The Minister's Council invites you - city officials, employers, persons with disabilities, service providers and all those involved in the 10 by 10 Challenge - to share your success stories.
Your Success Story
We want to hear how the Challenge is affecting positive change in your community and invite you - city officials, employers, persons with disabilities, service providers and all those involved in the 10 by 10 Challenge - to share your success stories. For example, tell us about:
committees that have been created to support the Challenge in your community or organization;
events and meetings that have been held;
jobs that have been filled by persons with disabilities as a result of the work your community or organization has done to meet the Challenge; and
employers who are doing a great job in hiring people with disabilities.
Read about the 10 by 10 successes other communities and organizations are experiencing across the province.
Success story! - City of Abbotsford
10 by 10 Challenge Target has been surpassed in Abbotsford April 2009
In a time of economic struggle we have seen the heroes of Abbotsford come to life, both employers and clients continue to take the 10by10 challenge seriously and personally. Read more...
The original target of 283 people with disabilities hired by January 2010 was surpassed. By the end of March 290 people have been hired. The new target of 500 people has been set and the community as a whole is now getting on board. Calls are coming into the office from random employers that have heard about the challenge, have hired a person with disabilities and they want to make sure we are counting the placement.
The City of Abbotsford as employers have jumped on board in a big way and have provided several “Lunch and Learns” with City Managers and staff. They have an internal competition to find job leads in the community and to be aware of businesses that go “Above and Beyond” in service and inclusion for people with disabilities. On May 13th Access Abbotsford will be hosting the Chamber luncheon and will challenge more of the business community to participate in the initiative.
We, as job developers are extremely proud of our community and will continue to make successful matches for the people we serve into our business community. The doors have been opened widest for all to enter in Abbotsford!
A group formed to increase the number of people with disabilities into the Abbotsford workforce has reported a perfect 10 so far.
Annette Borrows, the co-chair of the Measuring Up Working Group, has told Abbotsford council that Abbotsford businesses have responded well in the provincial 10 by 10 challenge. That initiative challenges communities to increase the number of people with disabilities in the workforce by 10 per cent by 2010. Read more...
Before the challenge started earlier this year, Borrows told council that only 44 per cent of people with disabilities were employed province-wide.
So far, she explained 70 B.C. communities have taken up the challenge and an additional 206 people with disabilities have become employed in Abbotsford.
In light of that, Borrows has now raised her goal to 500 people by 2010.
To recognize Abbotsford’s achievements to date, the Union of B.C. Municipalities has presented its Innovative and Integrated Approach Award to the organizers of the local program. They, in turn, handed it over to the City of Abbotsford on Monday.
The Measuring Up Working Group is a sub-committee of city hall’s Abbotsford Social Development Advisory Committee.
Success story! - City of Armstrong
Mayor and Council received a presentation from Mr. Eric Greenwood, Member of Armstrong Rotary as well as an Employment Counsellor from North Okanagan Outreach Services Society, which is under the organizational umbrella of the Kindale Developmental Association, in which Mr. Greenwood advised Council that the Armstrong Rotary Club has partnered with Kindale Developmental Association to support their initiative entitled "Disabilities Employment Network: Promoting Employment for People with Disabilities". Mr. Greenwood introduced Mr. Peter Burton who has been hired through North Okanagan Outreach Services Society to specifically implement this program.
Rotary has an example of a very successful program like this being sponsored in Alberta and are very pleased to support the initiative, Mr.Greenwood said. "Council was asked to show our Communities support by passing the 10 x 10 Challenge Resolution and signing the proclamation".
Council passed the Resolution that night and Mayor Oglow was pleased to sign the Proclamation. Our Community has now been registered as accepting the 10 x 10 Challenge. This has been reported in the local media.
The Rotary intends to assist Kindale and Mr. Burton further by co-hosting a Job Fair and a Community dialogue using the 2010 Legacies Now Measuring Up Guide.
