Who we are.

Up and In, Down and Out: World of Work

2011-12-16T08:29:00.000-08:00

Upand In, Down and Out: World of Work

Columnby Keelin Carey

Sincethe economic downturn in 2008, the global economy is on the teeters withunpredictable stock prices, debt defaults, and fluctuating unemployment rates. Althoughthe labour market gradually improved in Canada, there are people stilllooking for work. There are people who are employed and struggling to deal withworkplace dilemmas and achieve optimal level of job satisfaction. Ultimately,when it comes to work, they all have questions: What makes a productive jobsearch that results in gainful employment? What makes a satisfying career withgood relations with the boss and co-workers? Read on to read common questionsemployment counsellors usually field in their line of work regarding job search.

I have been lookingfor work for over a year with no luck. What should I do?

Thereare numerous factors and suggestions that cannot be covered in this column. Thefirst thing will come to my mind is your employment goal and the qualificationsyou possess. The second is your research on the labour market.

Grabfive different job postings and read the requirements. Check off the ones youpossess. Do you see all items checked off? If the answer is yes, review yourmarketing documents (i.e. resume, cover letter) and job search techniques. Seekassistance for revisions. Obtain a second opinion. Revise again. Manyapplications were discarded because of one or two grammatical or spellingerrors. Pay attention to details in black and white. What about your job searchskills? Maybe they need to be updated. Visit libraries and Employment ResourceCentres. Sign up with employment / job development services. Talk with friends,family, and professionals. Take out books on job search. Surf the Net forarticles on specific topics. Explore ideas and possibilities.

Supposethe items are not checked off, re-examine the requirements. If the first threerequirements are checked off, then there is some hope. Options you may want toconsider are: Taking a course; registering with a governing body or anassociation to receive a designation that is essential in your field; or, lendingyour time to an organization to acquire experience using specific skills. Topay bills, it might mean going off-track in taking an interim position –survival job - until you build up your skills-set to achieve your employmentgoal.

Ifyou do not meet the requirements, then do not lose hope. What other jobs aresimilar to your employment goal that you can start off first? You might want toconsider an apprenticeship or take out an OSAP loan to attend college oruniversity or visit your local Employment Ontario organization to discuss SkillDevelopment. An investment in time and education, along with a little elbowgrease and positive attitude, will pay off in the future.

Itis critical that you become proactive, not passive, in your quest. Desire andconviction in what you do will lead to a great job.

Should I disclose myDeafness in the cover letter?

Thesafe answer anyone will tell you is not to disclose any details regarding race,religion, ethnicity, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and disability inyour cover letters. The reason is that resumes and cover letters are to focuson merit – skills, experience, education, and accomplishments, thus prospectiveemployers’ biases will not come into play when choosing who to contact forinterviews.

Ofcourse, such disclosure may be used to your advantage if it is a Deaforganization or an organization – business or non-profit – that has a hiringmotto of being an Equal Opportunity employer.

Somejob seekers decided to disclose because they want to be upfront, especiallywhen they rely on email and text-messaging for initial contact and need ASLinterpreting services for the interviews. Few have said that some managers know“a friend of a friend who has a Deaf cousin” and, because of their familiaritywith Deaf individuals in the past, they are willing to interview Deafcandidates. This is clearly in opposition of what Human Resources professionalsand employment counsellors are trained to say in regards to disclosure ofDeafness, but disclosing has been an advantage for some.

Todisclose or not to disclose, that is the question. Which action are youcomfortable taking? To decide, trying both will not hurt. Just make sure thatyou place the strongest emphasis on your MERIT above anything else in the letterand let your optimism shine through.

I have been offeredinterviews, but no job offers. What am I doing wrong?

Clearly,you are qualified for the positions applied. Resumes, cover letters, and jobsearch techniques are not a concern, which leaves me to wonder about yourappearance, interviewing style, preparedness, and understanding of etiquette.In a nutshell, this is a make-or-break where the interviewers decide if theylike you or not within the first 20 seconds of meeting you.

20seconds?

Yes,twenty, 20, two-oh seconds to decide if you are worth their time or not. Evenless than 20 seconds. First impressions count. It is not say that firstimpressions define and cement our personalities and the outward appearances wepresent to the world, but they do define the moment when prospective employerstake you in their eyes and make snap judgments. Make sure you are dressedappropriately, groomed to a T, and smiling with sincerity. Let your bestqualities shine. And, mind your manners, too.

