Traditional college environments and career services weren't originally built with disability in mind. Jaclyn discusses how her team is tackling this systemic barrier by training the university professionals who run campus career services and accessibility offices. Discover how this three-cohort national study is piloting an innovative, 6-week online course paired with a year-long "Community of Practice" to boost staff self-efficacy and drastically improve career outcomes for students across all disability categories.

Whether you are a student looking to advocate for your future, a higher education professional trying to do "more with less," or an advocate for inclusive education, this episode offers a vital blueprint for shifting campus culture from basic access to long-term success.

Key Takeaways From This Episode:

• Shifting the System, Not the Student: Why targeting the professional environment is the most effective way to eliminate barriers to internships and employment.
• The Power of "Community of Practice": How bringing college professionals together across the nation fosters mutual learning, problem-solving, and sustainable professional networks.
• Overcoming the "Time" Barrier: A candid look at the biggest challenge facing campus staff today, and how the study addresses funding and staffing constraints.
• Measuring What Matters: How the study evaluates success by tracking both tangible student job placement and the confidence (self-efficacy) of university professionals.
• Actionable Advice for Students: Why leaning into campus career services early, raising your voice, and practicing self-advocacy is key.

Learn More & Connect:

• Featured Guest: Jaclyn Camden, Project Director & Study Lead at VCU-RRTC
• Host: Carolyn Cage, Director of Training for the VCU-RRTC
• Explore the Data: Learn more about the cohorts, read the research, and access free training tools at transition.vcurrtc.org.

Don't Miss Future Updates! Hit that subscribe button today. Carolyn and Jaclyn will team up again next year to share exclusive data and progress updates as the first pilot cohort concludes!

Jaclyn shares her deeply personal journey into the field—from a high school counselor telling her she wasn't "college material" to witnessing her first cohort of students with intellectual disabilities walk across the VCU graduation stage.

The conversation dives deep into the necessity of innovation in higher education, highlighting a remarkable COVID-era success story of a virtual internship that turned into permanent employment. Jaclyn also introduces her groundbreaking new research study, which focuses on equipping diverse college professionals—from career services to accessibility offices—with the precise tools they need to connect students with all types of disabilities to meaningful internships and careers.

Key Takeaways From This Episode:

• The Power of High Expectations: How shifting the narrative around students with disabilities opens doors to higher education and meaningful employment.
• The Tech Shift in the Workforce: A look at data from the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs report, and why college professionals must prepare students for a rapidly changing, tech-driven labor market.
• Innovation Through Virtual Support: How remote internships and digital tools (like Zoom) can successfully broaden geographical and professional access for students.
• Expanding the Research: Moving from specialized programs (like VCU's ACE-IT in College) to a broader professional development model that supports students across all disability categories on campus.

Learn More & Connect:

• Featured Guest: Jaclyn Camden, Study Lead & Project Director at VCU-RRTC
• Host: Carolyn Cage, Director of Training for the VCU-RRTC
• Explore the Research: To take a closer look at the data, strategies, and studies mentioned in this episode, visit transition.vcurrtc.org.

What's Next? Tune in to our next session, where Jaclyn goes "behind the scenes" and dives even deeper into the rollout and metrics of her current research study!