Searching for Disabilities Employment Programs

COVID-19 -- In-person services may be impacted -- check website for updates

Employment services to job seekers with disabilities in Durham Region

• enhance employability skills
• training certifications
• interview preparation
• access to personalized employment supports
• paid work experience
• wage subsidy programs

Recruitment assistance to business owners seeking to hire

COVID19 - services offered virtually, office closed to public until further notice


Services, products and education that empower the Deaf and hard of hearing to overcome barriers to participation

Hearing Care Counselling Program for ages 55+ -program to develop, maintain, or augment sensory capacity to promote maximum independence

• assessment and support for seniors with hearing loss
• home consultation or virtual visits on coping with hearing loss, communication strategies, use, care and maintenance of hearing aids
• assistance with selecting specialized communication equipment including telephones, alerting devices, TV accessories, etc.
• education and training are also provided to caregivers and service providers such as retirement homes, long-term care homes, etc.

Hearing Help Classes - Sound Advice on Hearing Health Workshops - virtual workshops in a supportive group environment for hard of hearing adults and their significant others

• information on coping with hearing loss and improving communication skills in a variety of listening environments
• information on hearing loss, hearing aids, technical devices
• speech reading and other communication and coping strategies
• classes at various times throughout the year

Employment Services - work with employees and employers to put the right supports in place, employment consultants provide help with:

• career planning
• preparing for interviews
• accessing funds for work-related expenses, such as appropriate clothing or assistive devices, including hearing aids

Sign Language Interpreting Services

• facilitate clear two-way communication between Deaf and hearing people through sign language and spoken language
• interpreters provide communication in American Sign Language (ASL) - English, or la Langue des Signes Québécoise (LSQ) - French
• available on-site or through video remote technology
• interpreters can assist in a variety of settings including: at a job interview, at a medical appointment, in a business meeting, banking matters, reporting a crime, court proceedings, in crisis in a hospital, shelter and police station

Emergency services

• offered 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year
• emergencies may occur in hospital emergency rooms, after-hours medical clinics, crisis centres, shelters, police services, court settings, and child welfare cases

For emergency service email urgent@chs.ca, SMS/Text 416-712-6637, or call 1-866-518-0000

General Support Services - services to support Deaf and hard of hearing people 16 years and older

• guidance, advocacy, support and counselling to Deaf and hard of hearing individuals who need assistance managing everyday life events such as completing government forms, navigating systems, and coping with hearing loss
• includes help with renewing driver's license and health card, navigating government services, attend meetings where additional support is needed

CONNECT Mental Health Counselling - professional support for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, 16 years and older, who are living with mental health issues or other serious challenges.

• counselling includes (but is not limited to) support in times of stress, marital, family or relationship problems, coping difficulties, addictions, mental health issues
• counsellors are aware of the specific issues and cultures of Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people and can be a great support

​In partnership with the community, welcome, advocate and provide support to people with developmental disabilities

Residential Programs

• Supported Independent Living Program - available to adults who live in their own apartment or townhouse and require some staff assistance
• Associate Living - residential support provides opportunities for children and adults to live in a family setting or supportive roommate environment in their own community
• Group Home - available for children and adults who may wish to live together with others and require a higher degree of support

Day Programs for Adults

• Clarington Project Hub (Bowmanville) - drop in activity centre for adults with a developmental disability
• Community Access and Wellness Centres - develop living skills, grocery shopping, meal preparation, safety awareness, hygiene skills, social skills, community participation in recreational activities such as bowling, swimming, library and community excursions
• 'My Day. My Way.' Day Individualized/Group Access to the Community with Support - personalized experiences, tailored to the dreams, goals, and needs of adults with developmental disabilities
• Employment Supports - supported employment program enables people to find meaningful and gainful employment in the community

Individual Support

• Support Services - resources to individuals and families to help in targeted areas including education, transportation, housing, recreation and leisure, support groups, employment and advocacy, Volunteer Services, volunteers work with individuals as role models to provide guidance for daily living skills, recreational and leisure, and literacy
• Children and Adult Respite Programs - serves families with a loved one who has a developmental disability, short term and weekend care and accommodation is provided; supported by staff, in CLOC's respite home, for children up to their 19th birthday

Summer programs

• Summer Sizzlers - recreational/leisure service designed for teens and young adults

