Understanding Career Development Pathways of College Students with Disabilities Using Crip Theory and the Theory of Whole Self

Despite their growing numbers, college students with disabilities (SWD) are often overlooked in the context of campus support for career development. The purpose of this practice brief is to provide a framework and a set of recommended actions for higher education leaders, administrators, and staff in disability and career services in order to better support the unique needs of SWD in their career development. Through a combined lens of crip theory and the theory of whole self, we call for higher education institutions to (a) provide targeted career services for SWD, (b) build business partnerships through which SWD can develop careers, and (c) incorporate disability as a critical diversity factor of the institution for service effectiveness and sustainability.