University Library Physical Accessibility Internship
For AY2025-2026
Application Process:
- Online Application
- Applications are due March 24 by noon
- Selected finalists will have an in-person interview scheduled between April 2 and 10
- Final selection will be determined by April 15
- Deadline for candidate acceptance – April 25.
Requirements for applicants:
- Lived experience with a physical disability (mobility, orthopedics, hearing, vision) [no documentation required]
- Availability to work at least 6 of the 10 hours a week between 8:30am and 5pm Monday through Friday
- University of Illinois Undergraduate Student who has completed at least 30 credit hours for the AY 2025-2026
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Library Accessibility Intern
Position Supervisor: Grace Flavin, Human Resources Representative – Library HR
Department: Business and Human Resources Service Center—Library HR
Hours per week: 10 hours (August 25, 2025 – May 7, 2026, excluding academic breaks)
Wage: $16/hour
[Funding for internship award by The Robert and Kay Merrick Family Endowment Fund]
The Library Human Resources (HR) team, supported by The Robert and Kay Merrick Family Endowment Fund, is looking for an Accessibility Intern to join our team for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. The internship offers a student currently enrolled in undergraduate studies, with physical disability, a paid opportunity to gain work/career experience and explore options working in areas of HR, Organization Development and Training (ODT), Library User Experiences, Libraries, and Librarianship.
The internship will be for a total of 10 hours/week, with at least 6 hours/week scheduled during regular office hours: 8:30am-5pm, Monday-Friday. The intern may work evenings or weekends dependent upon operational needs and students’ academic schedule constraints. LOCATION of work will vary due to assignments. Library HR Office is the Main Library but the work may be scheduled at the different locations throughout the campus.
Job Summary: The Library Accessibility Intern works alongside Library HR, ODT, and User Experience/Web Strategies to learn about and provide invaluable perspective/feedback on relevant human resources and operational processes, programs, and tools. Will specifically review recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and engagement activities/programs through the lens of an employee with a physical disability. In addition, the Intern will review accessibility of physical library locations across campus and about various types of library jobs and duties.
Responsibilities:
HR/ODT & Hiring Process Review
- Job Postings & Recruitment: Identify language or formats that might inadvertently deter applicants with disabilities. Recommend inclusive language and multiple application formats.
- Interviewing & Onboarding: Evaluate whether interviews are conducted in accessible locations, confirm other accommodations as needed, and review onboarding materials for accessibility.
- Staff Training & Support: Suggest training sessions on disability awareness, best practices for inclusive communication, and technology or tools that support interns and employees with physical disabilities.
Physical Spaces Assessment
- Provide input to the Library Internal Marketing Group on wayfinding & signage: Evaluate signage clarity, braille/tactile signage for visual disabilities, and hearing assistive wayfinding (e.g., visual alarms).
- Be available to library units to review physical space assessments.
Library Web Presence
- Learn and implement user experience techniques while assisting members of the UX research in the Physical and digital spaces the Library occupies. The goal is to provide the intern with an understanding of the potential ways in which a career in library science can impact the success of others’ educational pursuits
Member of the Accessibility Team
- Examine automatic doors, ramps, and clearly marked routes for individuals using mobility devices.
- Assess if Study/Meeting Rooms are properly equipped for users and employees with hearing or visual impairments (e.g., assistive listening devices, high-contrast materials).
Recommendations & Pilot Implementation
- Prioritized List of Improvements: Provide short-, mid-, and long-term recommendations (e.g., immediate fixes for signage, proposals for budget allocations, long-term structural changes).
- Policy/Procedure Drafts: Outline updates to library policies or HR guidelines.
- Feedback Loop: Work with Library HR, ODT, and Accessibility Team to ensure that proposed changes are both practical and impactful.
- In consultation with their direct supervisor, the intern will develop a strategic report timeline, establishing a regular schedule for the student to document their work experiences.
Requirements:
- Lived experience with a physical disability (mobility, orthopedics, hearing, vision) [no documentation required]
- Availability to work at least 6 of the 10 hours a week between 8:30am and 5pm Monday through Friday
- University of Illinois Undergraduate Student who has completed at least 30 credit hours for the AY 2025-2026.
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Benefits of this Internship
- Practical library experience that could be helpful for a college student
- Practical human resources and organizational development and training experience
- $16/hour salary for 10 hours/week
- Opportunity to collaborate on a white paper or article about the internship experience (or presentation)
Goals & Outcomes
- Practical Improvements: The library gains a clear action plan for enhancing accessibility, from physical layout changes to revised HR procedures.
- Professional Skill-Building: The intern develops project management, research, communication, and leadership skills—important transferable competencies for any career path.
- Lived-Experience Insights: By applying firsthand knowledge of physical disability (mobility, orthopedic, visual, or hearing), the intern highlights real-world barriers and proposes workable, user-centered solutions.
- Documentation & Accountability: Delivering findings or presentation ensures that findings are shared with library leadership, laying groundwork for continued progress and potential replication in other campus units.
Why This Internship Project Works Well
- High Impact: Accessibility improvements benefit not just the intern but also other staff, students, and library patrons with disabilities.
- Tangible Deliverables: Produces clear, actionable recommendations and fosters a sense of accomplishment when improvements are implemented.
- Professional Growth: Allows the intern to practice analytical and problem-solving skills, engage in stakeholder communication, and see how institutional changes unfold.
- Visibility & Advocacy: Helps the intern become a strong advocate for disability inclusion and fosters a more inclusive library culture.