The Ontario government has announced it is investing $6.5 million towards five projects that will help thousands of people with disabilities find jobs.
On Monday, the province said these projects will support 3,770 people with disabilities and connect them with jobs in their communities. These careers include a variety of sectors, such as health care, information technology, retail and hospitality.
Currently, there are over 2.6 million people who live with a disability in Ontario. According to the province, businesses that hire people with disabilities have profits which grow up to three times faster than their competitors.
“At a time when nearly 300,000 jobs are going unfilled around the province, giving people with disabilities a fair shot at a life-changing job isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also good for the bottom line,” Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton said in a news release.
“Our government is proud to invest in training programs that will lift people living with physical or intellectual disabilities up, giving them training and confidence they need to find meaningful work, earn a good paycheque, and lead purpose-driven lives,” he added.
Today, the government released the first project which is run by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. The project will provide specialized employment services to 1,300 people who are blind, partially sighted or Deafblind. It will also include peer support and one-on-one discussions, skills building, workshops and accessible technology training.
“Our government believes that anyone who wants to work should have the opportunity to work. That’s why we are committed to removing barriers to employment for people with disabilities and connecting job seekers and employers,” Minister for Seniors and Accessibility Raymond Cho said in a statement.
He goes on to say that these programs aim to create inclusive opportunities for Ontarians with disabilities to thrive in the workplace, our economy and our communities.
The other four projects are run by Community Living Toronto, Do Good Donuts, the Geneva Centre for Autism and PTP Adult Learning & Employment Programs in partnership with George Brown College. These programs will support 2,470 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
At these programs, they will build skills, receive employment counselling, job coaching, hands-on training, and paid work placements. In addition, mental health services will also be available for those who need it.
“These projects are funded through the Skills Development Fund, a $700 million initiative, which supports ground-breaking programs that connect jobseekers with the skills and training they need to find well-paying careers close to home,” the release read.
So far, the Skills Development Fund has supported 595 projects and helped almost 522,000 people around the province.
The government is expected to release more programs for people with disabilities in the coming months.
