Canada Unemployment is high. Finding a job is hard. Are you unemployed? Here is an inspirational article about some Canadians with disabilities who get jobs and keep work.
Keeping Canadians with a disability at work rather than out of work
Disability in the Canadian workplace is changing – or, at least moving in the direction of positive change. In particular, this change has to do with keeping Canadians with a disability at work rather than out of work. Organizations in British Columbia and Ontario are working to foster these changes and are gleaning inspiration from the United Kingdom and the United States.
Disability, work and over all health
An individual with a disability is healthier when working; being unemployed/receiving disability benefits when they’re not absolutely essential is damaging to an individual and his or her family – this is the basic mindset these Canadian organizations are facilitating. Very understandably, this is a controversial topic.
Why do the Canadian organizations feel it is healthier for a person with a disability to work?
They believe that a person who is unemployed considerably loses a good quality of life, first by financial loss, and then by the loss experienced by the person’s family. But how is a family negatively affected by the unemployment of a loved one with a disability? Terry O’Hearn, chair of the Ontario Action Group to Prevent Work Disability, explains:
“I saw too much of that tragedy in my 30 years of doing it (managing client disability issues), people killing themselves, families ruined, desperate lives after years of struggling with an insurance system … It’s heart-wrenching, some of the cases you see.”
What is the remedy for Canadians with a disability being unemployed?
After all, in many cases the individual does not choose to be out of work; often that decision is made by the person’s employer. Therefore, it makes sense that change must involve the individual with a disability, his or her employer, and his or her doctor.
Dame Carol Black, Past President of the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom, proposes a solution: doctors should begin writing “fit notes” for individuals with a disability as opposed to “sick notes.”
Fit Notes, Not Sick Notes
What’s the difference? Basically, a “sick note” explains everything a person cannot do on the job with no description of what he or she is able to do. On the contrary, a “fit note” explains what an individual can do, as often he or she has few to many abilities that could be exercised in a job setting.
This “sick note” to “fit note” mentality indicates a major paradigm shift for Canada, especially for physicians. If this change is to take place, physicians must be educated in this new way of thinking.
Canadian employers also need to be educated in this new mindset and must be willing to make accommodations for what an employee with a disability can do. Perhaps, most fundamentally, the employer needs to actually care about the employee.
These changes are definitely vast, but possible. With the continued, unrelenting efforts of these Canadian organisations, these changes are inevitable.
To read the full article this posting was derived from and some examples of how people with disabilities can practically return to work, please visit the link below.
Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/10/24/groups-aim-to-alter-attit_n_1028937.html
Read More about Canada Unemployment:
Canada’s Unemployment Rate Up to 7.3% in October: http://www.tradingeconomics.com/canada/unemployment-rate
Canada Unemployment Numbers by Province:
http://www.hrmguide.net/canada/jobmarket/canadian-unemployment.htm
Canada Looses 54,000 Jobs in October:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2011/11/04/jobs-unemployment-october.html
Let’s Talk About It
–What would your “Fit Note” say?
–What is different in Canada now that Unemployment numbers are so high?
–What is your dream job?
*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 NBC and belong to the accredited individual, organization or company.
Would like a job working on line if possible
I am 21 yrs old, have OCD, & still no job. I am very discouraged! I have finished grade 12, & no one seems to hire me. What to do?
I was terminated from my job of 11 years in February. The last words my employer said to me were: ‘I have had 11 years of you being sick, and 11 years is enough’. Needless to say I was devastated. I have been trying to find employment since then without success. Interviews have tended to go well, however after participating in a morning of several hours on the floor under observation, after the interview, I never hear back. When I follow up and ask what the problem may have been I am told in much the same way from each place: ‘On observation you tend to move slowly and stiffly, you are unable to get down on the floor to sit with the children, and you seem to have difficulty using the child sized chairs. We require our ECE’s to be mobile and to be able to interact with the children at their level…’ It is frustrating beyond belief. I love children, and have spent most of my adult life working with them. However, I have several disablying afflictions including Fibromyalgia, Arthritis and Asthma. Another complication is: my asthma is set off from perfumes and scents. Where will I end up, I have no idea, and it is scary.
Its not right the way employers see people with disabilities – and most of the time no accomedation is made for that person.My husband is bi polar and just lost his job because the person he works with didn’t like some of his behavours and said he said something that he didn’t – there was no investigation into the matter – just termination of employment. He never missed a day of work with this company for 2 years. People do need to care more. We have three kids and now he has to find another job. It’ s very fustrating and unfair. What right do they have to ruin our lives.
i am disabled , spent the last 4 years getting trained in a field, only to NOT be hired due to my disability and AGE- discrimination!!…..how dare they???? they can i guess…… All that work for nothing. senseless.
My 22 yr old son was diagnosted as high function autistics. He is above average academically and had graduated from BCIT this year ( May ) with a diploma ( distinction ) in Food Technology program. So far till now he is still unemployed and we believe he just couldn’t pass the 1st base ( face to face interview ). He’s perceived as “shy” and communication for him is prooved to be “difficult” and not impressive to an interviewer. However, if you are reading this and if you are an employer, I hope you can bypass the interview part and give him a chance – I can almost guarantee that my son won’t disappoint you and he will be a great help in your company. His ideal job position is “behind the counter” so to speak whereby he need not deal with much face to face communication. He is super focus in any job at hand and more honest than anyone we know ; ))
He even plants his own vegetable garden ( taking over both our front and backyards ). He juices his vegetables and believe in healthy raw and organic eating. He also weight train, runs and cycle for healthy lifestyle.