Specialized service to assist clients from Durham Region with a disability or barrier to employment, which may include

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

Employment service * work closely with Employment Ontario, Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Programs (ODSP) * help individuals get back to work and establish employment related goals * help individuals by completing assessments, designing appropriate return to work action plans and monitoring the implementation of these plans * comprehensive Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Employment Planning

Educational support programming, advocacy and services for individuals and their families living with epilepsy

• Living Well With Epilepsy
• Information and Education
• Thinking About Epilepsy
• A Grade 5 Program
• The Epilepsy Journey • By Seniors For Seniors
• Understanding Epilepsy • From Agency to Community
• Peer-to-peer Network
• Epilepsy At Work • Employment Support

Rehabilitation and therapeutic services * staff includes physiotherapists, massage therapists, occupational therapists and a psychologist * wide range of equipment available to aid rehabilitation * women's health issues, sports injuries * work and accident related injuries and chronic pain

Support to individuals with an intellectual disability and their family

• information and support to advocate and assist in obtaining the appropriate resources and services for their family member and strengthen family involvement
• service coordination
• residential services
• education advocacy
• assistance with funding applications
• long and short-term planning support
• links to crisis treatment centre, group homes, day programs and individualized supports, supported employment

Community Participation Program offers a wide variety of activities, such as

• variety of community-based activities
• cooking classes
• gardening
• sports
• exercise
• music program
• drama
• literacy, book club
• farm activities, pet therapy
• volunteering at local service agencies

Community Employment Program helps individuals with a Developmental Disability

• learn work skills
• write a resume
• job search, job coaching
• individuals must have the ability to eventually work independently

COVID19 - Building is closed but meeting with clients digitally and still offering all services * new clients are welcome


Support to people with intellectual disabilities to live, work and be active members of the community

• residential supports, community supports programs (day services)
• respite care, family support, youth services

Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) - (separate listing)

Income Supports:

Health benefits -- prescription drugs, dental care, vision care

• medical supplies, including diabetic and surgical supplies
• transportation to medical treatment if cost exceeds $15 per month
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance
• Extended Health Benefit may be available to clients who are no longer eligible for ODSP income support

Disability-related benefits -- assistive devices including mobility devices, vision and hearing aids, prosthetics

• batteries for mobility devices and hearing aids
• guide dogs
• Special Diet Allowance may be available

Housing Stabilization Fund, 416-397-5550 -- help with rent and energy arrears, rent deposit and essential furniture

Employment incentives and benefits -- Employment and Training Start-Up Benefit
child care costs

• Work-related benefit
• Transitional health benefit
• Employment Transition Benefit

Transition Child Benefit -- for those not receiving the Ontario Child Benefit or the Canada Child Benefit

Employment Supports -- job preparation, job search, starting a business

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268, Mon-Sun 24 hrs -- automated information and payment details, file status * service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867, welfare.fraud.css@ontario.ca-- to report suspected cases of social assistance fraud

Person Directed Planning -- helps clients to set goals and find the supports necessary to enable them to reach their goals

Academic Supports -- assists clients enrolled in college or university programs with individualized academic support

Day Supports

• arts, recreation
• life skills development including money management and emotional/social skills
• respite for teens

Employment Programs

• pre-employment training
• employment counselling and placement
• employment supports for clients of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Serves café food and beverages to all including large orders for local businesses and organizations and offers day program for adults with special needs

Day Program Components

Café Program

• customer service, merchandising and sales skills
• product knowledge, stock management/inventory
• cash handling skills
• food hygiene

Kitchen Program

• kitchen safety, personal and food hygiene
• food recognition, cooking and recipes
• cleaning

Life Skills Program

• personal hygiene, dressing, household chores
• nutrition and meal planning, grocery shopping
• money management and budgeting
• relationships, anger management
• literacy, geography, community safety and awareness of current affairs
• cognitive stimulation through arts and crafts, self-concept exercises

COVID19 Restrictions in effect, call for information on specific programs and services

Range of community support services including information, decision support and referrals to community mental health programs and services; case management services and Community Treatment Order (CTO) case management services; transitional support program for youth 16-24 years; women's health and wellness groups, including culturally-specific newcomers groups; family support and education; ASIST Applied Suicide Intervention Training; public education

Employment Services
Comprehensive employment assistance, employment preparation, job coaching, and employment placement and support