Didyou ask someone to practice common interview questions with you and to throw inunexpected ones to keep you on your toes? Read about the interview process andappropriate interview behaviour and style? Research the company? Grasp the truecontext of the duties and required skills of the advertised position? Make alist of stories demonstrating key skills to wow the interviewer? Find out thebest route of arriving on time for the interview? All of this PREPARATION iscrucial to interview success.

Supposeyou have done the above and still struggle to obtain job offers, what are theother possibilities? One person I know was so nervous when preparing for aninterview that she became increasingly anxious and overwrought. As a result,she became mentally fatigued during the interview and was lacklustre. Oops.Know when to stop and get a good night’s sleep to absorb everything in. Anotherperson dragged his answers too long that the interviewer interrupted him tomove on to the next question. That was feedback, and he didn’t get it at thetime. The interviewer may have perceived that as an inability to acceptfeedback and change direction – one of the key soft skills to be successful onthe job.

Sometimes,it is not during the interview that impacted the decisions of the interviewer,but what happened afterwards. Following up with a thank-you note is importantas it shows your graciousness. The thank-you note can address concerns of theinterviewer or short-comings you may have, ending on a positive note.

Itis vital to remain grounded during the interview. Staying in the moment willhelp you to be conscious of your body language and attitude. Be aware of thehidden messages the interviewer delivers between the lines. Determine if youtruly want to work for the company. Do not forget the purpose of the interview:It is an opportunity to sell yourself as someone the company must have as part ofits team.

Last Words:

Inthis column, everything is easier said than done. Learn from your achievementsand mistakes and share them with others for insight. Know that you will get thehang of it with some faith and conviction in what you do, the doors will open.Even just a crack is enough.

Yourattitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude. - Zig Ziglar

Mississauga Article: Accessibility deadline looms

2011-11-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

Mississauga Article: Accessibility deadline looms

Mississauga Article: Accessibility a must

2011-11-24T11:11:00.000-08:00

Mississauga Article: Accessibility a must

Our newest Project- The Student Transition Program

2011-10-06T06:52:00.000-07:00

The Student Transition Program was developed in conjunction with the Peel District School Board in an effort to assist Students with Disabilities obtain and maintain Co-op and Apprenticeship placements.
The Trillium Foundation has awarded the Coalition for Persons with Disabilities a two year grant as a pilot project in the hopes that the program will not only prove to be successful within the PDSB, but will then be implemented in school boards across the province in the years following the initial funding.
Some of the areas in which focus will be made is as follows:

Workshops for Students to motivate and inform about Co-op and Apprenticeship
Workshops for Co-op teachers and PDSB staff on developing opportunities for Students with Disabilities
Pre-Placement Counselling
Co-op Development
Post Hire Support
Accommodations assessments and implementation
Post Secondary Transitions Support

As experts in the field of assisting Persons with Disabilities, the Coalition will be a consultation service for the PDSB and will use whatever resources needed to ensure that Students with Disabilities are able to have access to the same employment preparation programs as their peers regardless of their barriers to employment.

If your would like more information regarding this program please contact Ryan Machete at 905-502-0565 ext 222 or Email: ryan.machete@disabilityaccess.org

Ryan Machete

IMPORTANT NEWS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES from The Coalition for Persons with Disabilities

2011-08-12T10:06:00.001-07:00

IMPORTANT NEWS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES from The Coalition for Persons with Disabilities New for G.E. 2011: Request a Special Ballot Home Visit Call Elections Ontario between August 8 to August 30 to book a Home Visit Voters who have difficulty going to their local returning office may request a home visit. Home visits will take place between September 8 to October 5th, 6:00 PM ET or 5:00 PM CT. You may apply to vote by Special ballot in your home if you: Are eligible to vote in the October 6th, 2011 provincial election, and Find it impossible or unreasonably difficult to personally go to the returning office in your electoral district, and Need assistance with making an application to vote by Special ballot, because of a disability or because an inability to read or write Home Visit requests will be accepted at Elections Ontario headquarters from August 8 to August 30, 2011 by phone, email or fax*. Telephone: Toll free in Canada and the United States: 1-(855)-523-5932 Collect Calls: 416-649-1046 TTY toll free in Canada and the United States: 1-(888)-292-2312 Email: sb@elections.on.ca Fax: Attention: Special Ballots 1-(888)-438-4448 (toll-free in Canada and the United States) Hours of operation: August 8 – 20: Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM ET August 22 – September 24: Monday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM ET; Sunday 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM ET *After August 30th, you may call your local returning office from September 7th to October 5, 6:00 PM ET or 5:00 PM CT to book your appointment. Please Note: Elections Ontario will forward your requests to your local Returning Officer. You will receive a call from a Special Ballot Officer after September 7th who will schedule your home visit at that time.