Please don’t overlook a potential such as my son. If you are an employer still searching for a good worker, please try and look pass the exterior and you may be pleasantly surprised if you are able to open your heart and give him a chance; ))
Thank you!
Louis Yong
Cellular: 604-671-7691
hello , I am 53 had car accident 1983. last 10 years my condition is getting worse,i am unable to hold a job i am blue coller worker even if i change career i do not see someone will hire me ,i have chronic pain in my right ankle other symptoms back pain hip headaches knee, and sleep constant worring, also with chronic pain is the deadly cancer, i was denied by cra for dtc i am ojecting that . here is an example i walk for one hour and i have to rest for 3 days before it gets back to normal which is less pain than i experience, i walk with a limp all the time, but to quailify you have to limp all the time, but that is what i do still they don’t give it to me. so what i have to do continue working with pain and more problems with my impairment down the road. Also my ankle is deforming.I am appling for dis. pen. i have no more money left.since the accident happened in quebec i am going after the saaq but i have not much confadent in them.it will be a fight with them and process is long. i am very stressed and waiting for what i will getting and my future . I have worked for 36 years and i diserve something . imagine u pay for insurance and they ? your disabilty. what is our goveremnt doing supporting millionaire, and the rest of us suffer. alan
Not only disabled people may find it hard to get a job but there are some other groups toward which employers are not particularly sympathetic in many of our cities. I was surprised when I read the current Toronto’s Vital Signs Report which highlights several weaknesses that the city of Toronto will have to face in the years to come. What struck me most was the fact that unemployment rates run too high among immigrants and young workers who are often ignored and underestimated by employers and thus deprived of the opportunity to find a decent job.
I hurt my knee @ work Dec.23rd 2006. since then I have worked about 1 1/2 years at the same place while in and out of the hospital. I was finally let go, with the excuse that I was unable to do my work. I was there even when not paid troubleshooting problems other staff were having and even trained my replacement( go figure). since then I have had a full knee replacement. I am unable to find employment( they won’t even take my resume). My wife works, but does not make enough to cover all our expenses, yet too much for Social Services to help. I am Not Disabled enough for disability programs. What is a guy to do? I am going stir crazy not working, and am going deeper in debt every month. I am not one to sit and do nothing, but I have no choice. I don’t even have enough money to sign up for these online jobs. The Government is supposed to be there to help people like me, but where are they in my case? I am not impressed!
What gives Workers Comp. the authority to have a doctor who never sees you, to sit in an office miles away, and make a decision as to whether your injury is from work, or as in my case they decided that it had to be preexisting conditions? They didn’t even attempt to investigate my place of employment. How is that fair, or even legal?
First if you live in Ontario Canada it is illegal to caghre a pet or damage depots it is also illegal to stop someone from having a pet unless that pet causes damages or bothers other tenants, you can check this with the Landlord Tenants board. I am a 56 year old woman that has worked hard all my life i have 3 grown children and 5 grand children, the last 6 years i have not worked out of my home i was a Foster Treatment Home for teens but as of last Dec.2010 that came to a end do to funding cuts so i was told, well that left me with no income, no unemployment INS and no health coverage or support from anyone, I am not able to work do to my health so i did the only thing left i applied for ODSP even though i did not want to but i was denied because i owned another house that i have a contract with people to rent to own this contract was drown up when i was still employed and they have another 2 years to get a mortgage, so here i am 2 hours from my family i have gone bankrupt , i have no income but the bills still come in my children and friends bring me food and pay what they can towards the bills, i can’t afford my meds so i suffer with the pain 24-7 This is how our system treats us they could not care at all that people that have worked all their life and given when there was a need to now end up with nothing i for one never thought i would be living like this at my age i feel very worthless and to be denied help from ODSP is a slap in the face from our government.
Really appreciate you sharing this blog post.Much thanks again. Great.
My 22 yr old son was diagnosted as high cfnution autistics. He is above average academically and had graduated from BCIT this year ( May ) with a diploma ( distinction ) in Food Technology program. So far till now he is still unemployed and we believe he just couldn’t pass the 1st base ( face to face interview ). He’s perceived as shy and communication for him is prooved to be difficult and not impressive to an interviewer. However, if you are reading this and if you are an employer, I hope you can bypass the interview part and give him a chance I can almost guarantee that my son won’t disappoint you and he will be a great help in your company. His ideal job position is behind the counter so to speak whereby he need not deal with much face to face communication. He is super focus in any job at hand and more honest than anyone we know ; ))He even plants his own vegetable garden ( taking over both our front and backyards ). He juices his vegetables and believe in healthy raw and organic eating. He also weight train, runs and cycle for healthy lifestyle.Please don’t overlook a potential such as my son. If you are an employer still searching for a good worker, please try and look pass the exterior and you may be pleasantly surprised if you are able to open your heart and give him a chance; ))Thank you!Louis YongCellular: 604-671-7691
I have a “hidden” neurological disorder plus 3 other chronic conditions, It too 6.5 years for me to finish a 4yr. hon. degree, (Dec. 1993) I looked for work for 2 years then had 2 children ( now youth), in the time period since, at one point I had employment then lost it, and since the job loss I have started receiving a small support. I do now feel somewhat abandoned that my education was not enough and all the 1 year employment program offered was support in pay after employment was found (which did not happen in 1994).
I have a “hidden” neurological disorder plus 3 other chronic conditions, It took 6.5 years for me to finish a 4yr. hon. degree, (Dec. 1993) I looked for work for 2 years then had 2 children ( now youth), in the time period since, at one point I had employment then lost it, and since the job loss I have started receiving a small support. I do now feel somewhat abandoned that my education was not enough and all the 1 year employment program offered was support in pay after employment was found (which did not happen in 1994-95).