WorkAbility IV Program

It's great to have a degree, but it's even better to have a degree and a career.

About the Program

The Workability IV Program (WAIV) is a career preparation and job placement assistance program for students and recent alumni with disabilities at California State University, Long Beach. This 2-year program is offered through the CSULB Career Development Center, Bob Murphy Access Center (BMAC), and the California State Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) to assist students and recent alumni with disabilities in securing internships, developing employment skills, and retaining gainful employment.

We achieve this through: 
  • Support with obtaining jobs and internships aligned with your academic major
  • One-on-one disability and career counseling
  • Guidance with accommodations in the workplace
  • Customized career counseling, workshops, and networking events
  • Support with accommodations and disability management in the workplace

Eligibility

To be a participant in the Workability IV Program students need to meet the following criteria:
  • Must be a CSULB current student or recent alumni
  • Have a verifiable disability/medical diagnosis
  • Be actively ready to seek employment and internships
  • Overall GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Be a current consumer of California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) 

To further discuss program eligibility contact: 
Bob Murphy Access Center 
Location: SSSC, Room 110 
Phone: (562) 985-5401 
E-mail: bmac@csulb.edu

DOR

If you are interested in receiving vocational resources from the DOR only, refer to DOR “Get Started” webpage.

WAIV

If you are already a consumer of the DOR and are interested in joining the WorkAbility IV program, contact the WorkAbility IV Staff at CDC-WorkAbility@csulb.edu and provide the name of your DOR counselor.

Both DOR and WAIV

If you are interested in becoming both a consumer of the DOR and are interested in joining the WorkAbility IV program, contact the WorkAbility IV Staff at CDC-WorkAbility@csulb.edu.

The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) works with Californians to help them get a job, live independently, and have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else

To be eligible for services, an individual must:
  • have a physical or mental impairment that substantially impedes his / her ability to secure employment, and vocational rehabilitation services are required to prepare for, secure, retain, or regain employment consistent with the applicant's unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, interests, and informed choice;
  • be able to benefit from the DOR's services in terms of an employment outcome in an integrated setting. 
Services Provided:
  • Connect you with hiring employers
  • Job coaching and skill set supports
  • Funding for tuition, textbooks, parking, transportation, clothing and supplies
  • Assistive technology and software resources
  • Disability and benefits counseling (SSI.SSDI)

Students with disabilities have access to a wide range of career resources and support services to help them achieve their career goals.

Resources and Organizations:

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) JAN provides free consulting services for individuals with disabilities seeking job accommodations. They offer a variety of resources, including an A to Z of disabilities and accommodation ideas.

USA- Disability services  offers a comprehensive list of resources for people with disabilities, including information on employment, education, and housing.

abilityJOBS is a job board specifically for individuals with disabilities, AbilityJobs connects employers with qualified candidates.

American Job Centers provide a variety of services, including job search assistance, career counseling, and training programs. They can assist individuals with disabilities in finding suitable employment.

National Telecommuting Institute  specializes in placing individuals with disabilities in work-at-home positions. They provide training and job placement services.

Workforce Recruitment Program connects federal and private sector employers with college students and recent graduates with disabilities for internships and full-time positions.

Disability:IN promotes disability inclusion in the workplace. They offer resources for job seekers and connect them with inclusive employers.

CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides a dedicated job search portal for individuals with disabilities.

Hiring individuals with disabilities is an important step towards promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. There are various resources and organizations that can help employers in the process of hiring and supporting individuals with disabilities. 

Resources: 

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) provides free consulting services to employers seeking guidance on workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities. they offer information on ADA compliance and solutions to common accommodation challenges. 

U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) offers a range of resources, including guidance on disability employment policy, employer incentives, and success stories from inclusive workplaces.

Disability:IN connects businesses with disability inclusion resources and tools. They offer disability inclusion benchmarking, best practices, and networking opportunities.

National Organization on Disability (NOD) provides valuable resources and guidance on disability inclusion strategies, training, and best practices for employers.

Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) assists individuals with disabilities in finding and maintaining employment. Employers can partner with these agencies to access a pool of qualified candidates.