Searching for Disabilities Employment Programs

Provides job readiness education and training specific to workplace literacy, numeracy and soft skills (social and interpersonal) development for adults who are interested in working towards competitive employment (minimum wage or better) and/or traditional volunteer jobs.

Offers employment services to unemployed people. May include:

• Labour market information
• Employment needs assessment
• Career planning
• Employment counselling
• Diagnostic assessment
• Job search skills
• Job finding clubs
• Job placement services
• Developing an employment action plan
• Referral to appropriate intervention
• Participant case management and follow-up

Services for persons with disabilities

Individual Support Services​: opportunities for:

• in-home respite
• out-of-home respite
• transportation
• school-to-work transitional supports

Supported Independent Living

• for a person who chooses to live independently or with a roommate
• level of support is determined on an individual basis
• can range from several hours per day to a few hours each week

Community Participation Supports / Employment Supports

• encouragement to pursue employment
• volunteer
• leisure and recreation opportunities
• life skill development
• community involvement
• vocational and recreational activities
• options explored on an individual basis
• supports available to enable the person to participate in activities

Family Home Services

• for persons who prefer a family-like setting
• person shares the family home with a family, similar to foster care
• the matching of individuals with families ensures compatibility
• long-term arrangement
• staff frequently meets with the family home provider and the individual to offer support and guidance

Community Residences

• provides a quality residential setting for adults and children who require assistance in daily living
• three to six individuals live in shared accommodations and usually receive 24-hours/day support

Employment supports include:

• Individualized information and referral
• In-depth assessment of employment goals and barriers
• Personal employment planning
• Service coordination to help meet your employment goals
• Pre-employment/ job search/ interview skills
• Individualized Employment Wellness Support and Marketing plans
• Job development
• Job maintenance coaching

Serves Cambridge community members with a developmental disability, and provides events and activities to enrich their lives

• Outreach program helps individuals to access community supports; volunteer placements, daytime recreational activities
• Community Connections
• Community Participation Support
• Residential Services
• Supported Employment Services

Service Options:

• employment

Community Options:

• wrap-around services
• volunteer opportunities

Residential Options:

• residential supports or group home living
• Modified Group Living
• Supported Independent Living

Offers a variety of programs and services from recreational / social day programs to supported volunteer opportunities.

COVID Update: Currently operating online and remotely. Coffee Nooks are closed until further notice. Online meetings and activities available.

Community members and adults with developmental disabilities and their families working together to provide opportunities in the community.
Strength-building through job skill acquisition and training.
Online community and engagement.

Offers employment and job search services and access to Employment Ontario programs

• one-on-one employment counselling: interest testing and career planning, job search training, resume and interview preparation, labour market information, community resource and referral information
• access to on-the-job training opportunities
• Job Developers available to help clients connect with employers
• Job Finding Club, Career Decision Making and other employment-related workshops

NOTE: Click link to see more information on Second Chance Employment Counselling, Ontario Employment Services programs

• Employment Ontario Youth Job Connection program for youth having difficulty finding and keeping jobs. There is a paid pre-employment program followed by a supported paid work placement
• Employment Ontario Youth Job Connection Summer for youth ages 15-18, having difficulty finding and keeping work, or have never worked. There is a paid pre-employment program followed by a supported paid work placement
• Employment Ontario- Better Jobs Ontario: assists individuals to complete and submit applications for re-training for in demand occupations in Ontario.
• Ways2Work: employment program for at risk youth, ages 15-30; includes six weeks of life skills workshops and a 10-week work placement for which they are paid a wage for the full 16 weeks; during this time participants will obtain certificates for training, such as First Aid / CPR, Safe Food Handling, Smart Serve, WHMIS
• ACE (Achieving Competitive Employment): individualized employment support program for people with disabilities, including students

COVID-19 Update: CMHA Waterloo Wellington has altered service delivery to protect public health and safety. For more information about service changes, visit COVID-19: Update on Services. If in crisis, or not yet connected to a CMHA service, call 1-844-HERE247. For urgent document requests, call Reception at 1-844-CMHA-WW3 (264-2993).

Provides a full care system for those with addictions, mental health or developmental needs. Promotes the mental health of all people through research and information services, sponsored research projects, education, workshops, seminars, pamphlets, newsletters and resource services. Encourages public action and commitment to strengthening community mental health services, legislation and policies affecting services.

Information and Education: brochures and information sheets, workshops and educational events, leisure information, internet access, advocacy and skill development

Referral Services: provided by HERE 24 SEVEN 1-844-437-3247, for many services in the community from a centralized location ; one-to-one meeting where staff can suggest options related to mental health support services (including those provided by the Centres for Mental Health), mental health treatment services and other services available in the community

Support Services: coordinate support services for individuals (youth, adults, seniors and families) who struggle with a significant mental health issue so that they may live and fully participate in their community ; address and overcome barriers in housing, employment, education, leisure, relationships, financial stability and social pursuits; intensive support to short-term crisis support, to intermittent support, provided as needed

Bridging Employment Supports, Links To Work: helps persons with disabilities (ages 16-65) to obtain paid, competitive employment; call 1-866-387-6660 ext 4087 to make an appointment

Entrepreneurship Project: assists individuals who have been involved with the mental health system become self-employed or start their own business; referrals made through local CMHA Centres for Mental Health, other area agencies, or by self referral

Self Help Program: supportive environment for people with lived experience in mental health and addictions; mutual support, sharing of common issues and resources; one-on-one peer support and support group meetings designed to assist individuals in their own growth and development by sharing successes and developing strategies; self help resource centre; recovery planning groups (men's and women's groups); advocacy support, services of entrepreneurship facilitator

Self Help, Spark of Brilliance: community-based mental health initiative that promotes healing, recovery and discovery through the expressive arts; workshops open to people living with mental health issues and / or addictions and their supportive allies, including family members, friends and mental health workers

Community and day services for adults with a developmental disability, with the goal of full participation and inclusion in community life.

