We have a new domain name with a website coming May 22, 2009!

Please visit www.prability.org

Le Poster

The Ability First! Disabilities Employment Fair is set for: Tuesday May 26, 2009 from 11am – 2pm

Location: The Powell River Recreation Complex (5001 Joyce Ave) Cedar Room.

This lunchtime event will feature information booths, guest speakers, a free lunch and a door prize for business attendees submitting their invitation ticket stub at the door. Everyone is invited to this free event!

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP Giovanni Spezzacatena, the facilitator (please either email Giovanni or type in a comment below).

Invited Guest speakers and information table/sessions will cover:

• The use of plain language in the workplace (special session hosted by the PR Literacy Council)
• Ways to increase accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities in retail and non-retail locations (for employees and customers)
• Success stories on how people with disabilities can be included in the general workforce from the perspective of employees with disabilities and employers.
• The financial assistance and expertise available to employers to make their location accessible, and where to seek this help.
• Self-employment opportunities for (especially) youth with disabilities.
• Assistive devices and technologies that make the workplace accessible and inclusive to all.
• A useful brochure and website will be launched to help better distribute this information to all.
• … and much more!

Work support

Thanks to Jenna Fickes for this streaming video/ text link!
http://www.worksupport.com/training/viewWebcast.cfm/36

Interesting notes (in pdf format) from Riehle’s talk: here

…And a “Myth and Truth of Hiring People with Disabilities” pdf file: here

The 10 by 10 Challenge

from: http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/epwd/10by10/

There are currently 360,000 working-age people with disabilities in British Columbia. They have the motivation, education and abilities to be valuable members of our workforce and communities. Yet, they face an employment rate of 52.1%.  The Minister’s Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities is inviting communities and organizations to join the 10 by 10 Challenge to increase employment for persons with disabilities in British Columbia by 10% by the year 2010.

See the video presentation at: http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/epwd/10by10/

10 by 10 backgrounder

click image to link to the 10 x 10 website

Ability First! Powell River, BC: A Gathering of Possibilities for Employment for Persons with Disabilities

The strength of a community can be measured by its cooperation and commitment in accepting new challenges and creating a better environment for its members and for the wider society.

Developmental and Brainstorming meeting on Thursday, March 19 2009 at 1:00 pm at the Powell River Recreation Complex Spruce Room.

RSVP Giovanni if you will attend.
Powell River Disabilities Career Fair: “Ability First!” Spring 2009:

Powell River’s first Disabilities Career Fair “Ability First!” is an event open to everyone, that has the overarching goal of increasing the employment and education of people with disabilities in our community by at least 10%, by the year 2010, as per the BC Housing and Social Development “10 by 10” program.

“Ability First!” will act as an instrument of community outreach to employers and potential employers to help them recognize the value in hiring people with both visible and invisible disabilities, and how to employ and integrate them into their workforce.  It will focus especially on how the benefits of employment move beyond increased income for the potential employee.  Employment increases social inclusion, a sense of well-being, and adds to a sense of pride and purpose, contributing to a life-long learning environment for all people.  For this reason, and following the Disability Supports for Employment definitions, it will also include a focus on self-employment, education, and volunteerism as part of this package.

“Ability First!” workshops on how employers can move ahead to increase the employment of persons with disabilities or barriers to employment will include demonstrations of assistive devices and technologies, and a review of the many different avenues through which to achieve their hiring goals.  Information sessions open to both employers and potential employees will demonstrate how people with disabilities and the general population can benefit from the exciting opportunities for employment within the Disabilities Studies and Health and Human Services in this region, and beyond.

This is a Powell River Measuring Up Committee project, funded in part through 2010 Legacies Now.

Ability First! is Funded through a grant from The Vancouver Foundation DSEF (Disabilities Supports for Employment Fund)