she is registered with the PMC for attention-deficit disorder and a learning disability, due to a childhood stroke.
Miller said she thinks Carleton has a welcoming campus for students with disabilities, adding that she is speaking from a place of privilege, since her disabilities can be seen as minor.
“I think it’s pretty amazing that they’re putting that much funding into [the project],” she said. “I think it’s like levelling the playing field for people who feel like because of their disabilities they may not have the same opportunities.”
Falum Gibson, a second-year political science student with experience using accessibility services on campus, said she agreed that the project is useful for getting students with disabilities jobs. But Carleton still has more accessibility work to do, she said.
“I think in terms of physical accessibility, (Carleton is) the most accessible school,” she said. “But they’re lacking on other services, like mental health, and academic assistance, and such.”
The project plans on placing 300 students with disabilities in employment opportunities over the next year, according to its website.
