Labels affect everyone: Abilities Verses Disabilities

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Facts & FAQs Did you know ...
1 in 68 children are currently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
The prevalence of ASD has increased over 100% in the last 10 years.
Autism is now the fastest growing and most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in Canada.
ASD is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental influences.
Autism occurs all racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups
Autism is a lifelong spectrum disorder.
Early intervention can make a lifetime of difference.
Mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression are common in individuals with ASD.
The unemployment rate for individuals with ASD is over 80%.
With the right supports, all individuals with ASD can thrive.
No two people with autism are the same, not even identical twins.
If youve met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism

School aged verses off the cliff age

All people of school age are going out regularly to programmed activities during the day. When they reach
the age of 22 they fall out of one system into an abyss. The waiting is the hardest part. Services are
expensive. Programs that are funded have long wait lists, and individuals and their families suffer, as the
parents try to provide enough stimulation to keep young adults who are ready, willing and able to work,
from laying on the couch playing video games all day. Its not just those without a label, who are affected.

The Education Barrier/Cliff

The Success Stories we have seen are not the norm.

We pride ourselves on being so inclusive but the reality of the working
environment is still one of fear and not in my backyard type of thinking.

ThisTim Hortons franchisee hired 82 disabled workers

By Alison GriffithsPersonal Finance Columnist Wed., Nov. 20, 2013

Tim Hortons franchisee Mark Wafer makes a point of hiring workers with disabilities.

According to Statistics Canada, 54 per

cent of Canadians with disabilities are
unemployed or not in the workforce,
but some believe the number is
actually around 70 per cent after
factoring in people who have given up
looking. (The unemployment rate for
the general population was 7.3 per
cent on May 11.)

https://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2012/
06/10/this_tim_hortons_franchisee_hired_82_disabled_
workers.html

He Says It Makes Good Business Sense

1. Good qualifications
2. Innovation
3. Low maintenance
4. Motivation
5. Untapped labour pool
6. Everyone benefits
When the disabled have meaningful employment
(or any employment for that matter) the burden
on the taxpayer is lessened. Look at it another
way: every dollar not needed for social assistance
is a dollar available for something else.
As Wafer points out, there is tremendous
opportunity for both employers and the disabled.
Together with Joe Dale of Rotary International,
he created a program called Rotary at Work to
convince employers that the disabled can
become an important part of the workforce

I have watched Clint gain

confidence and independence as
well as become more mature
and responsible during his 14
years with me at Tim Hortons.
Says Mark. He deserves and
appreciates the opportunity to
work more than anyone I
know. Clint now works at
Marks new store that opened
Oct. 14, 20

Young Marks Profile:

Recently graduated from High school, at 22 years of age, very intelligent
Considered moderately autistic with various other diagnosis
Lives in community with two other men, both older than he is
Has great imagination and aspires to reach various goals,
(staff, very involved in life choices and daily living, hold him back due to behavioral issues)

Challenges
Mark has a few challenges that affect his ability to reach his dreams.
He lives in a group home which restricts some ability to be involved in certain activities.
He has behaviors which require support to re direct him to focus on activities at hand.
Parents are very unstable and heavily involved in the life of person, sometimes to their detriment.

Barriers
Disability status, Dual Diagnosis status, support requirement for daily living, unrealistic expectations of
what kind of job/career he will find, lack of experience and training.

Young Tara's Profile:

Late 20s, very active and intelligent female, with a very youthful demeanor
Considered moderately autistic with various other mental health issues
Lives in community with five others of various ages and genders
Has great imagination and aspires to reach various goals,

Challenges
Tara also has a few challenges that affect her ability to reach her dreams.
She lives in a group home which restricts some ability to be involved in certain activities due to access.
Her obsessive behaviors require strong support to re direct her to focus on activities at hand.
She can be very vulnerable in an unsupported situation.
Very strong and challenging family issues.

Barriers
Disability status, Dual Diagnosis status, support requirement for daily living
Behaviors that may be difficult to address in a public business situation
Mental health issues that can flair up in a crisis situation

Barriers faced by this group

Housing issues many living with parents,
others in group home situations, many waiting for accomotion.
ODSP Every person in this situation is funded by ODSP,
any interruption could result in a crisis situation
Program Funding Waiting Periods To access many innovative
programs being introduced, there is a fee for use, and funding available
but strict regulations are in place for qualification.
Lack of Advocacy and Service for those at home Parents are the
ones who do all the leg work/ advocacy for their children
who have fallen out of the system due to their reaching
22 years of age. Without outside support it is very difficult
to make connections with businesses etc.,
and so they are at a disadvantage.
Discrimination Business owners dont want to
deal with a preconceived idea of what would happen.

Advocacy for this group

With all of the changes mandated from the government of Ontario, in
regards to Arc Supported Employment facilities,
there will be a big gap in services for this group.
Community Living has an Employment Supports Division,
but is understaffed and not able to accommodate the wave coming.
Funding continues to be a challenge for all agencies, and is a delicate
dance that requires careful use of resources which limits access to
supports. New initiatives need to be birthed.
Canada, and specifically Ontario is behind the wave and struggling to
find the right approach for this demographic. There is a great need for
a viable model to look to. Two very exciting examples of this are:

http://autismworkforce.com/
https://www.thespectrumcareers.com/

Advocacy

Work with specific groups to

encourage a network of job
ready workers, who are prescreened and able to work,
with the right supports in
place.
A Support team, who can be
on-call and ready to diffuse
potential situations if they
arise and will phase out as
the employee gets
acclimatized.
Connect with local
government to apply
pressure for changes
in policy

Step by step, working with

achievable goals to create
confidence and momentum

Help candidate by connecting them

to specialty associations and peer
mentoring groups that can provide
experiential support

Provide training and learning

opportunities that are
Real World applicable,
like the Inclusion Films agency
which trains persons with disabilities
to work in the film industry.

Believe in them and not just

Humor their dreams!

Ability Assessment
Career Goals
Support Requirements

Workshops and Internships and Mentoring

Skills Training Programs
Bridging Programs and workplace readiness programs
Continuing Education that
doesnt just stop at age 22
for those who would like to
Government grants and funding

Innovative ideas
Business community initiatives

pursue training in a trade.

Resources
https://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2012/06/10/this_tim_hortons_franchisee_hired_82_disa
bled_workers.html
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/141203/dq141203a-eng.htm
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-006-x/2014001/article/14115-eng.htm
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-006-x/2014001/article/14115/youth-jeune-eng.htm
The Employment of People with Intellectual Disabilities in Canada: A Statistical Profile Cameron Crawford 2011
www.irisinstitute.ca