Success story! - City of Dawson Creek
Disabled workers make a great contribution Peace River Block Daily News - Monday, July 9, 2007
By Joe Fries
A campaign to increase the number of disabled people in the workforce is slowly starting to gain momentum.
It should be an easy sell for employers facing chronic labour shortages. They have a talent pool 300,000 people deep to draw from, says B.C.'s Minister of Employment and Income Assistance. Read more...
In a bid to increase the number of disabled people in the workforce by 10 per cent by 2010, Kamloops MLA Claude Richmond launched the 10 by 10 Challenge at a Union Of B.C. Municipalities conference last October.
"We just want to say to employers open your mind a bit and change your attitude. These are qualified people. Some have university degrees," Richmond told the Daily News last week.
"Everybody who's disabled is not in a wheelchair. Some of them have vision disabilities, hearing disabilities; some are developmentally challenged.
"There are a lot of myths out there. (Disabled people) don't miss more work than the average worker. In fact, they miss less. The cost of accommodate them in your workplace is minimal and it's tax deductible."
According to his ministry, there are 300,000 disabled people in B.C. who want to work and are of working age, yet they face a 56 per cent unemployment rate - this at a time when the province had an unemployment rate of 4.4 per cent in June. Dawson Creek's was slightly lower at 4.2 per cent, according to B.C. Stats.
Just 35 out of 186 municipalities in the province had signed on to the 10 by 10 Challenge as of Friday. The City of Dawson Creek has referred the matter to staff, who will look for allies in the community before signing on.
Organizers indicated that 207 disabled people would have to join the workforce here by 2010 to meet the goal.
Mayor Calvin Kruk said he's in favour of a more inclusive labour force, but wants to make sure the city has the ability to do more than just pay lip service to the initiative.
"It's one thing to sign a declaration... but if we want to see significant change, we have to bring people together," Kruk said.
"But I think as a city, we need to show some leadership and bring this to employers of all kinds."
Safeway, for one, has already stepped up to the plate.
Albert Duque is a service clerk at the Dawson Creek location. The 25-year-old has been employed there since last July, though he took time off to attend college. He's training to be a chef.
He's disabled only in the sense that he has a learning impairment.
"Other than that, I'm perfectly OK," he said. "I've never let that stand in my way."
While on the job, he works as a customer service specialist, bagging groceries and helping customers as required. His shifts vary from four to six hours in length and he works up to four days a week.
"It's great. The atmosphere is great. Everyone is friendly and we all get along," Duque said. Holding down a job "makes me feel good and it makes me proud of what I really am."
Asked what kind of a worker Duque is, his boss, Safeway store manager Dave Hamilton, gave a glowing review.
"Reliable, good, dependable, friendly. Good worker."
The manager didn't even realize the young man had a disability when he hired him initially, but "I was so impressed with him last year that I hired him again this summer."
Hamilton had some advice for other employers thinking about hiring someone with a disability.
"Give them a chance. Be flexible. Don't give them too much at once. And be patient. Everyone's going to make mistakes. I make mistakes and I run the place."
Despite a slow start to the 10 by 10 Challenge, Minister Richmond is confident the numbers will pick up.
"I've phoned several mayors around the province and the uptake has been very gratifying."
As Kruk said, though, the city can't hire people just for the sake of hiring people.
Richmond countered that, saying, "It doesn't have to be new jobs. Sometimes they can free up somebody to do something else."
"And we're not talking just the (City of Dawson Creek) itself, we're talking the whole municipality - private and public sector.
"We just want places to give it their best shot."
Success story! - City of Langley and The Township of Langley
Encouraging partnerships between local businesses and people with disabilities has inspired a partnership between the Township of Langley and the City of Langley that is earning accolades around the province.
A Strategic Partnership Award honouring the "outstanding work" that the two municipalities are doing for the provincial 10 by 10 Challenge was presented at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention held in Penticton in late September. Read more...
The province issued the challenge in 2006 to encourage municipalities to increase the number of people with disabilities in the local workforce by 10 per cent by 2010.