My Blog

2011-07-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

My name is Christina Martins, and I was diagnosed with Spina Bifida when I was born, myelomeningocele to be more specific. Myelomeningocele is a congenital defect of the central nervous system in which a sac containing part of the spinal cord and its meninges protrude through a gap in the vertebral column; frequently accompanied by hydrocephalus and development delay. Not many people know about this type of disability.
              I also have scoliosis (from Greek: skoliōsis meaning from skolios, "crooked") is a medical condition in which a person's spine is curved from side to side. Although it is a complex three-dimensional deformity, on an X-ray, viewed from the rear, the spine of an individual with scoliosis may look more like an "S" or a "C" than a straight line. Scoliosis is typically classified as either congenital (caused by vertebral anomalies present at birth), idiopathic (cause unknown, subclassified as infantile, juvenile, adolescent, or adult, according to when onset occurred), or neuromuscular (having developed as a secondary symptom of another condition, such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, or physical trauma). This condition affects approximately 7 million people in the United States.

            Having this type of disability caused me to have an emergency surgery when I was born. My own mother could not hold me right away. I also had to stay in the hospital longer than the average newborn. I am very lucky to actually survive my birth, if I did not get that surgery, I would not be walking and breathing on this earth right now. This was not the only surgery I had to get as I got older I had a lot more.

            Growing up was very difficult, not really knowing what my own disability was, looking at the people around me wondering why they weren't like me, having A.F.Os (ankle-foot orthoses) or leg braces, a walker etc. I was also wondering why they were staring at me as like they never seen a person with a walker before, it never really clicked in that I thought they could just be wondering what was wrong with me.

            I was very young when I got my first pair of A.F.Os, I think I was only 3 years old and my first walker at 4 years old. When I started school I always felt I had to be like I had to be like the other kids to fit in, but of course with my disability I couldn't really anyways, back than it meant a lot to me if I could. When I got to grade 5, that's when people started to tease me and I didn't really have any friends.

            In 2003, a tragic thing happened in my family. I lost my mother from a brain aneurysm; this is when I knew I had depression. Not from just losing her but knowing have a physical disability to worry about the rest of my life. I didn't really get help for it until high school where I had to talk with the child youth worker and an actual mental health nurse. I always thought my depression was a sign of weakness but it wasn't. It was a cry for help and a sign to show I was strong for a long time.

            I just want to show the world how much of a strong young woman I have become, after all the surgeries I had and maybe more in the future, I'll still be standing strong and keeping my head held high. Nothing will break me. My name is Christina Martins, love me or hate me. This is me. Put yourself in my shoes, before you judge me. I want to make my mother proud.

How to submit your story.

2011-07-21T05:52:00.000-07:00

If there is something you would like to share about yourself, your journey or perhaps you have been here and want to share the experience you had here with us in one of our programs. Please email renee.duncan@disabilityaccess.org and I will upload it. We are looking forward to hearing from you. Coming to this blog site soon we will have monthly installment regarding Employment from our Jobs Team and an update from our Youth Project.

Inspiring Partnerships 2007

2011-05-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

Connections 2007

2011-05-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

Daren's Blog

2011-04-20T05:42:00.000-07:00

“This Is Good.”

Daren Costin

I first began writing this over four months ago. I was very doubtful of it and of myself because traditional reality is quite different from a reality that is generated by a brain that has suffered some sort of trauma. At times I am embarrassed by it. I am now happy to define as an Invisible Disability meaning I wasn’t affected physically so you can’t see it, and it has taken me three years to find that particular term. I would write, read and always feel self-conscious about it because I stood on both sides of the looking glass…completely understanding myself as a stroke person, yet completely misunderstanding or demanding some qualification of myself as a normal person. (What is normal? Is it possible that I am more normal now then ever? One of the many questions that have come to my head as a result of my stroke.) In the end, I will write this one story as it was, is, and always will be.

It had been about only two weeks since the actual stroke. Those two weeks were packed full of family trauma, much of which has been healed and much of which may never heal. The duration of my stroke up until this moment has involved “many” people in many ways….physical, mental, emotional, cognitive. My memory was gravely affected, but I now know that I remember the moments and faces — it just can’t remember the particulars such as names and numbers. Just a trifle!

