Buildings and landmarks across the country are being lit up in purple to mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
‘Light it Up Day’ is a time to highlight the contributions of workers with disabilities and the importance of creating inclusive workplaces.
The regional coordinator for MentorAbility at Avalon Employment, Courtney Abbott, says barriers to employment vary from person-to-person.
(VOCM News)
Abbott doesn’t want to paint a “broad strokes” picture of the issue, but in her experience people have been usure about how to “sell” themselves to a potential employer during the interview process. They have also encountered issues with job ads being inaccessible.
The MentorAbility program matches job-seekers with employers. They then go into the workplace for anywhere between an hour to a full day.
She calls it a “great opportunity,” not just for the people in the program, but also for the employers who get to see the value that people with disabilities can bring to the workplace.