"When the 10 by 10 Challenge was issued, we knew Langley would step up," said Township Councillor Mel Kositsky, who accepted the September award along with Township Coun. Grant Ward, City Mayor Peter Fassbender, and City Coun. Sharla Mauger. "There are a lot of people with great skill, talent, and enthusiasm, all of which are qualities that can benefit our local businesses."
The two Langleys accepted the challenge and created a committee made up of representatives from the Langley Association for Community Living, Stepping Stone Community Services Society, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and Langley City and Township.
"We have an excellent team working to create these worthwhile partnerships within the community," said Mauger. "Great enthusiasm and a real spirit of cooperation is being shown by the two municipalities and all the agencies involved as we work together to meet the Challenge."
The Langley 10 by 10 Challenge Committee was also recognized in June by the Minister's Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities for the spirit of cooperation between the Township and City in the program.
"These awards are a real testimony to the hard work and dedication demonstrated by the organizations who serve on the Langley 10 by 10 Challenge Committee," said Coun. Jordan Bateman, the Township's committee representative. "These groups are devoted to helping people with disabilities become part of a team and showcase all they have to offer, and to helping local businesses add valuable, hardworking employees to their staff. We are so appreciative of all they have done to forward Langleys' 10 by 10 Challenge initiatives."
"When you believe in something, it can be contagious," added committee chair Fraser Crinklaw, who is pleased to see businesses and municipalities throughout the province getting on board to help build more inclusive communities. "Since accepting the challenge, the Langley committee has made a point of sharing its successes and encouraging others to get involved.
"At its inception, there were just over 20 communities involved in the challenge. Now more than 70 communities have made the commitment, and we are proud to be part of that process.
Mauger made a presentation about the Langley 10 by 10 Challenge Committee's initiatives to the UBCM in Penticton, at the invitation of the Ministry of Housing and Social Development.
As well, the Langley Committee's efforts are featured in a WorkSafeBC video that spotlights the Langleys' 10 by 10 initiatives.
For more information on opportunities to hire persons with disabilities, contact Crinklaw at 604-599-3340.
10 BY 10 CHALLENGE PAYING OFF
The smile on his face says it all.
The 10 by 10 Challenge has its first Langley success story - Derek Harmsworth, a sander at the True North Furniture Company. Read more...
Earlier this year, Derek was hired by the Gloucester manufacturer after True North staff read an article on the 10 by 10 Challenge in the local newspaper.
"We had a job available that we felt would work well for an individual with a disability," said True North's Andrew Nasedkin. "With the job market being so tight, we are always looking to tap into new areas to find employees."
The 10 by 10 Challenge is a provincial government initiative to increase employment for people with a disability by 10 per cent by 2010. Intrigued by the program, Nasedkin's company contacted Tami Logan of the Langley Association for Community Living to see if she had any suitable candidates.
Derek Harmsworth immediately came to Logan's mind. An H.D. Stafford grad, Harmsworth has always enjoyed woodwork. The three-day-a-week sanding job has been a perfect fit.
"I like the people here," Harmsworth said. "They're very nice."
Nasedkin and Logan set up an interview and a work experience leading to employment. Over the course of a few weeks, Logan assisted Harmsworth to learn the job and interact with True North staff.
"Tami was here throughout that time, so we didn't have to dedicate any extra staff to training," said Nasedkin. "After that, Derek knew the job and has been doing great."
The Langley Association for Community Living is a non-profit organization that provides services to children with special needs, adults with developmental disabilities, and their families. Its Partners in Employment Services assists individuals with developmental disabilities in the pursuit and attainment of their career goals by offering employment planning, marketing, job training and maintenance, and liaisons with employers and participants.
"It has to be a good job match for something like this to work," said Logan. "True North has been absolutely excellent in assisting Derek. They have scheduled his shifts to accommodate transportation and taken time to ensure Derek is part of their team."
This spring, both the Township of Langley and the City of Langley accepted the Province's 10 by 10 Challenge to increase the number of people with disabilities in the local workforce by ten per cent by 2010. A joint committee was formed with several agencies, including the Langley Association for Community Living, Stepping Stone Community Services Society, the Regional Disabled Person Society, Kwantlen University College, and the Rick Hansen Foundation.
