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Step 1
Study up on the Americans with Disabilities Act, referred to as the ADA. You will want to be armed with the information to educate employers and keep them from illegally discriminating against your disabled student.
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Step 2
Choose a position that suits the individual for whom you are trying to get the internship. If the student has good computer skills, approach a company about its IT department. People are more willing to take a chance when you can show the benefits they will receive.
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Step 3
Tell the employer which disability your candidate has and what kinds of accommodations he will need. While legally you do not have to disclose this information, it helps to promote a better relationship based on trust between the hiring agency and the people with disabilities.
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Step 4
Contact your state's rehabilitation agency to get a list of employers already vetted to accept people with disabilities for internship positions. Much of the preliminary interviewing has been done by the agency, and they are waiting for qualified candidates.
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Step 5
Prepare your students to accept an internship that may be below their abilities, as a way to prove themselves. Tell them that once they have shown that they are capable of the lesser job, then they can approach the employer about getting more responsibility.
