The READ Initiative has received funding to pursue two collaborative research projects over the next twelve months, with a lens of advancing accessibility for people with disabilities in the Ottawa area and beyond.
Through the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, READ has been awarded $466,302 to undertake a project called: Training Series in Accessibility for Employment: Supporting Employer Readiness and Employability of Post-secondary Job Seekers with Disabilities. A consortium of partners from the Ottawa region (Carleton University, Algonquin College, University of Ottawa, La Cite, EARN/United Way, Ottawa Employment Hub, Ottawa Board of Trade) and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, will bring together expertise and lived experience of disability to create a set of training videos, tools and trainer guides to provide accessibility training and ensure that workplaces benefit from the full potential of its highly skilled population. This project is in response to the growing amount of university and college graduates with disabilities seeking work, and the concern that employers lack the experience necessary to meet the specific disability and accessibility-related needs of the incoming job seeking population and will run from May 1, 2020 through to March 31, 2021
The READ Initiative also received $478,593 from Accessibility Standards Canada to investigate the key transition points unique to the public service that are necessary in creating conditions for success related to the employment journey/life cycle of an employee with disabilities (such as onboarding, retention and career development, transition support, mentorship, etc.). This research will produce a critical map for targeted action and interventions that can build on and further support the Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada and the development of relevant employment standards under the Accessibility Canada Act.
For more information on these projects or the READ Initiative, please contact our office at read.initiative@carleton.ca.