Virtual Workshop Series: Shaping Accessible Employment Practices

This four-part learning series is designed to enhance skills and build confidence in shaping accessible recruitment and job retention practices. Given that persons with disabilities are disproportionately underrepresented in the labour market, these workshops will help employers understand the key elements in order to access this untapped talent pool. Participants will also understand how to develop long term strategies towards increasing participation of persons with disabilities in the workplace. This four-part learning series can be taken as individual workshops.

This Employment Ontario Project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

People in a classroom setting learning from an instructor.

Learning Objectives:

  • Increase employer knowledge and comfort level in recruiting and retaining persons with disabilities in the workplace.
  • Bring awareness of the diverse types of disabilities and solutions that can help remove barriers to employment experienced by persons with disabilities.
  • Explore the benefits of building and maintaining a mentally healthy workplace.
  • Learn how to successfully support individuals throughout each stage of the Employee Life Cycle, from recruitment to retirement.

Module 1: Employment and Disability-Building the Foundation

Understanding your role in supporting accommodations can help towards shaping accessible employment experiences for everyone, from recruitment to retirement. In this interactive session participants will review the essential components to building inclusion and accessibility for employees with disabilities. Participants will explore the concept of the Employee Life Cycle; identify solutions to employment barriers; and learn how to create an inclusive workplace.

When you complete this session, you will be able to:

  • Recognize various types of disabilities, understanding that the experience of living with disabilities is unique for everyone.
  • Understand how the concept of the Employee Life Cycle is foundational to building an accessible workplace.
  • Explain common barriers to employment and identify types of appropriate accommodations to help remove barriers.
  • Learn how embracing inclusion for employees with disabilities can help create accessible work environments.

NEXT MODULE 1 SESSION:

Tuesday, May 14, 1pm – 3pm ET

Module 2: Mental Health and the Inclusive Workplace

Psychologically safe workplaces can play an integral part in bringing out the best potential in employees. This session aims to provide employers with insights on how to support employees by creating mentally healthy workplaces and experiences. Creating a “culture of inclusion” can help to promote positive workplace relationships and employee engagement. Topics include good mental health and the mentally healthy workplace; accommodating mental health needs in the workplace; and inclusive leaders and the inclusive workplace.

When you complete this session, you will be able to:

  • Understand the effects of mental health issues in the workplace.
  • Identify resources and solutions to create a mentally healthy workplace.
  • Plan to build a foundation to support an inclusive environment for employees and leaders.

NEXT MODULE 2 SESSION:

Thursday, May 23, 9am – 12pm ET

Module 3: Accessible Recruitment and Onboarding

Supporting positive workplace experiences is foundational and requires continuous improvement, adjustment, and evaluation to support the various needs of employees and employers. In this session we focus on accessible Recruitment and Onboarding. Although we aim for these activities to be inclusive by design, we explore individual accommodation needs that may arise during the recruitment, interview, and onboarding stages.

When you complete this session, you will be able to:

  • Outline the components of a positive workplace experience.
  • Understand how a joint responsibility model creates a healthy organizational culture.
  • Identify the components of disability inclusive and accessible recruitment practices.
  • Review interview and onboarding processes in your organization and determine solutions to ensuring they are inclusive.

NEXT MODULE 3 SESSION:

Thursday, June 6, 9am – 12pm ET

Module 4: Accessible Performance and Career Management

Performance management is a valuable and vital activity for any workplace. In this session, we will discuss how to create a disability inclusive performance management system and manage employee performance effectively. We will review Performance Management; Coaching and Training; and Career and Succession Planning.

When you complete this session, you will be able to:

  • Take actions to create an inclusive, valuable, and dynamic performance management system.
  • Evaluate existing systems in your organizations to ensure “the people development” strategy is inclusive of employees with disabilities.
  • Set up systems to include employees with disabilities in career growth opportunities.

Next Module 4 Session:

Tuesday, June 25, 9am – 12pm ET

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