Gain Experience / Internships
A sampling of internship and recruitment programs specifically for persons with disabilities are listed (please scroll down) along with some of our regular web resources. Students with disabilities are highly encouraged to compete for and gain these valuable career-building experiences. See our Tip Sheet on internships, and links to other on-campus opportunities contained in other parts of our website. There are many ways to build experience, in extracurricular activities, community organizations you may be connected to and through volunteering and paid work. Make an appointment to develop a plan for building valuable experience for your career.
Internship Courses through the Experiential Education Office
Ways to gain experience on and off-campus
Community Leadership Development Program through the Experiential Education Office
The Research Opportunity Program
Other ways to get research experience – see our Tipsheet “Research Experience"
The Work-Study Program offers paid positions on campus with a wide variety of academic faculties, departments, and students services. The main work-study period is in the fall and winter terms and postings come out in mid to late August on the CLNx. A summer work-study period also offers many positions for students taking a least one half-credit course over both of the summer terms. The postings come out in early April. . Student services departments may also post jobs on the CLNx in early February. Other on-campus jobs may be posted throughout the academic cycle.
Career Edge
Since 1996, Career Edge, a self-sustaining social enterprise, has provided leadership in connecting private, public and not-for-profit businesses with diverse, qualified talent. They offer access to meaningful, career-launching paid internships in a wide range of non-regulated fields including Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Technology, Engineering, Business Operations, Administration and more.
DiscoverAbility Network
DiscoverAbility Network is an online platform that matches job seekers with disabilities with employers looking for skilled candidates. The aim is for employers to outreach to this demographic and find, hire and retain talented candidates who happen to have a disability. They have a variety of types of opportunities including internships.
Lime Connect
Lime Connect is a global not-for-profit organization that's rebranding disability through achievement. They do that by attracting, preparing and connecting high-potential university students and alumni who happen to have disabilities for internships, The Lime Connect Fellowship Program and full-time careers with their corporate partners - the world's leading corporations. Lime Connect also offers scholarship and leadership-building opportunities for students with disabilities.
Dolphin Consulting and Dolphin DMD
An IT consulting firm that utilizes technology to create a level playing field thereby becoming the first business in Canada to develop barrier-free solutions for persons with disabilities. They have a mentoring program and have facilitated the hiring of people with disabilities with their corporate partners.
RBC
Pursue Your Potential at RBC is a program designed to give persons with disabilities a volunteer-based placement. Opportunities for joining the team in a paid format is possible and if that occurs, RBC has a “Disability Employee Resources Group-REACH” program that allows individuals with different disabilities to connect and network with each other while developing professionally.
TD Canada Trust
TD Canada Trust embraces diversity and hires people from a wide range of experiences, backgrounds and abilities. TD Canada Trust Diversity
BMO Internship (Partnered with Lime Connect Canada and Career Edge)
The BMO Financial Group creates opportunities for students and new grads with disabilities through its partners Lime Connect and Career Edge.
Ontario Internship Program
Ontario Internship Program provides paid internships across a wide spectrum of fields (Communications, Economics, Health, and more). As a government and diversity employer, diverse candidates such as persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP)
The Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) provides students with learning opportunities through valuable, hands-on work experience. As a government and diversity employer, diverse candidates such as persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Federal Internship Program for Canadians with Disabilities
The Federal Internship Program for Canadians with Disabilities is a national program that offers internships to Canadians with disabilities. Interns will have the opportunity to develop their work skills and increase their employability. This program will offer 2-year internship opportunities in the federal public service to 125 persons with disabilities between 2019 and 2024.
AMI TV Paid Internships for Students with Disabilities
Accessible Media Inc. / AMI Internships Exciting opportunities await students who have a passion to make a difference every day. AMI will provide a challenging and rewarding experience in the Broadcast industry.
