“Competitive employment is broadly defined as remunerative employment that can reasonably be expected to contribute to a person’s economic well-being. It can mean conventional employment where there is a typical employee/employer relationship and the employee is earning minimum wage or more. It can include full-time, part-time, contract, or seasonal employment in order to recognize the diverse nature of people’s disabilities and how their disabilities may impact their employment.”

Excerpt from Social assistance policy directives Ontario Disability Support Program – Introduction to Employment Supports – September 2006 Link

The Family Support Network for Employment (FSNE)

The Family Support Network for Employment (FSNE) is a family-led coalition that seeks to engage individuals with intellectual disabilities and their family member in supportive networks around employment, social infrastructure, and resources. We believe employment is a means of inclusion. https://fsne.ca/

Partnerships, resources and Tools supporting successful employment

Employment Transitions and the Developmental Services

Topics include:

• Youth and transitional employment strategies
• Job search strategies
• ODSP Employment

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Ontario Disability Support Program: Employment Supports

Learn more about:

• Applying for ODSP Employment Supports
• What is available
• How to appeal

http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/odsp/employment_support/

Ready Willing & Able – Building an inclusive Labour Force

The Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) and the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance (CASDA) are very proud to be partners in the delivery of the Ready Willing and Able (RWA) initiative. RWA, a three-year project funded by the Government of Canada, is designed to increase the workforce participation of people with intellectual disabilities and ASD.
http://readywillingable.ca/

Ontario Disability Employment Network

A professional body of employment service providers united to increase employment opportunities for people who have a disability. Their Vision is that all people who have a disability in Ontario have access to the labour force and the ability to achieve meaningful employment.
http://odenetwork.com/

Autism Speaks Family Services Employment Tool Kit

Autism Speaks would like to help you with your employment search by giving you tools and tips while you look for a job. As an adult on the autism spectrum, you have strengths and abilities that employers are just beginning to understand. Therefore, we have written this guide to help you research, find and keep employment in the current, competitive labor market.
Employment tool kit

Creating Employment and Training Opportunities in your Community Tips for networking within your community

There is no right or wrong way to approach employers and other community members. Every situation is different. Here are some general tips that might help you in your quest to network within your community.
Read more >>

How to Support Someone at Work

Often times when a person with an intellectual disability is beginning any new activity, whether it is work or recreational, they will need different kinds of supports to transition them into the activity.
Read more >>

The First Job and Beyond

Gaining work experience is a great way for someone to explore occupations that might interest them in the future.
Read more >>

Ten Characteristics of Valued Employees

Are you new to the workforce? Do you not have a lot of work experience? Do you wonder, “What do I possibly have to offer an employer”?

If you were to do an online search for the most valuable employee character traits, you’d see that some of the top things employers are looking for are related to your personality. In other words, things you have total control over!
Read more >>

Twelve Ways to Be A Great Employee (and Keep Earning Money!!)

You have a new job – great! But this doesn’t mean that it’s time to sit back, relax and collect a paycheck. Your boss isn’t going to pay you to just show up! It is very important that you continue to be a good employee if you want to keep your job – and keep earning more money.
Read more >>

7 Ways to Fight Work Place Stress

Have you recently started working? Are you now feeling stressed about everything you have to do at work, or keeping your job? Work is hard sometimes, but there are many ways to cope. Below are some tips on stress management in the workplace.
Read more >>

Employment: Disability and disclosure

A job coach’s tips on disclosure in the workplace

What is disclosure?
Releasing personal information about yourself for a specific purpose. Today, more job seekers with disabilities are entering the workforce. For persons with disabilities, finding and keeping work is usually no different than for those without disabilities. However, there may be additional things to consider, such as disclosure—if, when and how to tell people about your disability. Read more

A service created for employers, job seekers with a disability, and employment support professionals to come together to track, match, and secure meaningful job opportunities. Learn more >>

Hiring a person with a disability – The Business Case

Disability and Employment: The Business Case – full version

Employers from a variety of organizations talk about their experiences and the various ways that being open to disabled talent has been good for business.

We hear from some of their employees too.
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Return on Disability (2016)

CBC News looks at how Canadian businesses have found hiring disabled Canadians has boosted their bottom line. It’s an approach that’s been coined “return on disability.”
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Employable Me

Hear from job seekers speak about their own lived experience searching for employment and advocating for accommodation.

Discussion panel: Lucia Marchionatta, Jessica Rotolo, Dorlean Lieghfars-Rotolo, Jonathan Anderson.

Moderated by: Greg David

Other Employers Are Doing It, You Can Too!

In 2003, Sam walked into a Starbuck’s location and asked Chris for a job. Chris said “yes”. This is a story of their journey, the ups and downs and what they have both learned about the benefits of the Employee/Employer relationship.

Fostering Inclusion and Diversity in the Workplace

In this important Keynote, Joel will invite employees to foster diversity and inclusion in a meaningful way. Joel will address how unconscious bias can affect our daily interactions and shape important decisions. He will outline how inclusion can help drive innovation and business