MentorAbility
MentorAbility is a national supported employment initiative that provides an opportunity for education and awareness to be shared between employers and people with disabilities in communities large and small throughout all Canadian provinces and territories. National Disability Mentoring Day is officially the first Wednesday in October but as a CASE (Canadian Association For Supported Employment) member, you can implement MentorAbility year round.
MentorAbility is a mentoring experience in which job seekers with disabilities (Protégés) are matched with individual mentors (employers or business leaders) – to explore career opportunities and what they need to get ahead in their desired field of interest.
People with disabilities (Protégés) who are actively seeking employment are welcome to participate and become matched with a mentor who is working in that specific career area of interest. Protégés will submit an application to their local coordinator who will then work to facilitate a placement opportunity.
Any individual business leader who is interested in meeting a talented and motivated student or job seeker with disabilities is welcome to become a mentor. Mentors are working professionals who can dedicate time during mentoring day to meet and spend time with their Protégé. MentorAbility provides private businesses, non-profit organizations and public sector employers with an opportunity to help promote the employment of people with disabilities, learn more about individual disability experiences, recognize talent and potential, develop lasting relationships with disability community leaders, tap into a pool of potential future employees and demonstrate community leadership. Employers can get involved by encouraging employees and managers to serve as volunteer mentors.
These booklets are an example of the matches made in British Columbia. The shared learnings from the day were evidenced by the ongoing relationships that were built between all the participants. Feel free to share this link with others and if you are interested in participating in October 2016 you can e-mail us at contact@supportedemployment.ca