The 10 by 10 Committee, chaired by Kwantlen's Fraser Crinklaw, is currently developing a plan to meet the province's target.
"Stories like Derek's are why we took this challenge," said Jordan Bateman, Township of Langley Council's representative on the 10 by 10 Committee. "Over the next few years, we expect to hear more and more good news as the efforts of our community bear fruit."
Zipping about in a wheelchair is no easy feat, contrary to popular perception.
And an obstacle course being set up next weekend at Willowbrook Shopping Centre is expected to teach a few hundred abled-bodied people just how difficult a job it can be. Read more...
Members of the Regional Disabled Persons Association are marking the Langley organization's 20-year anniversary with a two-day educational and fun event inside the mall.
MLA Mary Polak, as well as a few hundred members of the public, are expected to take the challenge.
They will attempt to manoeuvre a wheelchair through a 40-foot obstacle course that is being set up in Willowbrook's centre court, outside Purdy's Chocolates, on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13 and 14.
"We are inviting the public to take the challenge," said Lori Andrist, RDPA's executive director.
"This course is designed to create awareness to the general public of some of the everyday challenges faced by persons in wheelchairs, such as ramps, gravelled areas, and washrooms," she said.
The course, which stretches the length of about two stores, is designed, built, and maintained by Mainland Door Controls of Langley.
There will be a kickoff ceremony held at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
"As in past, our focus has been access and awareness for people with disabilities," Andrist said, noting that similar events have been held intermittently during the past dozen years with upwards of 300 people taking part.
RDPA is a non-profit organization, with an office in downtown Langley that offers referral and resources for people living with disabilities.
In addition to the obstacle course, RDPA will also have printed information and volunteers on hand to answer questions.
Organizations are banding together to boost employment for people living with a disability in the central Island.
The 10x10 committee aims to encourage business owners to provide more employment opportunities for the disabled. Read more...
“People want real jobs for real pay. They want to be contributing members of society and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be,” said Lindsay Hordal, a committee member who also manages the Supported Employment program at Coastal Support Services Ltd.
The provincial government initiated the 10x10 Challenge in 2007 to help increase employment for people with disabilities by 10 per cent by 2010.
In B.C., 52 per cent of people with a disability are employed.
The local committee was spearheaded by Paralympian Michelle Stilwell, who works for Parksville-Qualicum MLA Ron Cantelon. It includes representatives from a number of companies and associations that work with people with disabilities of all kinds.
The committee meets once a month to exchange ideas and promote awareness. A resource fair for employers is being planned for sometime in the next few months, Hordal said.
“We’re not focusing so much on numbers as we are just getting the word out to employers,” she said.
“We’re trying to educate employers that it does make good business sense to get people [with disabilities] out there and seen.”
The group is also working to overcome some of the challenges associated with employing the disabled.
“The biggest thing is misconceptions,” Hordal said.
A common misconception is that it costs money to accommodate a worker with disabilities. However, many changes cost between $500 and $1,000 and there are government grants available for those expenses, Hordal said.
She added that many agencies provide on-site job training and followup services at no cost to the employer.
“I don’t think most employers know that that’s out there for them,” Hordal said.
The disabled also face competition from able-bodied workers during a time of economic instability and high turnover.
“I think [the turnover] is because they’re hiring the wrong person for the job and by tapping into the 300,000 people who are able to work who are on disability, with support, I think the turnover rate would slow down,” Hordal said. “It’s an untapped labour pool.”
The 10x10 committee includes representation from organizations such as the Nanaimo Association for Community Living, BC Paraplegic Association, Vancouver Island Vocational and Rehabilitation services, Skanna Community Resources, Parksville Association for Community Living, and Vancouver Island Mental Health.
