Released on October 3, 2014
Minister responsible for Immigration, Jobs, Skills and Training Jeremy Harrison proclaimed October as Disability Employment Awareness Month.“This month, especially, we will be encouraging Saskatchewan employers to hire people with disabilities in their businesses,” Harrison said. “A shortage of skilled labour continues to be one of the largest constraints to continued economic growth in this province. Strategies to support the employment of people with disabilities and their caregivers are critical to ensuring that Saskatchewan’s labour market needs are met.”
Disability Employment Awareness Month seeks to bring awareness of the individual, economic and societal benefits of diversifying Saskatchewan’s workforce by employing people of varying abilities.
“Our government is committed to making Saskatchewan the best place in Canada for people with disabilities to live,” Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer said. “Employment of people with disabilities plays a valuable role in making this vision a reality.”
Government’s investment of $9.9 million in workforce development programming helps people with disabilities to prepare for, secure and maintain a job. The investment of $3.4 million in the 2013-14 budget for the Provincial Training Allowance for people with disabilities provides income support to help address obstacles to education and training, employment and job maintenance.
“Employment opportunities in the community can often be the first step for an individual toward achieving independence and other goals,” Saskatchewan Assocation of Rehabilitation Centres Executive Director Amy McNeil said. “Employers who actively hire people with disabilities help make this possible. Proclaiming October 2014 as Disability Employment Awareness Month will increase awareness about the importance of hiring people of all abilities to help create a more diverse workforce.”
Employment is a priority area for the Saskatchewan Disability Strategy, which is scheduled to be released in the winter/spring of 2015. The strategy is expected to include a number of recommendations to support the inclusion of people who experience disabilities in the workforce.
For more information about employability for people with disabilities, visit www.sarcsarcan.ca/pages/deam.
-30-For more information, contact:
Deb Young
Economy
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4765
Email: deb.young@gov.sk.ca
Sydney Smith
SARCAN
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-933-0616 ex
Email: ssmith@sarcan.sk.ca
Brennen Schmidt
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0531
Email: Brennen.schmidt@gov.sk.ca