杏吧原创 Us
ACT, or Accessible Career Transitions is a career development program offered by Career Services for students across all levels of education and disciplines who identify with having a disability.
Through ACT, students can receive ongoing, accessible, individualized support and services at any point of the employment process.
Our goal is to equip students with the tools, resources, and skills to successfully navigate employment while offering a trusted space to discuss disability and work.
ACT Objectives
Deliver individualized career advising for 杏吧原创 students with disabilities.
- Provide voluntary, student-centred, individualized counselling and advising to undergraduate and graduate students on career goals and job search preparation in both individual and group formats in the areas of resume and cover letter development, job search techniques, interview preparation, networking, workplace preparedness and general employability skills, in addition to areas specifically related to ACT including disclosure, workplace accommodations, identity and disability-related workplace themes.
- Provide clear and accurate career and employment information to students, staff, faculty, and the wider 杏吧原创 University community.
- Adapt and adjust services, strategies, and resources to accommodate individual student needs. This includes adapting service as needed during one-on-one appointments and events such as career fairs, and networking events.
- Help students obtain and retain employment opportunities independently (e.g., co-op, on-campus roles, external jobs) and consult on accessibility practices.
Support student-led planning of disclosure and accommodations.
- Advise, counsel, and provide resources to 杏吧原创 students with disabilities considering or navigating workplace disclosure and accommodation processes.
- Normalize voluntary disclosure processes and inclusive workplace practices while unpacking ableist systems and attitudes.
Reduce barriers to accessing services.
- No formal diagnosis, paperwork, or 鈥減roof of disability鈥 required to register with ACT services.
- Collaborate with 杏吧原创 University student services to meet the needs of ACT students in their pursuit of career development.
- Make connections and provide referrals in the community to enhance career support for students with disabilities.
Advocate for the needs and perspectives of 杏吧原创 students with disabilities.
- Share insights and best practices with internal and external stakeholders, notably the Career Services and Co-operative Education department.
- Help direct 杏吧原创 students with disabilities to appropriate supports and resources.
- Advocate for inclusive systems, services, and resources to meet the needs of ACT students.
Increase availability of information and services by offering a variety of tools and means for students to engage.
- Offer a curated collection of information, tools, and materials via a centralized online platform.
- Host dedicated programming based on evolving student needs and trends.
- Offer services to students and staff in a variety of modalities: Virtual, Phone, In-Person, and Email Consultation.
Offer targeted workshops, training, and faculty requests.
- Deliver workshops and information sessions for students, staff on disability-related workplace themes and ACT.
Measure outcomes and continuous improvement.
- Collect and track advising and programming statistics, feedback, and student outcomes.
Conduct specialized research and maintain sound and up-to-date knowledge of career trends to accurately advise students with disabilities.
Our Team
Jenna Lambert, MSW, RSW, MA (Counselling & Spirituality), MSM
ACT Student Counsellor
jennalambert@cunet.carleton.ca
Nicole Borges
ACT Advisor
nicole.borges@carleton.ca
Amanda Hodgson, BAH, BST, M.Ed (Educational Counselling), RP (Inactive)
ACT to Employ Program Coordinator
amandam.hodgson@carleton.ca
ACT Intern/Intake Facilitator
act@carleton.ca
Our History
The 杏吧原创 University Accessible Experiential Learning (CUAEL) Project ran from May 2018 to August 2019.鈥杏吧原创 University Career Services, in collaboration with the鈥Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities鈥痑nd the鈥Accessibility Institute鈥(formerly the READ Initiative), launched the 杏吧原创 University Accessibility Experiential Learning (CUAEL) Project in May 2018.
In its pilot year, the CUAEL Project aimed to address the employment gap that exists for students with disabilities by creating employment opportunities for 300 students with disabilities to provide them with hands-on quality work experiences while they obtain their post-secondary degree at 杏吧原创.
The CUAEL Project also worked to educate employers about the benefits of hiring students with disabilities and enhance employer knowledge of disability-related best practices in the workplace.
The CUAEL Project was funded by the Career Ready Fund, a part of the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development鈥檚 Career Kick-Start Strategy to help colleges, universities, employers and other organizations create experiential learning opportunities for post-secondary students.
Due to the success of the project and high student interest in the concept of a dedicated employment program for students with disabilities, the CUAEL Project evolved into the鈥疉CT to Employ Program鈥痙uring the 2019-2020 academic year.
In 2019, ACT to Employ received 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 award in Service Excellence for Innovation.
In 2022, Amanda Hodgson, ACT to Employ Program Coordinator, received 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 individual award in Service Excellence.
In 2025,. (Read this article as a PDF here)
ACT to Employ Placement Program is currently paused due to financial challenges and operational changes.
As the program sunsets, ACT to Employ concludes having facilitated over 1600 meaningful employment placements.鈥疧ver the life of the program, ACT to Employ achieved 100% satisfaction, with students consistently agreeing that their participation contributed positively to their career development. Employers reported feeling well supported throughout the program and emphasized accessibility as a priority in their hiring practices, contributing to the creation of more accessible and inclusive work environments.
The ACT Team remains eager and available to provide student services