Alberta invests $12M in employment support for those with disabilities

Alberta is investing $12 million to help those with disabilities find meaningful employment.

The province will provide $5 million for specific and targeted employment supports and services with those with disabilities and $7 million to expand the Career and Employment Information Services (CEIS).

During Disability Employment Awareness Month, we highlight the many talents and contributions people with disabilities bring to the workforce. It’s also a great opportunity to discuss the actions we can take to build a more inclusive province: https://t.co/QLBQXx8cXD #DEAM pic.twitter.com/qe6oxCOjv3

— Alberta Government (@YourAlberta) October 5, 2022

“I believe everyone, regardless of the barriers they face, should have the opportunity to build their skills and find meaningful work in their communities,” said Jason Luan, Alberta’s minister of community and social services. “This investment will help more people with disabilities find good jobs and will further the important work of creating more inclusive and diverse workplaces in Alberta.”

This investment aims to build partnerships with potential employers, connect individuals to jobs that match their skill set and interests, and encourage the hiring of more people with disabilities.

The province is also providing $600,000 to the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society as they launch an employment program catering to newcomers with disabilities.

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Their program will help those struggling with a disability with job search strategies, emotional intelligence skills training, and conflict resolution training.

“These investments by the Alberta government and CSS allowed us to support employment for hundreds of persons with disabilities and, last quarter alone, government funding allowed us to place 102 clients with disabilities into independent jobs. These investments change lives and build our community, ensuring everyone can contribute and share in this province’s prosperity,” said Kevin McNichol, CEO of Prospect Human Services.

“By providing consultation to employers and coordinating work placements, employers are seeing first-hand that creating a diverse and inclusive workforce is not about doing the ‘right thing.’ They are building a competitive edge by harnessing the skills of untapped talent pools who also represent a huge share of their customer base,” said Katherine Bruens, owner of Outcome Facilitation and Project Development.

This funding is part of the Alberta at Work $30 million initiative, with the province offering other employment supports including the Labor Market Transfer Agreement, which provides employment support and training programs for Albertans.