A mentor working with a student

Support UBC students through the Disability-Specific Career Development Program

This year, the UBC Career Centre is launching its Disability-Specific Career Development Program to support UBC students beginning their career journey while navigating life with a disability. We invite all UBC alumni who are working professionals and self-identify as having a disability to support UBC students through these two volunteer roles.

Roles

Working Professional Mentors

The UBC Career Centre is now accepting Mentor applications from working professionals who self-identify as disabled. We invite you to share your lived experiences and insight with current UBC students involved in our Disability-Specific Career Development Program.

Our students are eager to hear from alumni who have lived experience navigating the intersection of career and disability. By sharing your story, you will provide invaluable advice, guidance, and inspiration to the next generation of working professionals.

As a Working Professional Mentor, this opportunity will allow you to:

  • Share your professional journey highlighting both struggles and successes relating to career development.
  • Offer advice on strategies and resources for overcoming workplace obstacles.
  • Nurture student confidence with self-advocacy and navigating the workforce with a disability.
  • Connect with and give back to the UBC community.
  • Contribute to the expansion of disability-specific programming at UBC.

We recognize and respect intersectional identity and lived experience and we welcome and encourage applicants of all backgrounds and professional experiences. By elevating the voices of those with direct experience, we hope your participation will empower students and offer a realistic perspective on progressing through careers with a disability.

If you’re interested in becoming a Working Professional Mentor, please fill out the form linked below. Please note: we may not be able to accommodate mentorship matches for all applicants.


Alumni Guest Speakers

The UBC Career Centre is now accepting Guest Speaker applications from working UBC alumni who self-identify as disabled. We invite you to share your lived experiences and insight with current UBC students involved in our Disability-Specific Career Development Program.

Our students are eager to hear from alum who have lived experience navigating the intersection of career and disability. By sharing your story, you will provide invaluable advice, guidance, and inspiration to the next generation of working professionals. Selected alumni will be invited to lead a 1-hour session consisting of a 20 to 25 minute presentation followed by a Q&A period.

As a guest speaker, you will be able to:

  • Share your professional journey highlighting both struggles and successes relating to career development.
  • Offer advice on strategies and resources for overcoming workplace obstacles.
  • Nurture student confidence with self-advocacy and navigating employment opportunities and the workforce as a person with a disability.
  • Connect with and give back to the UBC community.
  • Contribute to the expansion of disability-specific programming at UBC.

We recognize and respect intersectional identity and lived experience and we welcome and encourage applicants of all backgrounds and professional experiences. By elevating the voices of those with direct experience, we hope your participation will empower students and offer a realistic perspective on progressing through careers with a disability.

If you’re interested in becoming a guest speaker, please fill out the form linked below. Please note: we may not be able to accommodate speaking opportunities for all applicants.

Questions?

If you have questions about either of these opportunities, please contact Luke Penner, Career Educator, at luke.penner@ubc.ca.