What kind of work do you want to do?
Employers have recognized that people with disabilities provide a reliable and valuable source of labour. For them, it’s all about being profitable and employees who have a disability have demonstrated they can make businesses better.
Paid work can make a real difference in a person’s life. It creates a sense of purpose, generates income, provides social connections and most importantly provides opportunities for people to contribute and share their gifts and talents. Let’s think about what work could look like for you.
1. As always, passions and interests are the best places to start. Identify those interests and then look for the opportunities. For example, if someone is interested in boats, they may find a position working maintenance in a marina, cleaning boats, working in a marine supplies store or food services at a marina, etc. Explore the idea of identifying an interest and then brainstorm creative work opportunities.
2. Becoming a valued employee often starts at home. List the responsibilities you can take on at home to develop new skills and a sense of responsibility.
3. Often the greatest indicator of employment as an adult is having a part-time job as a teenager. If you’re still in school, list part-time positions that you may be interested in.
As with anything, one’s passions and interests are the best places to start. As you watch this video, think about your own interests and then you can use those to start looking for opportunities. For example, if you love boats, maybe there is some help needed at the local sailing club, scuba centre, cleaning boats, working in a marine supplies store or food services at a marina, etc.
Check Out This Video!
It’s Time to Work. Where will it be? Video
Remember: The BDACI facilitation team is here to help you plan the life you want. Our facilitators are here to explore and review the questions below with you. There is support available and you don’t have to do this alone. Connect with us at contactus@bdaci.com or call 613-345-4092.
Consider this…
Learning how to become a valued employee often starts at home.
Thinking about the responsibilities you can take on at home to develop new skills and a sense of responsibility is also a great idea.
Often the greatest indicator of employment as an adult is having a part-time job as a teenager. If you’re still in school, list part-time positions that you may be interested in so that people can start to help you explore your ideas.
In Ontario, only 1 in 4 individuals with an intellectual disability are employed. At BDACI, we know people with a disability want to work and have so much to contribute to the workplace. And while we support people to volunteer and give back to their communities, we also believe that paid employment is also something people with a disability deserve – to earn an income in exchange for the valuable skills, experience, and other contributions they bring to the workplace. We feel it’s important to support individuals with a disability, and their families, as they create a vision for employment, articulate that vision, and leverage their networks and evidence-based approaches to advocate for, demand, and acquire employment.
BDACI has facilitated a network called the Family Support Network for Employment (FSNE). To learn more about the FSNE or become involved, connect with us at contactus@bdaci.com or call 613-345-4092.
