Family Services of Peel unites with PEOPLEsource to deliver unique job program

The Brampton Guardian
Thursday December 6 2007
ALICIA SINGH

BRAMPTON - Family Services of Peel (FSP) launched a new job program that will assist people with disabilities to find and maintain employment.

The program called Ready, Willing and Able, is special because of its innovative approach to job finding.

In a unique move, FSP has teamed up with PEOPLEsource staffing solutions company PEOPLEsource, a staffing firm recognized by the Profit Hot 50 as one of the fastest growing companies in Canada, to help individuals find meaningful employment.

"If things are going to (be sustained), there needs to be partnerships and we don't have the expertise in terms of employment staffing," said Tom Triantafillou, director of resource development at FSP.

Triantafillou added that creating and maintaining successful employment programs for people with disabilities has not been a strong point within the province.

According to research done by FSP, 51 per cent of adults with disabilities are employed compared to 82 per cent of adults without a disability.

People need work

The importance of work is sometimes forgotten amidst all the deadlines and meetings, but a job gives individuals a sense of productivity, self worth and identity.

The impacts of unemployment range from depression, anxiety, or poor self-esteem to family breakdown and even hospitalization.

"And that's if you don't even have a stigma," says Triantafillou, "now let's add a disability to that and you've been even further marginalized because society has said you're imperfect as a result of your disability."

To Triantafillou, creating the program just made sense, and to do so with the help of a private business that has expertise and knowledge in respect to the job industry made even more sense.

Triantafillou also hopes that the unusual pairing of a social service agency and private company will help break down barriers between the public and private sectors.

"I think that PEOPLEsource, Family Services of Peel and the Ready, Willing and Able program are going to be a model," he said.

The atypical partnership is not the only factor that makes the Ready Willing and Able an innovative employment program. The program will assist people with disabilities in their Job Postings and will continue to provide support throughout their work experience.

According to Triantafillou, ongoing and on-job support is one of the most important factors for achieving success in employment.

"That's what this program is doing. It's saying we're not just going to find you a job and send you out there. We're looking at what your support needs are and tailoring an individual support plan in order to make sure success is the outcome."

John Nalli, president and CEO of PEOPLEsource, says that the decision to take part in the initiative was a "no-brainer".

"The reason we started PEOPLEsource years ago was for people," said Nalli.

Coaches provide

The program will feature a job developer and job coaches.

The job developer, who is essentially the program manager, will work with PEOPLEsource to create a bank of jobs. The developer, coach and client will then meet to decide what job is the best match.

Job coaches will also work with individuals on the job to ensure they are comfortable and successful in their work.

Triantafillou stresses the importance of an individual tailored approach. "Success is defined by motivation and so it's going to be very much based on what a person is interested in, what skills they have and what barriers they may need to overcome."

Any adult who has a confirmed diagnosis of a disability is eligible for the employment program; this includes physical, emotional, cognitive, and mental health as well as dual diagnosis.

Both Triantafillou and Nalli acknowledge that there will be challenges with the program and they agree the most worthwhile challenge will be shattering stereotypes.

"Companies or people still think of people with disabilities as a last resort but these are people with tremendous skill sets," says Nalli.

People with disabilities account for nine per cent of working age adults in Canada-- that is one million out of 13 million working age people.

As an expert in the job industry, Nalli recognizes that dismissing the abilities of this entire population will have long lasting negative effects.

"We're in a depravation stage of talented people and if we continue to overlook these people, we're in big trouble, as a country, municipality and economy." Nalli hopes that Ready, Willing and Able will not only help place individuals in jobs they enjoy but that it also educates employers as to some of the benefits of hiring such individuals.

For more information on Family Services of Peel's Ready, Willing and Able program please call 905-270-2250 or visit www.fspeel.org.