People in Place Prince George Free Press - October 10, 2007
By Teresa Mallam - Prince George Free Press
People with disabilities don’t all come in wheelchairs, says Lorna Dittmar. That is only one of the misconceptions that may prevent some employers from looking into hiring the disabled when they have a job opening.
“There are [job] vacancies out there right now that are being created by early and upcoming retirements. There is a labour shortage in many areas. I just want employers to think about this group of people [disabled] when they need to hire someone,” said Dittmar Friday. Read more...
“They need to know that people with disabilities who come through our employment action office are very motivated to work. They are reliable and responsible and interested in finding a job. They just need a chance to prove themselves. They don’t want pity. They just want an opportunity to do a good job – and show employers what they can do.”
Dittmar hopes the People in Place Northern Conference today and Thursday will provide a forum to learn and exhange ideas about the value and possiblilities available to employers willing to diversify their labour pool. How can you attract and retain employees in today’s highly competitive labour market?
Lorna Dittmar’s answer – and she hopes one that more people will recognize – is to look into hiring workers with disabilities.
“There’s not a lot of people in wheelchairs who come here. Disabilities covers a wide range of things from someone who has suffered a recent physical injury, to someone with a [long term] head injury, to someone who has mental health issues and is on medication,” she said.
The People in Place Northern Conference will provide information for employers and their human resource specialists as well as agencies and people with disabilities.
The conference is aimed at people with disabilities who are looking for a job, agencies that serve people with disabilities and businesses looking for skilled employees.
Keynote speakers include economist Dr. Roslyn Kunin, actress, writer and motivational speaker Victoria Maxwell aka Bi-Polar Princess, Dr. Graham Lowe, an international expert on work and Dr. Shannon Wagner, a psychologist and UNBC faculty member in Health Sciences Program.
People in Place northern conference takes place Oct. 10 and 11 at the Prince George Civic Centre. Register on line at www.peopleinplace.ca. Sponsored by B.C. Service Canada Employment Action.
Dave Devana, District of Sooke Director of Finance and Councillor Rick Kasper
Accessibility... inclusion for all Jim Sinclair - Sooke News Mirror
A timeless expression suggests "walking a mile in someone's shoes" is necessary before beginning to understand what they deal with. A recent "Accessibility Challenge" put a variation on that theme as a group of able-bodied citizens (including News Mirror editor Pirjo Raits; District Councillor Rick Kasper and members of district staff) set out to negotiate downtown Sooke via wheelchair. The results, as you may imagine, were graphic. Tired muscles, maybe a blister or two, and a fair helping of frustration punctuated the journey while a number of addresses were visited as part of the challenge. Read more...
The event was a great lead-up to an accessibility open house held Saturday in the District Council chambers.
This was an opportunity for the public to share their thoughts on issues relating to accessibility and inclusion, and how those rights may be equitably distributed to everyone in the community.
The district had received some backing from the provincial government's Measuring Up Accessibility and Inclusion Fund (a $620,000 addition to the government's fund, incidentally, had been announced on April 8) and an outfit called the Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC) was retained by the district to help determine how Sooke "Measures Up," where there is room for improvement, and where people's priorities lie when it comes to making changes.
As stated in district literature, Sooke intends to become positioned as a leader in accessibility and inclusion.
Vince Miele is a man whose mobility depends on a wheelchair. He works with SPARC BC and was on hand for Saturday's Open House. Mr. Miele mentioned what the organization is probably best known for are the handicapped parking placards it issues across the province.
"Once people think of SPARC they usually think of that part of it," he said, "but it's way broader than that."
Miele said demonstrations like the local wheelchair event had been held on numerous occasions in numerous locations and each had been designed to raise the level of awareness concerning accessibility.
While the SPARC BC spokesman confessed to little knowledge of the actual situation in Sooke, the first-time visitor said he had detected "a lot of resources, and certainly a lot of people in the community who are aware of the need to make it more inclusive."
As time goes by renovations are carried out and more locations are made available to more people. Still, opinions may differ in regard to accessibility issues, as Miele pointed out.
