Access WIL

Promoting Equal Access to WIL

People with disabilities face many barriers to study and work and are underrepresented in these areas. This project looks at the intersection of these experiences where students with disabilities look for and complete Work-Integrated Learning internship placements as part of their degrees.

This project is lead by Timothy Boye from the University of Technology Sydney and is funded by the Australasian Association for Engineering Education and the Australian Collaborative Education Network.

About the Project

What is the experience of students with disabilities in finding and working in WIL internship placements and how can we better support them?

The experience of students with disabilities in the workforce is in some ways personally motivated. Being a person with a disability I know first-hand how difficult work can be especially with employers who are unwilling to provide accommodations despite their responsibilities under the law. I have personally been let go at the end of probation periods as "I don't think this job is right for you", code for accommodating you is too much effort but we know if we say it outright you would have proof to take to a discrimination case. And who knows how many jobs I was not considered for as they realised I had a disability.

Knowing and working with a diverse range of people with disabilities I hear all too often that these stories are not unique. The literature tells us that people with disabilities are underrepresented in the workforce and not through lack of desire to work. We know discrimination happens in hiring and retention. We also know that people with disabilities are underrepresented in further education and this despite universities claiming vast support programs for students with disabilities.

Given that there is a shortfall in supportive jobs for people with disabilities, given that there is a shortfall in supportive places at university for people with disabilities, and given that many degrees particularly engineering and IT now require students to find an industry placement, what is the experience of students with disabilities in this space? How are students supported in finding placements, how are students supported while on placement and how do these students feel about their placements?