Employment is a vitally important subject among today’s disability community of Canada. More than ever, Canadians with disabilities are needing to find good jobs that supply the extra money they need in this sagging economy. Even more, people with disabilities (just like all people) need to feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose that comes from a career or even a part time job.
Many people who have disabilities would like to be employed.
Did you know that a lot of Canadians with disabilities are seeking employment? Others are searching for jobs that would be accessible to them and their unique needs. These individuals see the value in employment and need the extra income it provides. While there has been a slight increase in employment rates among individuals with disabilities in the past few years, some people are still unable to find work.
Employment of those with disabilities could help end the poverty-disability cycle.
Did you know that poverty can cause disability? Likewise, disability can cause poverty. Why? Because if a person doesn’t have adequate employment, its very likely he or she will also not have adequate income. Low incomes often do not make room for disability-related expenses; this only fosters greater disability. How can this cycle end?
One of the ways the poverty-disability cycle can end is by individuals with disabilities securing accessible employment. This will help ensure that these people have enough money for all their needs. This is just one of the reasons it is important for there to be plenty of employment opportunities for Canada’s disability community members.
Read more about the poverty-disability cycle at http://www.disabilityliving.ca/disability-canada-poverty-causes-disability/.
What does employment in the disability community of Canada look like right now? That is one of the questions Disability Living will be answering this week.
Disability Living will also be tackling subjects such as ideal jobs for people with certain disabilities, government funding for Canadians with disabilities wishing to return to work, discrimination in the workplace, and more. We will also feature success stories of Canadians with disabilities who have made a successful career despite limitations.
Are you a Canadian with a disability who is looking for work? Are you just wanting more information about the relationship between disability and employment?
If so, this week’s blog posts will be extremely helpful to you. Be sure and follow Disability Living’s posts about disability and employment to stay up-to-date on this crucial topic.
Sources:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-001-x/2009105/article/10865-eng.htm
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/466689
Image made available by Genista on Flickr through Creative Commons License.
*Please note: All research for this article is compiled from direct and third party sources. Mention of programs, organizations and companies does not imply support of The National Benefit Authority. Pictures are for creative purposes only; they are not intended to sell or promote products for the NBA and belong to the accredited individual, organization or company.
Let’s Talk About It
Do you feel that Canadians with disabilities have adequate employment opportunities?
Do you think all the Canadians with disabilities who want employment are employed? Why do you think this is?
HI,
I’d like to say that I’m on O.D.S.P and I USED to have what is called, “Employment Supports” but they took that away. I have NO ONE from the Ontario Disability who can help me find and maintain employment. I feel like I’m all on my own, especially since they’ve done that. Where do people on O.D.S.P go to get help to find employment?
Sherry
I am interested of the opportunities that are available for the disabled here in Ontario. Let me hope that the government can offer more funds for employment.
There should also be some funds for training. Let us hope that our representatives are listening
Would love to work was making a six figure salary 11 years ago and now am just on the scrap heap at 1300 hundred month barely making ends meet, and no one to help had a stroke and suffer from PDST lets do something government am not dead yet and could still add something to this land
I have Epilepsy which got stopped by Brain Surgery in 2003, and Drop Foot on my left side, so I require Ankle and Knee Braces to walk. It doesn’t affect my mental skills though, yet the only places that will take me, are companies seeking Volunteers. I took a Job Training Program that worked around my skills and found me lots of places to go for Work Experience, but even though the Employers were amazed with my skills, they all refused to hire me… for liability reasons. Instead, I got moved up to Disability Level 2… People who’ve been classed by the Provincial Government as “Unemployable”.
I have been diagnosed with RA & fibromyalgia in June 2011 & deal with pain daily in various areas… I never know where from day to day! My doctors won’t sign my disability papers, saying that I am not severely or prolonged. I don’t understand that, but in the meantime I cannot work or find work. It is hard for me to dress, to shower, to do household chores… but I get by. I’ve exhausted my EI benefits as well as my EI sick benefits in March 2012. I’ve been forced to apply for early retirement, I will be 60 in Sept. This is so totally unfair, as I think I could still make a meaningful contribution to society if given half a chance. But there are no supports out there for people like me… who are disabled, but not legally defined as such. We need a better system in our country!!!