A not-for-profit organization whose mandate is to find jobs for people living with any kind of disability has set a goal of placing 20 people in jobs this month.
EmployAll works with the March of Dimes, Northern College and the Canadian Hearing Society for Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls and Black River-Matheson.
It’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month and vocational rehabilitation team lead Ainslie Armstrong says the month raises the visibility of people who are well qualified at what they do.
“It’s really a hidden talent pool in many communities,” she comments, “and just shining a light there to say there are qualified people to work who have disabilities.”
EmployAll also helps employers hire qualified workers,and offers coaching in the workplace to help the worker learn the job the best way possible.
Another function of EmployAll is dispelling myths about workers who have disabilities. One is that an employee with a disability won’t do as good a job.
“The reality,” says Armstrong, “is 90% of people with disabilities rate average or better on-the-job performance.”
Other myths are about reliability, the likelihood of an on-the-job injury, and staff turnover.
“There’s all kinds of myths around hiring people with disabilities and we’re trying to bust those myths.
Potential employers or employees can contact EmployAll at the March of Dimes office in the 101 Mall.