Ontario moves to tackle high unemployment for people with disabilities

In an attempt to target high levels of unemployment for people with disabilities the Ontario government has announced a strategy intended to create job opportunities.

Minister of AccessibilityTracy MacCharlescalledAccess Talent: Ontario's Employment Strategy for People with Disabilitiesa "forward looking strategy" with three main elements.

The government estimated 60,000 people with disabilities aged 18 to 29 are receiving assistance. As a result, it will launch a new pilot program to createemployment goals for students and young people, which will include "individualized and co-ordinated services and support," through the Ontario Disability Support Program, MacCharles said.

The government also intends tostreamline employment and training services througha newprogram at Employment Ontario.

Finally, the strategy calls for the government to "lead by example" when it comes to accessibility andincrease public education.

As weacquire disabilities our worth seems to be gone.- Pina D'Intino

Pina D'Intinolost her vision as an adult following complications from surgery. Though she applauds the government's initiatives especially those creating opportunities for youth she says the plan is missing a core group of the population with disabilities.

"As weacquire disabilities our worth seems to be gone," she says.

She's encouragingthe government to think about "how that mature work force can actually help youngsters coming into the workforce by providing them some really strong mentorships, coaching, some skills transfer."

'Where the rubber is meeting the road'

All three ministers present at the announcement this afternoon MacCharles,Deputy PremierDeb Matthews and Helena Jaczek, minister of community and social services listed the issues faced by job seekers with disabilities, including misperceptions that businesses would see a decrease in productivity or employees would call in sick more often.

Though not accompanied by a mandate, the government encouraged any businesses with more than 20 employees to hire an additional employee with a disability in a meaningful position.

Tim Hortonsfranchise ownerMark Wafer says he currently has 46 people with disabilities working in his coffee shops. Over a 23 year periodin six stores, he says he's had 150 employees with disabilities.

Debunking the productivity myths, Wafer encouragesmore employers to do what he's done.

David Onley, the province's special adviser on accessibility, was in the front rowlistening to the announcement, which took place on Bay Street at CIBC, which committed to hiring 500 employees with disabilities this year.

Onleysays it's time people don't look at those with disabilities and "allow it to form the basis of a value judgement of that person's potential and that's where the rubber is meeting the road in terms of today's announcement."

Results could take years

Advocates of accessibility, like David Lepofsky, chair of the Access for Ontarians with Disabilities ActAlliance, say the government's announcement was a long time coming and "mainly high-level, long-term concepts, that could take years before there are any results.

"After years of waiting, what we need instead is a plan to hit the ground running now, with immediate, practical action,"Lepofskywrote of the initiatives.

He adds the government is rehashing some previous announcements, including its goal to lead by example in accessibility employment.

In 2010, the government unveileditsbarrier-free objective for 2025.

Five years later Brad Duguid, former minister of economic development, employment and infrastructure said the objective was losing steam.

Lepofsky says Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne first announced the government's intention to address the issue that about half of Ontario's population with disabilities are unemployed in 2013, in her first Speech from the Throne.