Meaningful Careers
Rotary Employment Partnership
The dreams parents have for their sons and daughters with developmental disabilities are no less than the dreams they and other parents share for their children without disabilities - to have every opportunity for a career, make a contribution; earn an income and be valued as community members. People with developmental disabilities share the aspirations of their families and want nothing more than the opportunity to demonstrate their potential. Unfortunately, the vast majority of citizens living in Alberta and Saskatchewan with intellectual disabilities are unemployed or underemployed.
For people without disabilities, a good job helps to give purpose to life and affirms a valued place in society. Imagine if, as a result of a disability through no fault of your own, you were relegated to a life on the sidelines. Rotary, Inclusion Lloydminster & Inclusion Alberta, and the Government of Alberta are committed to working in partnership with the business and broader community to create meaningful employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities - to create the kind of possibilities that contribute to the fullness of community life. Inclusion in community life today creates better communities for everyone tomorrow.
To date, the Rotary Employment Partnership in Lloydminster has created more than 85 meaningful jobs for adults with developmental disabilities, with an average wage of more than $16.00 per hour. Worksites include a wide array of companies from one-person businesses to large international firms ranging from office jobs to manufacturing and technology. With the success of the Rotary Employment Partnership in Lloydminster and the Province of Alberta, the idea has expanded to other Canadian provinces and a number of countries.
Inclusion Alberta’s Rotary Employment Partnership was recognized internationally as a world leading innovation at the Zero Conference in Vienna, Austria by the ESSL Foundation in collaboration with the World Future Council and the International Labour Organization. The ESSL Foundation advocates for the rights of persons with disabilities internationally and a world with zero barriers.
We Work in Partnership To
Rotary Clubs and members will work in partnership with Inclusion Lloydminster & Inclusion Alberta and the Government of Alberta to develop jobs for people with developmental disabilities within the business community. Together we explore the possibility of creating genuine and meaningful employment opportunities. Inclusion Lloydminster will link employers to potential employees with developmental disabilities. Inclusion Lloydminster also provides the resources, expertise and on-the-job supports to ensure a successful outcome. Through the partnership, employers and employees will learn how to sustain and facilitate the successful inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in the workforce. Each Rotary Club partner sets its own commitment as to how many people with developmental disabilities they would hope to see employed during the course of the partnership. Individual Rotary members may also consider the possibility of creating an employment opportunity for a person with developmental disabilities. Through this initiative there is the potential for Rotary Clubs and members to directly and personally make a powerful and wonderful difference in the life of a person with developmental disabilities.
Many individual examples of successful employment for people with developmental disabilities exist in Lloydminster. People with developmental disabilities are working in offices, restaurants, stores and factories. Canadian employers, for example from Canadian Tire to Winners, have repeatedly expressed the value of hiring people with intellectual disabilities as being “good for business and not a social program”. A wealth of community resources exist that have contributed to these successful outcomes and are used in this Partnership. However, people with developmental disabilities still represent a large and untapped labour resource. This is an unfortunate loss of human potential. Through this partnership, Rotary Clubs and members have the opportunity to strengthen the community by helping to welcome people with developmental disabilities into the fullness of community life.
Youth Employment
Building Stronger Communities
Paid employment during high school is one of the most significant factors in ensuring individuals with developmental disabilities gain employment as adults. Youth Employment bridges the gap between youth and adult employment, creating confident youth who are empowered to be more self-sufficient citizens, creating stronger communities for everyone.
For people with developmental disabilities, a good job helps to give purpose to life and affirms a valued place in society. Imagine if, as a result of a disability, you were relegated to a life on the sidelines. To create the kind of possibilities that contribute to the fullness of community life, the Inclusion Lloydminster Youth Employment Partnership is committed to working with the Lloydminster business community to create meaningful part-time employment opportunities for youth with developmental disabilities. Inclusion in community life today, creates better communities for everyone tomorrow.
If you are a high school student with an developmental disability or a parent and would like to know more, please contact us.
Making a Difference by Working Together
Inclusion Lloydminster works with local businesses to develop jobs for youth with developmental disabilities. Consider the possibility of working with us to create genuine and meaningful part-time employment opportunities. Learn how to sustain and facilitate the successful inclusion of youth with disabilities in the workforce.
If you’re a business owner or someone in the position to hire a youth with developmental disabilities, please consider contacting us to learn more.
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