Province tabs $600K for intellectual disabilities employment project

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This article was published 31/07/2023 (1039 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new provincial pilot project is seeking to boost employment prospects for young adults with intellectual disabilities.

The $600,000 plan announced Monday by Families Minister Rochelle Squires is being launched in collaboration with employment service providers.

It will help 30 youth with intellectual disabilities between the ages of 18 and 20 gain access to employment services before turning 21. A second group of participants, ages 21-25, will be assisted in exploring employment opportunities.

Participants will use an employment discovery tool to explore their skills and job preferences. They’ll then be matched with service providers.

“We are working diligently with supported employment service providers conducting extensive research and consultations to design a robust pilot project that addresses the specific needs and aspirations of these young individuals,” Squires said.

“By offering tailored employment services and support, we aim to create a more inclusive workforce, fostering a thriving and diverse labour market in Manitoba.”

Margo Powell, executive director of Abilities Manitoba, believes the pilot program will broaden some horizons.

“What’s exciting about this is that there’s a new focus on employment and careers for people with intellectual disabilities,” Powell said. “Most people with an intellectual disability haven’t thought about career planning, so it’s just kind of changing the trajectory of the future for everyone, hopefully.”

Traditionally, many students with intellectual disabilities remain in high school until age 21.

Oly Backstrom, president and chief executive officer of SCE Lifeworks employment service, said this is partly because adult funding for employment typically begins at that age. While this works for some, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, he said.

“Everyone’s in a different situation. Some people might be really well-served by staying in school until age 21, but some young people may actually have their potential stifled by having systems make them stay until 21,” Backstrom said.

“They’re seeing their peers of the same age leave school at age 17, 18, sometimes wondering, ‘Why am I stuck here when I see others… moving on with their lives?’”

By offering a chance to explore employment prospects before age 21, Backstrom believes it’ll give people with intellectual disabilities more independence and choice in planning their future.

As newly-graduated people with intellectual disabilities search for jobs, Powell said a lack of opportunity is often the greatest barrier. She wants more employers to consider and accommodate such applicants.

“There’s overwhelming research that shows the positive impact that someone with an intellectual disability has on the workplace culture,” Powell said. “We also know from research that people (with intellectual disabilities) tend to miss the fewest amount of days, have incredible commitment to their jobs, and remain in their jobs for a long time.”

Given the small scale of the pilot project, Backstrom views the new program as a stepping stone, rather than systemic change.

Powell, however, is hopeful it will expand in the future.

“There’s been a real shift that’s been happening over the past 10 or more years… To me, this announcement signals a change of direction and a change in what’s possible in the lives of people with disabilities,” Powell said.

cierra.bettens@freepress.mb.ca