YORKTON, Sask. — Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) is underway in Saskatchewan, with local employment service providers using October to highlight the benefits of inclusive hiring and connect job seekers with employers across the region.
Partners in Employment, a division of SaskAbilities, kicked off the month with an open house Oct. 1 at its Yorkton office, inviting community members to learn more about services available to both employers and job seekers.
The organization supports people aged 16 and older who are legally entitled to work in Canada and self-identify as having a disability. However, Employment Services senior supervisor Brittany Garbutt said the definition is broader than many people realize.
"We always say don't let that deter anyone when you hear that self-disclosure of disability," Garbutt said. "We don't require medical anything like that. It more so speaks to impact. So that could be anything from anxiety to a formal diagnosis."
Partners in Employment helps job seekers with resume and cover letter preparation, interview skills, job applications and employer connections. The agency also works with clients after they are hired, helping employers and employees navigate accommodations, training and workplace supports.
For employers, the organization provides hiring support aimed at creating more inclusive workplaces.
"When people come in, we can kind of offer a menu of services that's customized to everyone," Garbutt said. "We really go in and want to learn about their business, what their needs are, and then we can match it back to a candidate pool that we might have."
Garbutt said the organization works with more than 200 employers annually throughout Yorkton and a wide rural region that includes communities such as Canora, Kamsack, Melville, Preeceville, Sturgis and Pelly. About 80 of those employers are repeat partners.
"We can't actually do what we do without employers," she said. "You can help people prepare and find work, but if there aren't employers looking to partner or take people on, none of what we do would be possible."
This year's DEAM activities include a campaign recognizing inclusive employers with window decals and sharing information about the benefits of workplace accessibility.
Garbutt said the labour market has changed dramatically in recent years, with rising costs, technological advances and lingering impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic affecting both job seekers and businesses.
"Everyone's needing to do more with less," she said. "Things cost more and people are needing to work more hours or sometimes multiple jobs just to make ends meet."
The increasing use of digital technology has also created challenges for some workers, prompting the agency to offer digital literacy training ranging from basic computer skills to navigating modern workplace technology.
In addition to employment services, Partners in Employment helps clients access short-term training, including first aid, food safety, Serve It Right Saskatchewan certification and other workplace safety courses tied to employment opportunities.
The organization also delivers the Transitioning Youth to Employment program in partnership with local school divisions. The program helps students gain workplace experience and transition from high school into employment.
Garbutt said Disability Employment Awareness Month is an opportunity to challenge misconceptions about disability and employment while highlighting the value that diverse workers bring to the workplace.
"We really want to break down the stigma of what that definition actually means," she said. "It is quite a broad definition and it more so speaks to impacts in a workplace."
Disability Employment Awareness Month continues throughout October with events and awareness activities across the province aimed at promoting inclusive hiring practices and improving employment opportunities for people experiencing disabilities.
