March 22, 2000
(Human Resources and Employment)

• To assist people living with a disability, the department will continue to work with other departments and community stakeholders under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities (EAPD) Agreement.

•  The department will provide an additional $500,000 to Employment Support Services for Persons with Disabilities, a program that helps persons with disabilities enter the workforce. The money will be transferred from the Income Support Budget to provide additional funding for support workers who work with developmentally delayed adults entering the workforce. Last year the supported employment program enabled 700 adults with developmental delays find and maintain employment in their communities.

• $500,000, cost-shared with the Government of Canada, will be provided through the Opening Doors Program.

• People were consulted across the province about the kind of services EAPD should include. These consultations were arranged by the Coalition for People with Disabilities (COD). Results will be made available to the public in May. The results will help guide the direction of the multi-million dollar agreement that was signed in 1998.

• The EAPD Agreement is valued at $8.2 million annually and is cost-shared 50/50 with the Government of Canada.

Media contact: Marcia Porter. Communications, (709) 729-4062.

2000 03 22