September marks the second Disability Employment Month and the WorkBC Employment Services team at EK Employment is excited to help spread the word!

Throughout September we will be celebrating persons with disabilities in the workforce and the employers, service providers, and community groups that help support them. Each centre will be hosting events and you will want to stay tuned to their Facebook pages for interesting links, videos, and information.

Our government has set a vision to become the most progressive place for people with disabilities in Canada. We have taken an important step towards achieving that vision with Accessibility 2024, a 10-year action plan that will help make B.C. a more accessible, inclusive place for people with disabilities.

Since the launch of the program in 2012 the Employment Program of BC has increased access to services for persons with disabilities. To help break down the barriers often faced when trying to look for and secure a job persons with disabilities may access, for example, specialized assessments, financial support for assistive technology in the workplace, wage subsidies, skills training, job development and customized employment services.

The Facts:

There are more than 546,000 people in B.C. over the age of 15, who identify as having a disability – that’s almost 15 per cent of the total population.

The employment rate for people with disabilities (age 15-64) is 18 percentage points lower than people without disabilities.

Many people with disabilities do not need accommodations in the workplace – and for those who do, the average cost is generally under $500.

People with disabilities make great employees and are five times more likely to stay on the job than people who do not have a disability.

Businesses experience less turn-over when they invest in a person with disabilities, as they typically have higher retention rates – this means less energy and expense hiring and training new people.

Consumers with disabilities in Canada spend $25 billion a year and growing, which means accessibility is also big business.

We invite you to celebrate Disability Employment Month with us! Together we believe that we can create a more inclusive, diverse, and accessible workforce for persons with disabilities.

Events

EK Employment Elk Valley will be hosting two workshops, a brown bag lunch networking opportunity, and an afternoon information session during which local community service providers will dialogue. This will be hosted on September 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

EK Employment Cranbrook will be hosting two events during the month including both a workshop and open house. Disclosing Disabilities in Job Search Workshop will be hosted on September 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and an Open House will be hosted on September 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

EK Employment Columbia Valley will be hosting two workshops (disclosing disabilities and managing disabilities) over two days. One workshop was held on September 9 and the other on September 23 at 1:30 p.m.

EK Employment Golden will be hosting two workshops (disclosing disabilities and managing disabilities) over two days. A workshop is on September 23 at 1:30 p.m.

The Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

EK Employment

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