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📢 Last cohort of 2024, the last day to register is October 28! Certificate Program: An Intersectional Approach to Supporting Career Development Don’t miss your chance to secure a spot—limited availability! https://lnkd.in/gRfqY5DG Why You Should Attend🤔 The strength of the Canadian workforce lies in its diversity. Each jobseeker holds unique social identities, experiences and strengths. For career and employment professionals, it’s crucial to recognize and understand this diversity, especially for those within the Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities who experience disability (BIPOC-D). This 6-week online certificate program covers anti-racism and anti-ableism through engaging content, discussions and live webinars. You’ll gain research-based strategies for applying an intersectional and trauma-informed approach to career support, enhancing your allyship and advocacy skills. THIS PROGRAM INVITES YOU TO: 🟠 Reflect on your own privilege and biases to explore how they impact the services you provide to Racialized, Indigenous and People of Colour who experience disability 🟠 Enhance your awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by BIPOC-D jobseekers, and acquire actionable strategies to actively contribute to positive change in lives 🟠 Address systemic oppression by applying strategies in your daily work practice 💬 “I have spent my career working in intersectional spaces and have a deep understanding of these issues yet found this course both engaging and inspirational.” 📅 Start date: November 4, 2024 Cost for the full program: $450 Non-CASE members | $400 CASE members 📌 The program content, learning aids and PowerPoints are available in English and French. The program is currently facilitated in English only. Register now: https://lnkd.in/gRfqY5DG - In partnership with Canadian Association For Supported Employment/ Association canadienne de soutien à l'emploi

Check out this very interesting short video, were Youth Employment KRI participants and stakeholders share thier view of the program in #one #word. Wedo

Nearly a quarter of the UK population has some kind of disability*. Yet, for many neurodivergent and/or disabled students, the path to finding the job they want- whether that be an internship, year in industry or graduate role- can be filled with barriers. Without the proper support and accommodations, these can feel impossible to overcome. That's why I, and other members of the UoS Neurodiversity and Disability Society committee, sat down over hot drinks with members of the University of Southampton Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team today, to discuss the challenges faced by neurodivergent and disabled people in the job search process, and how barriers can be overcome. Diversity isn't just CSR- it's a sound business decision, bringing new perspectives and a wider range of ideas.💡 I'd like to say a huge thank you to the Careers Team for meeting with us and being so receptive to our suggestions, I look forward to seeing the positive progress that comes out of this meeting, towards making job searching more accessible for neurodivergent and disabled students across our university✨️ * Kirk-Wade, Stiebal and Wong, 2023 Image- Unsplash #employability #recruitment #neurodiversity #disability #accessibility #humanresources

Last week, as a part of the UCL Consultancy Challenge 2024, I had the wonderful opportunity to work with L'Arche UK’. They are an international charity that provides holistic care and support for people with learning disabilities (PWLD). We were a team of 10 students who worked to design a formal employment strategy to support PWLD. Providing employment guidance furthers the mission of L'Arche, as employment not only provides financial stability, but also fosters a sense of purpose, independence, and community. We conducted over 17+ hours of interviews with different branches of L’Arche across the UK and the North America to identify some of their best practices. We spoke to PWLD, local and international leaders, and volunteers at L'Arche. We also conducted extensive online research to benchmark against global best practices and current trends in employment support for individuals with learning disabilities. Working with L’Arche was incredibly insightful! Here are some of the key insights I gained working on this project: - The current Benefits policy in the UK severely constraints the ability of an individual to fulfill their potential at work. Even a small increase in the employment hours can result in a considerable slash in the benefits offered to them. - Transportation and the built environment of the workplace play a key role in making employment accessible for people with diverse needs. - The PWLD we spoke to expressed a desire to work in roles that they were already familiar with - either first hand or through someone else. There is a need to encourage the people in the community to explore roles beyond what they are acquainted with. - Schools can be spaces where the self-esteem and confidence of a person is bolstered; however, in our conversations with PWLD they were recalled as places where they were not given enough guidance and support about future career pathways and may have even discouraged them from pursuing a career. These are only some of the takeaways from what was a rich learning experience. I am extremely grateful to the team of L'Arche especially Laura Harper and Mary Osborne and my brilliant teammates for an exciting and thought-provoking week

DFN Project SEARCH Celebrates Landmark Achievements in Disability Employment at 2024 Conference in Leicester 🟢 “The ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ theme represents our collective determination to open as many doors as possible for young adults who have a learning disability or who are autistic. 🌉 We need to bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring that the young people we work with aren’t left facing limited opportunities when they’re ready to start their professional journeys. When we see young adults not only securing jobs but also gaining confidence and achieving greater independence, we know our work is making a difference. ➡️ Last academic year, 431 DFN Project SEARCH interns secured paid employment – the largest number achieved to date. In Scotland, 75% of interns found employment, while across the UK, 63% of interns found employment on average while seven programme sites reached a 100% employment rate for their interns, and eight sites achieved between 80% and 99%. ✅ The diversity of roles taken up by interns – from car maintenance to patient care and landscaping – underscores their wide-ranging talents and the value they bring to the workforce. https://lnkd.in/e4tiXTKt

