Supporting people with disabilities is an essential part of ensuring that they have bright and promising futures, especially when it comes time for them to find employment. The Government of Canada is taking steps to ensure that people with disabilities meet their career goals, through the Canadian Economic Action Plan.

Last year, they invested an additional $30 million over three years in an opportunities fund. According to the Canadian Economic Action Plan, this investment will “enable more Canadians with disabilities to obtain work experience with small- and medium-sized businesses,” as well as raise awareness among employers of the contribution people with disabilities can make to their business, and encourage them to hire people with disabilities.

In a news release from the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, describes why it is important to invest money in programs to help people with disabilities find employment. “Canada needs all of our available talent at work,” says Minister Finley. “That is why Economic Action Plan 2013 is increasing opportunities for people with disabilities, helping them gain the skills and training they need to better participate in Canada’s labour market.”

Another way the Canadian Economic Action Plan is increasing opportunities for employment among people with disabilities is by trying to propel the increase in their employment through the Canadian Employers Disability Forum. The program will be “managed by employers, for employers, to support education, training and sharing of resources and best practices concerning the hiring and retention of people with disabilities.” This will ensure that the skills of people with disabilities will be promoted, in order to show employers that they’re valuable to the workforce.

These plans and programs will hopefully increase employment among people with disabilities. Analytical reports show that employment rates for people with disabilities are on the rise and, hopefully, the continued progress of the Canadian Economic Action Plan and the Canadian Employers Disability Form will keep this trend going.

In the 2013 government budget plan, people can expect the continuing support for these programs. It outlines specifically:

• The introduction to a new generation of Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities by 2014, which will better meet employment needs of businesses and the employment prospects of people with disabilities.
• Reforming and extending the Opportunities Fund with $40 million per year starting in 2015–2016, in order to provide more training solutions for people with disabilities.
• Extending the Enabling Accessibility Fund, a fund that supports capital costs of construction and renovations to improve physical accessibility for people with disabilities by $15 million a year.

The budget plan also stated, “since 2006, the government’s top priority has been the economy and job creation.” With all of these plans, the hope is just that. In years to come, these programs should help create more opportunities for employment for people with disabilities, as well as increase their accessibility which, in turn, will promote a more diverse workforce.

Photo: MirekP, sam_wong/Thinkstock