Caitlin Van Ermen
The Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities’ main initiative is to support Spartans both in the classroom and in translating students’ prestigious degrees from Michigan State into real-world career opportunities.
RCPD has partnered with the Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, MSU Career Services Network and the Kellogg Center to facilitate a biannual Professional Preparation Dinner Series. In April, twenty students served through the RCPD were invited as delegates and joined in the event with their learning specialists.
All dinner attendees enjoyed a delicious four-course meal and rehearsed interview skills and business dining etiquette. This dinner explored the concepts involved in presenting an overall professional image. Students learned how to make a good first impression and how to develop strong communication with a potential employer.
The RCPD acknowledges that disabilities can interfere with some of the social expectations in a dining interview setting. This Professional Prep Dinner experience helps to remove these barriers. With the expert advice of the Career Services presenter, Karin Hanson, students are able to draw on past experiences, connect with others who may have similar concerns, and ask questions in an open and welcoming environment.
The Professional Prep Series is spearheaded by RCPD’s Explorations in Ability Coordinator, Regina Carey. “Students with mobility issues, blindness, deaf or hard of hearing impairments are going to face more challenges when negotiating the expectations of a dinner interview.
There are many strategies they learn as a result of the dinner, helping them be more proactive in the event of a social experience.
In addition to the do’s and don’ts of etiquette, students are encouraged to share their own fears about being in an interview that includes eating with a potential employer.
We create a laboratory setting to help students feel safe to ask questions and be vulnerable.
It is a really wonderful experience for all involved!”
The Kellogg Center hosted many students eager to use the expert advice as an advantage for their upcoming career opportunities. Participants with a range of physical and mental disabilities sought advice on how to transform certain limitations at such a professional dinner into real strengths. This RCPD experience helped convert some of our students’ fears of formal rules of business etiquette into personal accomplishments. RCPD ability access specialists were excited about these important steps that our students are taking to gain full participation in the workplace.
Following President Simon and community leaders across campus, the theme of 2014- 2015 has been Spartans Will. This campaign calls on Spartans to raise the bar and use their education to empower the community surrounding us. The Professional Prep Series is one example of how Spartans Will.