Services include:

• employment / job skills development
• life skills development
• education and literacy
• personal interest courses
• support to volunteer in the community

Services include:

• Employment services and support with training / education options for all job seekers, youth and adults.
• Drop-in resource centre with access to computer and internet, fax, photocopier, newspapers, business directories.
• Hiring support for employers.
• Job search and training support for job seekers.

Access to Employment Ontario programs including the Canada Ontario Job Grant, Second Career and Youth Job Connection.
Assistance to access Service Canada funded programs.
Programs available for individuals with special needs.

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario
Skills training and financial support for laid off workers

• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for employers

• help in identifying human resource skills requirements, matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

• financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employees
• available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

Plant-based shredding service for business and residential clients

• service employs adults living with developmental disabilities
  
• provides safe and secure shredding services
  
• members of the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID)

Services offered:

• regularly scheduled document destruction (pick-ups)
  
• call in service/purging
  
• Certificate of Destruction available

A social enterprise of Crossing All Bridges Learning Centre

Learning Centre

• provides continued learning for adults with developmental challenges after they leave high school
  
• promotes and improves healthy life skills and quality of life through enriched and meaningful learning opportunities
  
• programming is developed around enhancing academics, arts and culture, physical fitness, job readiness training and building life skills for independence

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario
Skills training and financial support for laid off workers

• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for employers

• help in identifying human resource skills requirements, matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

• financial support for individual employers to purchase training for their employees
• available to small, medium and large businesses planning to deliver short-term training for existing or new employees

A mental health consumer/survivor organization providing peer support, employment and volunteer opportunities to people with mental health issues

Offers peer support, consumer/survivor workshops, monthly special events and hospital peer support visits for inpatients. Volunteer opportunities and casual employment for persons living with mental health issues

After Hours Peer Support Drop-in offers social/recreational programs

Providing general support services to the culturally deaf, oral deaf, deafened and hard of hearing ages 16 to 55 years, as well as deaf seniors * Advocacy, public education, sensitivity training, and supportive counselling

Hearing Care counselling program provides services to people age 55 years and older, caregivers (formal and informal) and includes

• home visits
  
• education
  
• training and sales of communication devices
  
• counselling
  
• support with hearing loss

Employment assessment and counseling for persons returning to work

• barriers to employment explored and action plan developed and implemented
  
• job search support
  
• referral to appropriate employment service or vocational training program

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario
Skills training and financial support for laid off workers

• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for employers

• help in identifying human resource skills requirements, matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Woodstock and District Developmental Services has many services to offer. These include:


* Accommodation
* Supported Independent Living
* Family Support Program
* Youth Summer Camp
* Day Services
* Employment Services

Providing general support services to the culturally deaf, oral deaf, deafened and hard of hearing ages 16 to 55 years, as well as deaf seniors * Advocacy, public education, sensitivity training, and supportive counselling

Hearing Care counselling program provides services to people age 55 years and older, caregivers (formal and informal) and includes

• home visits
  
• education
  
• training and sales of communication devices
  
• counselling
  
• support with hearing loss

Employment assessment and counseling for persons returning to work

• barriers to employment explored and action plan developed and implemented
  
• job search support
  
• referral to appropriate employment service or vocational training program

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario
Skills training and financial support for laid off workers

• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for employers

• help in identifying human resource skills requirements, matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario
Skills training and financial support for laid off workers

• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for employers

• help in identifying human resource skills requirements, matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Comprehensive employment and job search services

• assessment of skills, interests and experience
• job search strategies, including resume preparation
• information about careers and occupations, local labour market, employment and training opportunities
• on-the-job training, work experience, help in maintaining employment as well as information and referral to other employment and community services

Better Jobs Ontario
Skills training and financial support for laid off workers

• training program must demonstrate good job prospects
• financial support based on need, may include tuition, instructional costs, books, transportation and/or a basic living allowance

Services for employers

• help in identifying human resource skills requirements, matching of workplace needs to workers' skills, capabilities, interests and experience
• support for developing on-the-job training plans and monitoring of placements to support retention

Fee-for-service supports for those who have received Ministry of Children, Community & Social Services (MCCSS) Passport Funding

Supports that can be purchased:

• community involvement - participate in sports, recreation and leisure activities, attend club groups or local community events, getaways and day trips
• education/literacy - support to attend education or literacy programs
• employment/volunteering - job preparation, support with on-the-job training, job coaching, assistance in finding and maintaining volunteer work in the community
• person-directed planning - assistance to develop a person-directed plan that builds on strengths and interests and to identify the support needs required to reach goals
• respite - in or out-of-home respite support options