Introduction

In September 1998, Dr. Robert Greenberg, Director of Career Services and Alan Muir, Coordinator of Disability Services at that time at the University of Tennessee, determined a need existed to focus career-planning services on students with disabilities. Dr. Greenberg understood that this population was under served and that students with disabilities were not using career planning and placement assistance. There was little connection between the Disability Services and Career Services offices, limiting the exposure of students with disabilities to career planning and to be visible to recruiters when they visited campus. A major component believed to improve the career prospects of students with disabilities was to form a stronger link between Career Services and Disability Services. Research was needed to identify the best method of bringing more students with disabilities into Career Services and to work more closely with Disability Services.