🎓 Higher Education & Employment: Creating Pathways for People with Intellectual Disabilities Did you know? This academic year alone, 11 new higher education courses tailored to students with intellectual disabilities have launched across Ireland, with around 150 students expected to enroll. 🌟This Irish Times article highlights the incredible work of the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities (TCPID). Since 2016, TCPID has been providing students with intellectual disabilties access to academic programmes in order to build independence and explore meaningful career pathways. The article also features enlightening stories and testimonials from a broad range of people, such as that of Sadbh Feehan, a TCPID graduate who now supports new students in their academic journey, Inclusion Ireland CEO Derval McDonagh, Inclusion Ireland Self-Advocate Tamara Byrne and Professor Michael Shevlin, Director of TCPID. 💡One standout aspect of TCPID’s approach is its partnership with leading companies like Abbott, EY, and CPL. These collaborations include six-week programmes where students gain hands-on experience and showcase their skills through science projects, internships, and more. As Prof. Michael Shevlin, says: “Companies hire our graduates not out of charity, but because they’re good workers.” For organisations like ours, this is a compelling reminder of the importance of creating pathways to higher education and employment for people with intellectual disabilities. 🌍 📖 We encourage you to read this article and learn how collaboration, advocacy, and innovative education programmes are paving the way for a more inclusive future. ✅ Access Full Article Here: https://lnkd.in/eysEi3PD #IntellectualDisability #InclusiveEducation #HigherEducation #EmploymentOpportunities

Breaking Barriers for Disabled Individuals: Are Employers Doing Enough? While exploring venues for our Jungle Club, supporting families of children and young people with significant needs, it was eye-opening to see just how little the community truly offers for individuals with disabilities. Employers often talk about inclusion, but how many are providing genuine, accessible environments for people with disabilities—be it physical, learning, or otherwise? Basics such as disabled toilets that are simply larger aren't enough. We need facilities that support independent living: hoists, changing beds, assistive toilets, and enough space for carers to help when needed. People with physical disabilities bring immense value to our communities and workplaces. But are we doing enough to create environments where they can thrive? Let’s shift the narrative from compliance to true inclusivity. Have a read of this blog from Mahnoor Fawad. #DiversityAndInclusion #Equity #DisabilityAwareness #InclusiveWorkplaces #BreakingBarriers https://lnkd.in/eVkHrGBC

“College Decision Day” is coming. May 1st is the deadline by which many students must submit their deposit and commit to enrolling at the college of their choice. There are some common variables that students learn to compare when researching and visiting colleges: Location, Cost, Scholarships and Financial Aid, Size (campus size, number of undergraduate students, class sizes, etc.), Strength and Availability of Majors, Retention and Graduation Rates, Internships, and Gut feelings. But, for students with disabilities, there is additional information that can be useful in making a decision to commit to a particular college including: - Opportunities for student engagement (Student participation in clubs and campus activities directly correlates with retention, persistence, and success) - General course requirements including foreign language (Don’t assume this can be waived!) - How accessible the disability support services office and staff are - Ability to engage in a reduced course load when necessary, and  - Residential accommodation options. For more information, check out the blog I wrote for NESCA with questions to ask about each of these bullet points. #collegetransition #collegedecisions #transitiontocollege #postescondarytransition #transitionplanning #goingtocollege #collegecounseling #IEP #specialeducation

Today marks not just the culmination of my academic journey at Questrom School of Business, but also a moment of profound reflection and responsibility. I had the pleasure of speaking for the MiM graduates,in my speech, I shared a personal narrative, one marked by my identity as a refugee. A story not commonly heard in the halls of academia but one that embodies resilience, determination, and the transformative power of education. Refugees face unimaginable challenges and yet possess immense potential. Currently, less than 3% of refugees have access to higher education. This isn't just a statistic; it's a call to action for all of us, especially in positions of influence and leadership. As we step into the world armed with knowledge and skills, let us champion inclusive policies, innovate solutions, and lead with empathy. Let's remember that our achievements should not only elevate our lives but also open doors for those who are sidelined. As I venture forward, I carry with me the lessons learned and the stories shared. I urge you, my network, to join me in advocating for educational opportunities for all, particularly for refugees who are often overlooked. Together, we can be the generation that changes the narrative, transforming our societies into inclusive spaces where everyone, regardless of their background, has the chance to thrive.