Partnership Council on Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Initial Report (2016)
The Ontario government has made it clear: hiring qualified people with disabilities is not only the right thing to do, it’s good for business and good for the economy.
But unemployment among people with disabilities remains far too high, while misconceptions over potential workplace accommodations are common among employers and the current structure of many government support programs discourages this group from working. To help address these issues, the government created the Partnership Council on Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities in April 2014.
The Council’s mandate is to champion the hiring of people with disabilities and provide strategic advice to the Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure that contributes to enhancing employment opportunities for Ontarians with disabilities. The Council’s focus is to understand the current employment environment for Ontarians with disabilities while seeking ways in which the government can take action to enhance employment opportunities for this group. The Council’s advice to the Minister is to include clear recommendations on the following:
- how the government can engage business leaders in promoting the hiring of Ontarians with disabilities;
- removing barriers to employment for people with disabilities, and how government and businesses can work together to ensure businesses are creating an inclusive environment that is accessible to all;
- specific best practices that Ontario employers can showcase/ emulate;
- possible refinements to existing business support and training programs to support hiring of Ontarians with disabilities; and
- other options / recommendations that will support employment opportunities and greater workplace participation for Ontarians with disabilities.
The thirteen Council members were appointed by the Minister and come from business, advocacy organizations, the non-profit sector and the disability community. They bring different backgrounds and perspectives to the Council’s work, but they all share a common vision for a strong and inclusive economy for Ontario.
The members have been working diligently over the past year. This report is a summary of their findings and recommendations to date.