"Some people won't do it (improve/enhance access to a location) unless it's the law," said Miele. "Other people are more motivated and they're more proactive." It's interesting to note that improving accessibility to one's place of business, in addition to helping out a group of fellow citizens, can positively influence the bottom line. Miele says it could mean as much as 15-20 more business for them.
"Today we're here to get input from the community about the accessibility concerns in Sooke," said Karen Thompson, also with SPARC BC. "Then over the next few days we're going around to audit various locations in Sooke to assess accessibility, and make recommendations about how the community could be made more inclusive for persons of all abilities."
"I think having this open house and getting input from people is a real positive way of starting the process," concluded Miele. "But it can't stop there. There needs to be that follow up later on, the willingness to make those changes."
What follows is the timeline for carrying out the accessibility program, as envisaged by the District of Sooke:
Reviewing policies and actions to date – ongoing;
Identifying best practices from other communities – ongoing;
Accessibility audit – April;
Workshop to review the findings – May/June;
Developing a plan for accessibility and inclusiveness – June/July
Success story! - City of Surrey
Unlocking hidden skill sets
Surrey Now - October 9, 2007
She's tiny and speaks with a small voice, but Janice Prasad has steel in her backbone.
Prasad, 21, has a learning disability, one that has impaired her search for a job and the independence earning her own living brings. Now, thanks to Kwantlen University College, she has both and life is looking good. Read more...
"I learn more visually, when I'm shown how to do something. When I read, I have difficulty understanding. I need someone to help me, to show me."
Her disability made it difficult for Prasad to find her place in the job market and life generally, so she signed up for a program that could be Kwantlen's best-kept secret - Access Programs for People with Disabilities.
She graduated from the program last year and never looked back. She's working in a local women's clothing store and doing well.
"I learned so much. Now, if I want to do something, I'm not scared. I go for it and I'm making money," Prasad says with quiet pride.
"It helps you be responsible in so many ways, to be responsible for yourself. I see things in a more positive way. I'm much happier."
Her words bring smiles to the faces of Nicola Soles and Kim Rose, two program instructors.
"We're so proud of Janice," Rose says. "When she first came to us, she barely said a word. Now she's about to begin helping another student at her job."
The one-year program helps students identify what sort of work best fits their abilities and develop the skills they need to find and keep a job. The program includes class time and work experience. Kwantlen also offers a job placement service open to the disabled public as well as APPD students.
"We've been around since 1983," Soles said. "We've probably had over 2,000 students go through the program and I'd guess we've secured over 1,000 jobs."
Soles praised the hundreds of employers involved with Kwantlen in providing work experience and jobs for her students.
"They really are the key to our success. Without them, our students wouldn't have the opportunity to learn the skills they need."
Soles said APPD caters to those experiencing a range of disabilities including learning disabilities, mental health issues or the effects of a head injury and is available at the Surrey, Langley and Richmond campuses.
Success story! - Tri-City Chamber of Commerce
Disability, what disability?
London Drugs in Coquitlam hired a candidate with barriers to employment for causal work during the Christmas season. The candidate worked with a job coach and the London Drugs team to identify a section of the store where she could contribute and perform well, going on later to secure a part-time permanent position.
Stemming from a philosophy that champions success and ability, several London Drug stores have seen a increase in customers, as people with disabilities know that they can receive good service from a Disability Confident company. Read more...
The Tri-Cities 10 by 10 Challenge has been advocating the business case for hiring people with disabilities in the Tri-Cities community since 2008. As the London Drugs experience illustrates, when a company focuses on abilities, disabilities are no longer an obstacle to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can contribute to creating success.
“The Coquitlam London Drugs is an example of a business focusing on abilities and finding a way to accommodate a disability, and seeing their business grow as a result,” says Matthew Danchuk, director of marketing for the Tri-Cities 10 by 10 Challenge.
The Tri-Cities 10 by 10 Challenge has direct access to the business community through a unique partnership between Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce (which serves businesses in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra), Douglas College and POLARIS Employment Services Society. Funding is provided by the Vancouver Foundation through the Disability Supports for Employment Fund.
