Annette Borrows
Board President,
Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE)
Jennifer Crowson
Diversity & Inclusion Specialist,
ODEN
Neal Medeiros
General Manager,
Parian
Supported employment is the key to unlocking the largely untapped talent pool of the millions of Canadian employees with disabilities.
Many employers assume that hiring someone with a disability will be costly and complicated, and that the employee won’t be able to complete their tasks as effectively as a non-disabled peer. The reality is that most accommodations cost little to nothing, and that not only do employees with disabilities often have higher retention rates and lower absenteeism than their peers, they also bring unique value to the places they work — including dedication, unique perspectives, and stronger team cohesion.
With 27 per cent of Canadians over the age of 15 having a disability, inclusive hiring is the key to harnessing this often overlooked, untapped talent pool. Supported employment practices and providers can help.
A person-centred, individualized approach
Supported employment provides career support for individuals with disabilities — ranging from physical disabilities to non-apparent conditions like mental health challenges, autism, and other developmental disabilities. It helps job seekers find meaningful, fairly compensated work through a collaborative partnership with support people and employers.
Supported employment isn’t just about finding a job. It’s about finding a good fit — ensuring the employee can use their skills and abilities while also meeting the needs of the business.
“It’s a person-centred approach that helps people to prepare for, obtain, and maintain competitive integrated paid employment,” says Annette Burrows, Board Chair of the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE), a national member organization for the supported employment sector. “This could include on-the-job training, orientation support, and advocacy — ensuring both the job seeker and employer are supported.”
Support is tailored on a case-by-case basis through this collaborative and holistic approach. Job seekers receive customized support to suit their specific skills and career goals, while employers receive advice and resources to help meet their unique labour needs.
Bridging the gap between job seekers and employers
“Supported employment isn’t just about finding a job. It’s about finding a good fit — ensuring the employee can use their skills and abilities while also meeting the needs of the business,” says Burrows.
Service providers are an essential part of this equation. “Service providers are organizations or professionals funded to deliver supported employment programs,” explains Burrows. “Some service providers focus solely on employment, while others offer a broader range of services, including community inclusion programs and skills development.”
Service providers play a vital role in bridging the gap between job seekers and employers. They offer job training, workplace accessibility assessments, employer education, and more, helping businesses to create more supportive, inclusive, and accessible environments where employees with disabilities can thrive.
Making community-wide connections
“Where communities have strong partnerships between schools, employment service providers, and businesses, we see better employment outcomes for young people with disabilities,” says Jennifer Crowson, Disability Employment Inclusion Specialist at the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN), a network of employment service providers in Ontario.
Both ODEN and CASE help to connect job seekers and businesses with service providers across Ontario and Canada, respectively. CASE’s membership program helps employers to elevate their supported employment practice, including accelerating professional development, strengthening their networks, connecting with like-minded peers, and more. ODEN programs include the Youth Success Strategy — which is funded by CASE and led by Crowson — to promote early exposure to work for youth with developmental disabilities, enhancing access to employment, building sector-specific career pathways, and increasing awareness among families and educators to support youth in pursuing employment as the gold standard for social inclusion.
Building stronger communities
These supported employment networks and connections have undeniable impact. They provide opportunities for people with disabilities to contribute and thrive, and have proven business benefits — from increasing innovation and employee retention to improving workplace morale to boosting the bottom line.
They also create a business advantage by increasing customer loyalty. “Fifty-three per cent of Canadians have a direct connection to someone with a disability, and many of us, as consumers, would prefer to support businesses that we know are inclusive employers,” says Crowson.
For Neal Medeiros, General Manager of Parian Logistics, a Winnipeg-based distribution centre for retailers, supported employment has been transformative. “About 20 per cent of my staff identify with a disability,” he says. “It’s been a wonderful experience, not only for the employee, but for the employer, for the community, for everyone.”
Medeiros recalls a disabled employee who started as a picker and is now training new hires. “When given the right opportunity, people excel,” he says.
Job seekers and employers can find resources for support — including toolkits, training, and a directory of service providers — on CASE’s website.
Learn how a service provider can help your career today. Find a service provider near you at supportedemployment.ca.
The opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.