Housing Services
Access to housing outreach worker, case management and affordable supportive housing

Mental Health and Justice Crisis Prevention Program, 416-458-9466, fax 416-289-6843 (referrals)
Assistance for individuals at significant risk of incurring criminal charges, including access to mental health services and supports; home or community location visits

Mental Health Court Support and Diversion Program, Metro East (Scarborough) Court, 416-285-4177
Diversion of individuals from court system to mental health and community support services; court support worker assistance; consultation available for individuals who do not qualify for diversion

New Dimensions and East Metro Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT)
Community treatment, rehabilitation and support services for individuals with serious mental illness

Rehabilitation Action Program (RAP)
Intensive, culturally sensitive case management for individuals who experience linguistic and cultural barriers to accessing services

Community Support Services: supports individuals with intellectual disabilities of all ages and their families in accessing resources and opportunities in their community including:

• individualized guidance and support: immediate assistance (no w/l)
• education and self help workshops/groups
• respite options: March Break and Summer Camps for Children, Youth, and Adults in Stouffville, Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan * weeknight and weekend programs are offered on an as needed basis
• parent operated programs: led and driven by parents and participants to create program options with the support and guidance of CLYS Coordinators

The Community Support staff offer services in a variety of languages including:
Cantonese; Mandarin; Hindi; Punjabi; Urdu and Tamil. Contacts:

Winny Ho (Cantonese, Mandarin) at 905-884-9110, ext 382
who@communitylivingsouth.ca
Crystie Lau (Cantonese, Mandarin) at 905-884-9110 ext 267
clau@ommunitylivingyorksouth.ca
Puja Jit (Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu) at 905-884-9110 ext 640
pjit@communitylivingyorksouth.ca
Athavi Kugathasn (Tamil) at 905-884-9110 ext 703
akugathasan@communitylivingyorksouth.ca

Project Search: Offered to participants nearing or at the end of completing high school * program includes: in-class facilitation, on-site support, one to one supports regarding employment (ie. job coaching)Contact Ellie Siegel at 416-606-9058
esiegel@communitylivingyorksouth.ca


For Service Options:
Marketplace: provides a selection of group educational courses, social activities and recreational opportunities for adults in collaboration with local municipalities and school boards
Contact: Cathy Johnston at 1-877-737-3475, ext. 380

Learning Academy: offers an educationally-based curriculum, with a focus on the practice and improvement of various literacy skills and community based activities * It is offered in two locations: Vaughan and Richmond Hill
Contact: Cathy Johnston at 1-877-737-3475, ext. 380

Residential and Day support:
The following services are available through Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) through the Regional Prioritization Process (https://www.dsontario.ca/):
Residential Services: Group Homes, Supported Independent Living, Community Participation Programs

Specializing in life and social skills for people with intellectual disabilities, developmentally delayed and autism.

• day program for the developmentally delayed to service persons with intellectual and physical disabilities. Day program has a 1 to 6 ratio.
• Saturday program for the developmentally delayed for persons to engage in leisure activities and community outings to receive assistance in meeting developmental milestone
• after school program for the developmentally delayed to aid persons with communication, socialization and fine motor skills.
• senior program for seniors with Alzheimer's, dementia or any other impactive disorder

Programs offered include:

• counselling services for families
• literacy
• summer camp
• community outings
• respite and drop-in
• March break
• PA days
• arts and craft
• vocational training
• budgeting
• fitness
• bus route training

COVID19 -- offering online workshops for Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, to register go to forms.gle/C1SqrHxr4TgSMAn28 or email scea@tdsb.on.ca

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Offers employment services which may include dissemination of labour market information, employment needs assessment, career planning, employment counselling, job search skills, referral to other services

Adaptive technology available

• free internet access
• computer training

COVID19 -- Some services have reopened or are operating virtually; for more information, call or visit website


Advocates for and provides support and services to children, youth and adults with an intellectual disability

Children and Youth

• information on early childhood programs, school placement, registration, education plans
• help in accessing funding and programs
• development of a plan to ensure consistency between home, school and community programs
• employment programs for youth

Adults

• skills development including literacy, money management, social skills, and travel training
• job placement
• Adult Protective Service Worker Program (APSW) -- supportive services for adults 18 years and older living or planning to live independently in the community. Services include case management, counselling, advocacy

Families

• Family and parent support groups
• in-home consultation and collaboration with other professionals to plan for services

