Symposium Addresses Employment for Disabled Persons
Making life better for Nova Scotians with disabilities is the goal of an upcoming symposium in Halifax.
The 5th Annual Symposium on Inclusive Education and Employment, on Monday, Dec. 3 and Tuesday, Dec. 4, focuses on challenges and opportunities persons with disabilities face in the workplace and with education. The theme this year is Ability Starts Here - Join the Conversation. It coincides with the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities, held each year Dec. 3.
Workshops and panel discussions provide an opportunity for educators, employers and persons with disabilities to learn from each other about human rights, education, meaningful employment and community participation. It also promotes a greater awareness and understanding of disability issues.
In Nova Scotia, one in every five people, or about 20 per cent of the province's population, live with a disability. Around the world, about 10 per cent, or 650 million people, live with disabilities.
"Everyone who wants to work deserves equal rights and a fair opportunity to find work," said Minister responsible for the Human Rights Commission Ross Landry.
"This symposium has shown year after year what an excellent forum it is to bring people together to discuss a common goal - employment for persons with disabilities. Doors continue to open up and barriers are broken down at the symposium."
Highlights include keynote speakers Michael Landsberg from TSN's Off the Record and director and CEO David Shannon, of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, sharing their experiences as persons with disabilities.
The province continues to help address the economic challenges faced by disabled people through its Workforce Strategy, a part of jobsHere.
Launched on Oct. 17, Welcoming Workplaces helps employers engage and retain a more diverse and productive workforce. This free, online program provides practical advice to help employers make their businesses more inclusive for persons with disabilities and other groups by recognizing social and business benefits of diversity in the workplace.
The province also provides supports for people with disabilities in high school equivalency testing and other literacy programs through the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning.
"We have committed to helping all Nova Scotians get the right skills for good jobs," said Minister responsible for the Disabled Persons Commission Denise Peterson Rafuse. "Persons with disabilities can often face unique challenges when joining the workforce, and through jobsHere, we are putting in place programs to help them as they plan for, and advance along, their career paths."
For more information on these programs visit http://careers.novascotia.ca/disabilities .
There will also be the presentation of the Lieutenant Governor's Persons with Disabilities Employer Partnership Award and an artist's sale.
"The Employer Award recognizes employers who go above and beyond in their recruitment practices and are open to hiring, accommodating and retaining people with disabilities," said Janice Ainsworth, Collaborative Partnerships Network. "Not only are they helping change the lives of people with disabilities, they are benefitting from discovering great employees with the right skills to contribute to their business."
The symposium is being held at the Harbourfront Marriott, 1919 Upper Water St. Captioning and sign language interpreters will be available. For details go to www.abilitystartshere.ca/ .