Career Center
Meet Your Facilitators

Facilitator Introductions

Welcome to Disability @ Work: Navigating Career with Disabilities. My name is Caroline Rogers, and I will be your instructor for this asynchronous course.

Meet your Instructor

The Career Center is committed to providing services and resources for students, alumni, and employers that prepare UNC Charlotte graduates for the competitive global market. Through a focus on early, continuous career and professional preparation, we bridge academic knowledge and professional development. We believe our students/alumni are empowered explorers who are seeking career savviness through becoming marketable, practiced, and networked.

Our university's coaching program is designed to guide students through self-discovery, decision-making, understanding the world of work, and developing the tools to transition from strategic planning to actionable steps. Coaching is individualized, following the Career Community Model, where students select industries of interest to receive tailored experiences, events, and communication. To support student explorations, we have developed a variety of "journeys" that offer students diverse and flexible opportunities to gain real-world experience aligned with their career and academic goals. These journeys include traditional pathways such as internships, research experiences, and cooperative education, as well as innovative options designed to accommodate students’ varying schedules and commitments.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course you will be able to:

Recognize and Articulate Accommodations

Identify various types of accommodations available in the workplace and understand how to advocate for their needs effectively.

Disclose and Advocate

Determine the key factors for deciding when and how to disclose a disability and create actionable steps for future disclosure and advocacy efforts.

Identify Skills and Goals

Articulate their unique skills, strengths, and career goals while employing effective networking strategies to connect with mentors, peers, and employers.

Understand Legal Protections

Explain the key legal protections available to individuals with disabilities, including the processes for reporting discrimination and seeking recourse if rights are violated.

Utilize Wellness Strategies

Implement effective coping strategies and wellness practices to support mental health and well-being in the workplace.

Recognize the Value of Mentorship and Leadership

Participants will understand the importance of mentorship for professional development and success, while also cultivating essential leadership skills and self-advocacy techniques to prepare for future roles.

Define and Implement Allyship Strategies

Participants will articulate the concept of allyship, identify challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, and develop strategies that acknowledge intersectionality in fostering an inclusive workplace.

Assess Technology’s Impact on Accessibility

Participants will evaluate how technology influences accessibility in both in-person and remote work environments, recognizing common challenges and opportunities to enhance inclusivity.

Explore Accessibility’s Role in Workplace Culture

Participants will discuss the significance of accessibility in employee engagement and productivity while evaluating accessibility standards to improve digital inclusivity.

Develop and Apply Inclusive Hiring Practices

Participants will define key principles of inclusivity and leadership, and create a personalized plan for implementing inclusive hiring strategies within their organizations.