Searching for Disabilities Employment Programs

Lifeskills

• provides encouragement, opportunities and experiences
• promotes self-development, and foster interdependent relationships

Programs:

Community Participation Support (Day Program):

• traditional lifeskills program, pre-vocational program and a relaxed/sensory program (virtual, mobile and in-person)

Home Share Program:

• supports individuals with a developmental disability who live with staff in the staff's home

Residential Support:

• 7 residential program locations where total care/high medical needs or those requiring skill development in daily living and/or behavioral supports are offered

Support Independent Living:

• supports individuals who live in their own apartments, either alone or with a friend

Support Apartment Living:

• individuals share an apartment with one other individual and are supported by staff Mon-Fri 24 hours
• there are a small number of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments close together on one or two floors
• technology is used to assist staff in supervising and monitoring individual needs and/or activities

Social enterprise that hires and trains staff and interns on the autism spectrum

Takes in interns from 12-week job readiness training program

Vocational and life skills training centre

Designed to help young adults explore their interest and gain skills for potential careers

Structured daily schedule that includes classroom and hands-on training in the areas of social skills, healthy living, employment preparation, self advocacy, and independent life skills

Therapy provider for speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy

Services include:

• speech language pathology
• occupational therapy
• physiotherapy
• case management
• cognitive rehabilitation
• counselling (psychotherapy, social work & behavioural therapy)
• vocational rehabilitation
• return to work/short term disability management

Programs include:

• traumatic brain injury
• spinal cord injury
• concussion clinic
• mental health & addictions
• pain management
• healthy transitions (mental health)
• vocational
• progressive goal attainment program (PGAP)
• wellness clinics
• employer services
• ontario ministry of education high skills major

COVID19 (2 June 2020): Some services offered virtually during the pandemic. See Online Virtual Programs page on website for details.

Programs for persons with disabilities

• vocational rehabilitation
• supported employment
• job preparation
• job coaching
• community development
• public education
• awareness of needs of persons with disabilities
• sensitivity awareness
• sssistive devices program
• home and vehicle modification program
• independent living services
• outreach/attendant care

Ontario Employment Assistance Services -- Offers employment services which may include dissemination of labour market information, employment needs assessment, career planning, employment counselling, diagnostic services, job search skills, job finding clubs, job placement services, developing an employment action plan, referral to appropriate interventions, assessments for disability-related accommodations and participant case management and follow-up

Specialized services for adults

Services include

• tutoring through high school level math and writing/reading skills
• lifeskills and independent skills training
• vocation skills training
• consulting services for professionals

Offers a unique approach to disability management by focusing on an individual's abilities rather than their disabilities

• helps individuals with their goals of returning to good health and productivity in both their professional and personal lives

A full service disability management firm:

• functional and / or cognitive assessments
• vocational evaluations
• employment counselling
• employability assessments
• occupational therapy services
• social work services
• mobility assessments
• workplace health and wellness assessments
• case/claims management
• workplace Safety and Insurance Board services
• in-house assessments
• independent Medical Assessments
• ODSP support services to employers
• long-term and short-term disability carriers
• auto insurers
• third party administrators
• solicitors and government programs

Ontario Employment Assistance Services -- Offers employment services which may include dissemination of labour market information, employment needs assessment, career planning, employment counselling, diagnostic services, job search skills, job finding clubs, job placement services, developing an employment action plan, referral to appropriate interventions, assessments for disability-related accommodations and participant case management and follow-up

Day activity program

• leisure activities
• supported employment
• volunteer work
• performing and visual arts

Offers occupational therapy and kinesiology intervention to support individuals experiencing a variety of clinical and physical difficulties

Services include:

• home-based cognitive work hardening program
• occupational therapy coaching
• pool program
• dragon naturally speaking training
• personal training
• progressive goal attainment (PGAP)
• individualized occupational therapy
• work hardening programs

Promotes occupational education, training and development of adults with disabilities

ODSP Services

• guides and empowers individuals to making the right life changing decisions with respect to regular employment challenges
• helps and supports regular employment of people with disabilities by identifying skills and abilities to develop tools meeting their specific needs to intergrate the workforce

Employers Services

• assists with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Compliance Review for implementation of the guidelines
• free Workplace Diversitfication Training about working with individuals with disablities
• job coaching support and on the job training to help make the transition of returning to work possible for both the client and the employer
• alleviate initial training costs to the employer through wage subsidy programs

