Minister responsible for Immigration, Jobs, Skills and Training Jeremy Harrison proclaimed October as Disability Employment Awareness Month.
"This month, especially, we will be encouraging Saskatchewan employers to hire people with disabilities in their businesses," Harrison said. "A shortage of skilled labour continues to be one of the largest constraints to continued economic growth in this province. Strategies to support the employment of people with disabilities and their caregivers are critical to ensuring that Saskatchewan's labour market needs are met."
Disability Employment Awareness Month seeks to bring awareness of the individual, economic and societal benefits of diversifying Saskatchewan's workforce by employing people of varying abilities.
"Our government is committed to making Saskatchewan the best place in Canada for people with disabilities to live," Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer said. "Employment of people with disabilities plays a valuable role in making this vision a reality."
Government's investment of $9.9 million in workforce development programming helps people with disabilities to prepare for, secure and maintain a job. The investment of $3.4 million in the 2013-14 budget for the Provincial Training Allowance for people with disabilities provides income support to help address obstacles to education and training, employment and job maintenance.
"Employment opportunities in the community can often be the first step for an individual toward achieving independence and other goals," Saskatchewan Assocation of Rehabilitation Centres Executive Director Amy McNeil said. "Employers who actively hire people with disabilities help make this possible. Proclaiming October 2014 as Disability Employment Awareness Month will increase awareness about the importance of hiring people of all abilities to help create a more diverse workforce."
Employment is a priority area for the Saskatchewan Disability Strategy, which is scheduled to be released in the winter/spring of 2015. The strategy is expected to include a number of recommendations to support the inclusion of people who experience disabilities in the workforce.
Partners in Employment, in recognition of October being Disability Employment Awareness month will be hosting a free Lunch and Learn. During the Lunch and Learn we will be screening a video called "A Hire Awareness" highlighting the stories of several people in the workforce who have disabilities. This video seeks to dispel various myths about employees with disabilities. The 16-minute video is about the long-term contribution that persons with disabilities make to the workplace in Canada. The video is designed to inspire and educate employers about the value of a largely overlooked labour force - persons with visible and invisible disabilities - who can be the solution to their employment challenges.
The Lunch and Learn will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2014 from Noon until 1 pm at the Partners in Employment Office located at 222 Smith Street, Yorkton. We kindly ask for you to RSVP to Debbie Dooley either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at 306-782-0023 prior to October 28, 2014.
Tim Hortons is kindly providing food and refreshments for the lunch and learn