Residential Services

• supported group living
• supportive home share
• supportive independent living
• LIGHTS, www.lights.to -- helps families explore community residential options and funding eligibility

Respite Services

• adult fee-for-service programs
• residential respite for children and adults
• summer camps

ConnectABILITY, www.connectability.ca -- online information, tools and workshops for people with a developmental disability, their families and support networks

COVID19 -- services provided by phone, online or in-person

Skills-development training courses and job-search support services to prepare unemployed or underemployed newcomers, immigrants and refugees for jobs in manufacturing supply chain operations including:

• shipping and receiving
• parts picking
• production logistics coordination
• purchasing and inventory control
• dispatching and transportation route and crew scheduling

In collaboration with York University

Employment programs and Security Guard training program

• life and employability skills development
• assistance with entry into the workforce
• some programs provide tuition assistance for skills training at eligible private career colleges (programs must meet Funder criteria)
• employment assistance for persons with disabilities

Employment placement -- finding the job and adapting to the workplace

Provides training and support services for persons with developmental disabilities to enrich quality of life, wellness, individual/social functioning and community integration

Services

• programs for individuals with developmental disabilities of all ages
• family support and parents group
• community education, outreach, and partnerships
• Zoom programs

Adult Programs

• daily living enrichment program (Mon-Fri day program)
• job venture and vocational training
• group living adaptation program
• personal growth enhancement program (1:1 training)
• Saturday social club

Children's Programs

• Kids Link Social Club
• personal growth enhancement program (1:1 training)
• children's interest/extracurricular classes
• summer/winter/March break holiday camps

Youth Programs

• Youth Connect Social Club
• personal growth enhancement program (1:1 training)
• mentorship program
• youth counselling
• volunteer/vocational training projects
• summer/winter/March break holiday camps

COVID-19 -- in-person services have resumed or you may register online to schedule an appointment with an Employment Specialist

• employers with positions to fill connected to job seekers
• one-on-one and group telephone/internet sessions available

Assists persons with self-identified disabilities secure full time employment, self-employment or return to school

• 10 week program includes coaching, resumes, cover letters, interview skills, job placement, support
• First Aid/CPR and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training
• job-specific certifications including Smart Serve, Safe Food Handler, Retail Sales, Security Guard
• interview attire and TTC fare to assist transportation to interviews

For employers

• job matching
• support for selection
• recruitment and coaching
• wage subsidies

COVID19 -- health services and counselling by appointment only

• COVID-19 Helpline, 647-918-1205 -- free phone counselling available, call or refer to website for options
• Thrift store accepts online donations

Health services -- counselling service, medical consultation, and Tele-Rehab physiotherapy, call or refer to website for options

Youth services -- leadership and mentoring programs

• tutoring for high school students

Thrift store -- accepts donations during opening hours

Tax clinic -- part of Community Volunteer Income tax program, by appointment during tax season, service in English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Arabic, contact for eligibility and appointment taxclinic@105gibson.com or 905-946-8787 ext 168

105 Gibson Cultural Café -- vocational training, employment to those with visual impairments with sighted volunteers

Recreational, cultural, and spiritual activities -- sports programs, Abundant Life Program for retired and semi-retired individuals, Community Classroom learning opportunities for various age groups

Income Supports:

Health benefits -- prescription drugs, dental care, vision care

• medical supplies, including diabetic and surgical supplies
• transportation to medical treatment if cost exceeds $15 per month
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance
• Extended Health Benefit may be available to clients who are no longer eligible for ODSP income support

Disability-related benefits -- assistive devices including mobility devices, vision and hearing aids, prosthetics

• batteries for mobility devices and hearing aids
• guide dogs
• Special Diet Allowance may be available

Housing Stabilization Fund, 416-397-5550 -- help with rent and energy arrears, rent deposit and essential furniture

Employment incentives and benefits -- Employment and Training Start-Up Benefit

• child care costs
• Work-related benefit
• Transitional health benefit
• Employment Transition Benefit

Transition Child Benefit -- for those not receiving the Ontario Child Benefit or the Canada Child Benefit

Employment Supports -- job preparation, job search, starting a business

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268, Mon-Sun 24 hrs -- automated information and payment details, file status * service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867, welfare.fraud.css@ontario.ca -- to report suspected cases of social assistance fraud