Evaluations to identify any return to work barriers and develop a plan to increase the opportunity for reintegration

Services:

• home-based cognitive work hardening program
• educational and professional guidance program
• adapting to change
• job search program
• intensive career exploration
• vocational rehabilitation phase
• occupational therapy - early intervention
• post offer of employment test (POET)
• vocational enhancement assessment
• workplace accommodation assessment

Assist individuals who are recovering from illness or injury transition successfully back to employment

• cost effective
• designed to reduce absenteeism and increase productivity
• one-on-one format to build confidence
• outines an agreeable plan for success full return to normal work

Exclusively community based program

• supports people living at home
• based on individual's needs and interests
• clients are supported in the community by an ARC employee
• main focus is building relationships and enjoying leisure activities in the community

COVID19 (2 May 2022): Adult Skills Training program is currently on hold. Some guidance is available for current tenants who may be experiencing issues with their housing situation. Sign-up form to be notified when in-person programming begins again can be found here.

Multiple styles of learning, instruction, therapies, based on individual needs

Goal is to stimulate learning and encouraging developing skills sets such as:

• employment search and enrichment
• communication and social development
• computers and technology

Participants also have access to the Professional Mentors Team who can help with self-confidence, networking and self-promotion

COVID19 (13 Oct 2021): Services still offered * staff are reachable by phone.

Employment Centre for adults with developmental disabilities

Vocational Day Services include:

• supported work program
• social enterprises
• training for employment
• job search and job retention support

Matches unemployed and job-ready clients who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing with prospective employers

Employment Assistance Services (EAS) -- Offers employment services which may include:

• dissemination of labour market information
• employment needs assessment
• career planning
• employment counselling
• diagnostic services
• job search skills
• job finding clubs
• job placement services
• developing an employment action plan
• referral to appropriate interventions
• assessments for disability-related accommodations
• participant case management and follow-up

Supported employment program through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC

Full and part-time enclave work; tasks include:

• sorting of confidential papers and other materials
• shredding of paper
• loading dock duties

Supported employment program

Full and part-time community work:

• maintaining tropical plants in various office spaces in Ottawa
• pick up and sorting of recyclable materials in several government buildings

Home base locations: Tunney's Pasture and Sparks Street

Offers employment services:

• dissemination of labour market information
• employment needs assessment
• career planning
• employment counselling
• diagnostic services
• job search skills
• job finding clubs
• job placement services
• developing an employment action plan
• referral to appropriate interventions
• assessments for disability-related accommodations
• participant case management and follow-up

Procides a variety of supported employment, educational, and wellness programs and other services

• Solutions for Youth Project
• Employment Supports Program
• Social Enterprises
• Job Quest
• Financial literacy training
• Community Loan Fund (for eligible clients trapped in cycle of Pay Day loans)
• Supported Employment in Rural Ottawa
• Wellness program
• Causeway Foundation
• Agency-sponsored entrepreneurial businnesses providing employment opportunities to consumers

Catering business

• both social and economic objectives
• provides competitively priced food
• customers are giving back to their community with each order they place
• staffed by individuals who have experienced barriers to employment, including people with disabilities and those who are economically disadvantaged

Helps the community welcome and include people with intellectual disabilities, autistic persons, and individuals with a dual diagnosis to live, work, and play as valued citizens.

Categories of support:

Employment Supports

• employment partnership development
• workplace inclusion specialists
• employment discovery specialists

Community Connecting and Supported Independent Living

Volunteer opportunity

Helps people with disabilities prepare for, find, and maintain employment

Provide meaningful computer-based skills development opportunities for adults with multiple disabilities.

Ensure that individuals with complex care needs are provided with opportunities to engage with new technologies in environments that are fully accessible

Offer personal care, adaptive/assistive software and hardware and compassionate support staff.

Provide individuals with disabilities stable and safe living accommodations and opportunities to engage in activities consistent with their rights and unique aspirations, abilities and needs including:

• leisure
• recreation
• volunteer
• learning
• work

Offer residential support tailored to the unique needs of each person in eight homes and two supported independent living apartments.

Supports social inclusion and celebrates diversity through community. Participants are provided with the tools and resources necessary to break through the barriers to employment, community resources.