Humber's focus on levelling the playing field

Elaine Belanger, a Humber student success advisor is an advocate at the North Toronto polytechnic, and she's focused on ensuring students with disabilities succeed in academics and life.

“Self-advocacy is a major focus of my role, as it is a critical skill for career success," Belanger said. She works closely with Accessible Learning Services (ALS), work placement officers and other support groups to provide students with resources and confidence to move from academic accommodations to workplaces.

Her work supports students with disabilities, including those receiving benefits or training from the Workplace Safety Insurance Board, as well as students from the foster care system.

Belanger helps create initiatives, resources, and events tailored to their needs and provides advanced career-focused guidance. These efforts address the significant challenges these groups face in completing post-secondary education and securing employment after graduation.

She said many students with disabilities apologize for their condition when speaking about it.

“This is where I come in. We rehearse—how are you going to talk about this? I like the scale metaphor. The strengths and abilities are always heavier; they weigh more on that scale,” Belanger said.

Belanger’s services are available to students across all faculties unlike other career and student success advisor, who are faculty specific. 

For students with disabilities, support includes job searches, resume and cover letter writing, and interview preparation. Career support peers provide initial assistance, while students needing advanced career advice are referred to Belanger.

“I always mention that students can get in touch with their career student and success advisor,” she said. 

“Students with disabilities would also use the Career Connect job portal, just like any other student. For basic resume and cover letter writing, they would contact our career support peers,” Belanger said.

One key resource includes the Transition to Work (TTW) initiative, launched in 2017, which offers webinars, guides and templates to help students prepare for employment.

“It does take time. But because I'm from an employment background, I try to avoid certain patterns in my advice," she said.

Transition to Work provides tools and strategies for disclosing disabilities to employers and requesting workplace accommodations, helping students navigate the realities of the labour market.

Another useful support is the Disability Impact on Career and Employment (DICE) assessment, unique to Humber Polytechnic. It helps students understand how their disability may impact career choices and work environments while emphasizing strengths and identifying accommodations.

“If students can graduate with that information, it is going to help them become that self-advocate because that is a key to career success. It’s one of the major keys to success in the workplace for people with disabilities,” she said. 

“Self-advocacy, actually, all of us have to self-advocate. But it's another level for students with disabilities and that is something you have to be able to navigate as you get your first job, and as you move through your career,” Belanger said.