In November 2008, Tri-Cities 10 by 10 Challenge started its initiative by sponsoring Susan Scott-Parker, Chief Executive of the UK’s Employers’ Forum on Disability to speak to local agencies and businesses at a series of seminars. Her message on encouraging businesses to become Disability Confident has become central to the Tri-Cities 10 by 10 Challenge’s local awareness campaign. Since then, we have hosted workshops on accommodating workers and customers with disabilities, and brought together support agencies for roundtable meetings in order to strengthen the network among those who serve clients with disabilities in the Tri-Cities.
In the last year and half, the Tri-Cities 10 by 10 Challenge has made hundreds of connections with employers in the Tri-Cities encouraging them to hire people with disabilities. Through networking conversations and presentations, we have liaised with employers and support agencies. Still to come in 2010 are more workshops and information resources for human resource practitioners and the business community in the Tri-Cities.
For more information on the Tri-Cities 10 by 10 Challenge, please contact Matthew Danchuk at the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce at 604.464.2716 or via email: mdanchuk@tricitieschamber.com.
New Website Helps Local Companies Hire Untapped Potential
April 19, 2010
COQUITLAM, BC – Does your company want to hire employees who are reliable and motivated?
The Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, Douglas College and POLARIS Employment Services Society have launched a new website to help local businesses hire people with disabilities, an often overlooked talent pool that can provide companies with a competitive edge. Read more...
TriCities10x10Challenge.com provides a practical introduction to businesses that want to address disability issues as well as a resource guide to HR materials and financial incentives. Local businesses can also contact the Chamber directly, if they want to be partnered with a support agency that can provide qualified candidates for jobs, along with initial job coaching support if needed.
The website was designed with accessibility in mind, to encourage the business community to consider this issue as a business opportunity.
An innovative style switcher gives users the ability to view (or listen to) the website in different modes, depending on their needs. The website was developed by Dave Zille and his team at Dazil Internet Services.
When asked about his experience in developing the site, Zille said, “the vast majority of existing websites do not consider accessibility for individuals who may be vision impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, or have cognitive or mobility impairments. Good design is what many think of when they think of web development; however, accessibility is often overlooked and is just as important as design. The experience of building the Tri-Cities 10 by 10 site has resulted in a shift in how we approach our work.”
Success story! - City of Vernon
Helping everyone work Vernon Morning Star - December 09, 2007
By Tom Christensen
We’ve come a long way as a province and society over the past 25 years in the way we look at improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.
Whether they are teachers, artists, occupational therapists, grocery clerks or self-employed entrepreneurs, individuals with disabilities are now employed in every part of today’s work force. Read more...
There are currently 300,000 working-age people with disabilities in British Columbia. They have the motivation, education and abilities to be valuable members of our work force. We also know that 34,000 of them have college diplomas, 30,000 have trade certificates and 28,000 have university degrees.
With our province’s booming economy, we see the need for more workers in every sector of the workforce today. As a government, we see this as an opportunity for individuals with disabilities and employers to work together to fill those job vacancies and take advantage of their unique skills and capabilities.
That’s why the province has implemented a number of programs geared at improving supports to assist individuals with disabilities to enter the work force. These include:
A new $20 million Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities which provides individualized services to all British Columbians with disabilities. This program is expected to help approximately 6,000 people a year with skills assessment, job training and job placement services.
WorkAble Solutions provides human resource toolkits to employers and connects them with qualified persons with disabilities who want to work;
10 by 10 Challenge is a challenge by government to communities across the province to increase the employment of persons with disabilities by 10 per cent by 2010.
The 10 by 10 Challenge is one of the newest strategies in our government’s quest to build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities. Communities who sign up for the challenge will be provided with a WorkAble Solutions Tool Kit as well as a 2010 Legacies Now Measuring Up Guide which provides a step-by-step approach to topics ranging from creating fully accessible public places to promoting employment and community involvement for people with disabilities. To date, 47 communities have signed up for the challenge and I would encourage all communities in the North Okanagan to consider joining this worthwhile initiative.
