Career Development Strategies to Support Neurodivergent Students

Neurodivergent students remain under-represented in work-integrated learning (WIL) programs due to systemic barriers and limited employer awareness about effective support strategies. Advancing neuroinclusive WIL involves preparing both students and employers for success.

Partner with employers before placements to provide neurodiversity training, offer tailored resources, and establish regular site visits or online check-ins to sustain support and learning throughout the experience.

Career advisors play a key role in facilitating equitable opportunities for neurodivergent students. This requires a continuous commitment to learning, staying current with evolving knowledge and language around neurodiversity. By doing so, advisors can ensure that their support for students remains informed, inclusive, and effective.

Many neurodivergent students may choose not to disclose their diagnosis/identity at school or work due to concerns about discrimination, limited trust in institutional processes, or challenges accessing formal documentation. Understand that disclosure is not always possible or preferred.

Help students thoughtfully assess the potential benefits and risks of disclosure in workplace settings and support them in developing clear, strengths-based language to communicate their needs and working preferences to employers.