The stroke Daren is very much at peace not being able to remember people by their names. For example, let us use the name Jane, an occupational therapist. One day we had just finished a group session where we discussed the newspaper articles for that day. Oddly enough at the time I couldn’t read, but I didn’t actually understand that I couldn’t read so I’d flip thru the paper and “read” even though I actually couldn’t read. In the beginning there was actually very little I could understand about myself. I didn’t recognize that I couldn’t remember what I wrote, or that I couldn’t write in a straight line or that I kept on bumping into things. But as for Jane — it was Jane who taught me again what the names of fruit were. I had found a small card with pictures of fruit on it, and I asked, “What do you call this?” Such meaning in such a question from a man my age. Jane was kind and sat down with me and described how they felt and how I would eat them and as much as she could share with me about the fruit. And then she labeled the card and gave it to me. And how I treasured that card for months to come! I would re-read it to myself…you are an apple…you are an orange (which was a very hard word to read). Months later, I would go to the grocery store and smell, squeeze and talk to all the food! You’re an orange…I forget what they call you. And everything about those moments became a part of me – the card, the names, even the light in the room but most importantly was Jane because it all revolved around her and it still does each time I go shopping…I remember how she sat down without hesitation… just for me…with me…looking into my eyes…trying to convey the essence of what an apple and orange were to me. I still don’t actually remember Jane’s name. I only remember how she feels to me. And to me that is much more real than a name. I think that’s just how love is. Perhaps, it’s all about salvation? Jane, to my mind and soul, is an actual event full of life… and one of my first gentle teachers in my new life. It’s a peculiar way to remember people, but on the other hand, because I have discovered I thrive on happiness my mind has no need to focus on bad memories of people. And so, out of the darkness she came to help me into the light. A tear comes from my eye.

The one moment that had the most lasting impression on me occurred at the same time I was seeing Jane. But this involved physical rehab. In the beginning, my body could not work very hard due to the stroke. It has taken me three years to reach the point where I can just begin to jog. Yet as I jog the quality of my vision declines, my balance begins to wane, my right side gets lazy, and I have to focus on my pace or I will forget to breathe and I will just get plain fuzzy all round! I look fine but in reality I’m a little bit wobbly, can’t see all that well and so forth.

Physical rehab began with a quick assessment, which I thought to be quite silly. Assessments always baffled me because they are of course designed to discover and reveal the unknown, so I was in the dark no matter which way you cut the ham. And so began my physical rehab. I thought I was going fast on the treadmill until I saw some other guy and was able to compare. I walked like an old man. Like most of the discovering in the very beginning it was very depressing. I understood that I could not do things the same way because that was obvious to me, but I could not understand the why…I did not understand the meaning of the word stroke, of what I had survived, of what had happened. That would take close to two years before I came to understand, in a sense, the meaning of life. And so I continued to toddle along at a snail’s pace on the treadmill thinking I was flying!

My time in that hospital would be short so we wanted to get me oot-and-aboot as quickly as possible. I think we were all relieved that I remembered old territory as there would have been nothing worse than getting lost in my own closet on a daily basis. There are some changes of course…such as north, south, east, and west. Before things just used to be east or west (or whatever), but now I only have a sense of myself and the immediate space around me. In all honesty, most of the time I never really know where I am in a sense…but I always know I’m right here and headed in the right direction. To me, that makes perfect sense because when I am extremely tired I only process my immediate space as it keeps me alive. And there ain’t nothing wrong with that. In order to get a sense of east or west I have to zoom out, and the more tired I am the farther out I have to zoom to get my bearings. The farthest I have to zoom out is over the continental North America and then I zoom back in to where I am to make sure I’m headed the right direction. I am able to do it in a few quick frames now. In the beginning I tried to use the sun as a reference, speaking quietly to myself and using my arm I would trace the sun’s path in the sky. Believe me…there are many confused people out there still staring at the sky wondering what the hell I could have been pointing at so intently and with such purpose! And once I had figure out where I was going I would just walk away! As for the walks, I was taken by a qualified trainer and by a younger student. I was roaring to go for my first walk! The younger student came into my room to make sure I was properly dressed, and I, like a kid, eagerly showed him my jacket, my boots…you get the picture. I was quivering. Life was so different. I felt like I had just landed on a different planet. I’m very glad I had a sense of direction. I didn’t care about going left or right at that time; all I could muster up was this way or that way.