As we look to the future it is clear that persons with physical or cognitive disabilities can and want to be full participants in employment opportunities.
Each successful connection of an individual with an employer helps overcome the unfortunate stereotypes that have often limited opportunities for persons with disabilities. Programs like those referenced here are part of what makes British Columbia a leader in Canada in helping persons with disabilities to live as full lives as possible.
Opportunities for disabled garner support Vernon Morning Star - August 26, 2007
By Tyler Olsen - Morning Star Staff
Spallumcheen is backing a local campaign to boost employment rates among the disabled.
Council passed a resolution supporting Armstrong Rotary’s efforts to implement the 10 by 10 challenge, which hopes to increase the number of disabled people working by 10 per cent by 2010.
There are some 300,000 working-aged people with disabilities in the province, but while many would like to work, the unemployment rate for the group is a staggering 44 per cent, according to figures from the B.C. government.
“These people just want to work. They just want to work and it means a tremendous amount to them,” rotary’s Eric Greenwood told council.
Spallumcheen joins Armstrong, which passed a similar resolution last month.
Opportunities for disabled garner support Vernon Morning Star - July 13, 2007
By Tyler Olsen - Morning Star Staff
The City of Armstrong became the latest community in the province to state its support for increasing employment among the disabled Monday.
British Columbia’s unemployment rate may be at historic lows but for one huge segment of the province’s working-age population, finding a job remains a challenge. Read more...
There are some 300,000 working-aged people with disabilities in the province, but while many would like to work, the unemployment rate for the group is a staggering 44 per cent, according to figures from the B.C. government.
At the urging of the Armstrong Rotary Club, the city has passed a resolution declaring its support for the 10-By-10 Challenge, which aims to increase employment for the disabled by 10 per cent by 2010.
The city will lend support to Rotary, which, in conjunction with the Kindale Developmental Association, has decided to dedicate itself to spreading the word about disabled employment.
“Most of the work that is going to be done by Rotary is really a matter of word of mouth,” Rotary member Eric Greenwood told The Morning Star.
“A lot of these people are very employable.”
Rotary will work to inform the public, and businesses in particular, about the benefits to be gained from hiring a disabled person.
Meanwhile disabled job-seekers can speak to Pierre Burton, an employment counsellor at the North Okanagan Outreach Services Society, a branch of Kindale.
The goal is to enable the many highly employable, but disabled, job-seekers to find an outlet for their talents.
“There are a lot of individuals that can be working right now and they’re not,” said Burton.
Burton speaks to his clients to identify their skills and through engaging businesses, tries to find a perfect match.
Burton said that when the clients do find a job, they are often found to be not only good employees, but also extremely loyal – an asset in a job market with a high turnover rate.
“Generally the individuals that we would be referring just want to work. Sure they would like to earn a competitive wage, but they’re not looking to move.”
If an employee’s disability presents challenges, be it a lack of math skills or a physical handicap, Burton said the society provides support and additional training.
“We’re offering a support network for the employer so they don’t have to worry.”
But the biggest challenge remains educating employers and the public that the disabled are a valuable pool of potential workers.
“It is a resource that if utilized properly, can meet the needs of a lot of businesses,” said Burton.
“People with disabilities can have fantastic skill sets and can do great work if it’s the right work.”
The District of Vanderhoof is cooperating with the Nechako Valley Community Service Society on funding applications to put in a drive thru window and provide physical accessibilty to their Bean on Burrard Coffee House project. This project is designed to provide flexible and supportive employment to persons with disabilities and marginalized youth.
Success story! - Municipality of Whistler
Council accepted the 10 by 10 Challenge, on behalf of the Whistler community, to increase the number of employed persons with disabilities by 10 percent by 2010. The Whistler's Accessibility Committee has endorsed the challenge and while the Resort Municipality Of Whistler may not be able to meet the challenge on its own, the Chamber of Commerce will work with their members to help meet the challenge.
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