In all I went for a total of four walks. Two walks were with all three of us as if we were on some sort of caravan. And the last two with the younger student. On the last walk, he made the comment that he had no idea why he was still there because all he did was take me for walks! It was a funny comment at the time but I also knew that it had to be done…and I also knew that I needed him because when I heard him mention that he was leaving I was flooded with panic.

It has only been recently, almost three years after, that I don’t panic anymore. He has been a part of this the entire time without knowing it. And so we did a total of four walks. I was taught to stop, look this way, look that way, and so forth. I relearned very quickly not to step in those things we call puddles…especially during the winter. And because it was December and snow was on the ground when I had my stroke…well… every day that I wake up, I emotionally and sometimes literally expect there to be snow…even during the summer. When it does snow I’m very relieved…as if all of creation is as it should be. And I still listen to Christmas music on my iPod all year round. As far as I’m concerned, it’s ok. The student left, and I was very sad and worried because I didn’t think I would ever get to go outside again. That is…until I got the wonderful idea of going outside on my own. But the problem was that it was now a whole procedure if not a two-ringed circus…what should I wear? What am I going to do? How do the doors work? The cars? And WHAT ABOUT ME!

And so…I began to get up the nerve. I sat in the restaurant watching the people. They moved just as I did, so we had something in common, which made me feel less scared. What really scared me was all the movement going on…the cars and the people. It was a lot for my vision to make sense of. And it was a new environment, too. I don’t think I’ve felt so apprehensive. A simple thing but it seemed like a huge step…and it was.

I finally got up the nerve to do it. I went thru the doors and just about had a heart attack because I was alone…alone in how I felt. I wasn’t about to ask somebody to take care of me and help me find a seat and then take me back. Twice that day I made it out…and froze like a deer in the headlights because I didn’t know what to do. At least, I had enough sense to go back inside. And that is when I began to “case the joint!” I was very sneaky about it and sat in the cafeteria and in the lobby looking where I could land after I had taken off! Actually the idea of taking off and landing wasn’t that far off because I was scared on the inside.

And so I tried again, but this time there was a big supporting post so I turned around and went back inside. I had not anticipated running into a post. I knew where the seats were but I didn’t take into account everything else…like those big posts that held up the hospital for instance. As I re-scoped the area again I noticed them and couldn’t help but ask…”Where the hell did that stuff come from?” I was very suspicious and scared of the whole thing now. I felt betrayed…afterall I had almost plowed into a post. That’s the problem with vision…there is so much to it! But my curiosity really was kicking now. After about an hour I was feeling downright rebellious. I had to get to that bench.

I, finally, made it to that bench. And I was a child once again. I didn’t just sit down…if you could picture an accelerated sit-down that would be it. I had done it from start to finish…even had my jacket on. And I was so scared because I was able to see a new piece of the world at a different angle now. There was way too much going on…cars and people. Everything was so big. It wasn’t until I closed my eyes to feel the world around me that I began to feel better. I could hear and know where the cars were. I felt the sun. The air. The breeze. The cold. It was there that I found peace triumph over my panic. Each time I think of the panic I experience I can feel it…but I can also feel how I calmed down after I had closed my eyes. I realized my hands were gripping the bench as if someone were going to steal it and I began to feel silly. I sat there for a few minutes, and I only had one small sentence to murmur to myself…as I rocked myself gently I whispered, “This is good Daren…this is good.” And it truly was.

I had experienced and continue to experience life on such a bizarre level. It has only been the past few months that I have let go it all as a stigma. To me it is just life now and it is good. Stigmas are part of our belief system, so I know it will be an ongoing process, but at least I know it has begun.

I always wondered what God meant in Genesis when He saw that it was good. In my old life I never really understood why the words quite meant. Such a simple statement from a Guy who had just created all of everything? It’s not just good…it’s mind-blowing.

November 27, 2010

Coalition For Persons with Disabilties/Employment Access

2011-04-18T05:32:00.000-07:00

The Coalition for Persons with Disabilities was formed in 1985 as a not-for-profit community-based partnership of persons with disabilities and community groups working collaboratively to affect positive changes for persons with disabilities in the regions of Peel, Halton and Dufferin. Today, the Coalition continues this vision for independence and inclusion through a number of community-based programs and services.The goal is to promote full and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in today's labour market. We have Employment ACCESS, Sign of the Times, Work Readiness for Youth, Discover your Personal Power Workshop, Employment PAH and the people who make all this happen. This is the place where we share our journey. Announce our achievements and display our talents. This blog page is for all of us Warriors who continue to fight everyday for Independence and inclusion for persons with disabilities.