On February 2, the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living, community based supported employment agencies, families, and self-advocates joined the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, to proclaim February 2007, Supported Employment Awareness Month.

This month�s theme Making It Work highlights the message that in Newfoundland and Labrador, persons with developmental disabilities with support from community and governmental partners are making supported employment work in our province.

Supported employment is the process which assists individuals with developmental disabilities acquire supports to pursue, obtain and maintain paid employment in the private and public sectors. Throughout Newfoundland and Labrador 20 community-based supported employment agencies provide support on an ongoing basis to persons with developmental disabilities. In addition to mainstream employment, many individuals are supported to own and operate businesses and in turn employ many other individuals in the community. In 2005-06, 635 persons were successful in finding employment under the program; 417 with the support of a job trainer and an additional 51 persons through self-employment. In 2006-07, government committed $4,245,000 to provide on the job supports for persons with developmental disabilities.

"The value and spin offs from employment can not be underestimated," says Melanie Thomas, Executive Director with the NL Association for Community Living. "No different than you or I, employment provides individuals with an opportunity to earn income, increase independence as well as foster feelings of citizenship and self-worth. Supported employment is an important program which assists persons with developmental disabilities to participate in the labour market and the community as a whole."

"Government is pleased to be a partner with the supported employment community and help over 600 persons with developmental disabilities find and maintain employment here in the province," said Minister Skinner. "This year�s theme for Supported Employment Month, Making It Work, marks the successful delivery of the new training program and the supported employment community�s clear commitment to bring up to date knowledge and best practices into the field."

February also marks the half-way point in the delivery of a provincial training program on supported employment, a training initiative prepared and delivered by Michele Neary and Associates. The NL Association for Community Living with financial support from the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment has created a landmark training tool designed to meet the needs of those working in the supported employment field. The new values-based training is intended for a variety of audiences including individuals with developmental disabilities, employment corporation staff and board members, employers, educators, as well as provincial and federal government employees. The training provides an overview and introduction to community living values and outlines concrete strategies to strengthen supported employment and encourage inclusive communities.

A total of six regionally-based teams of trainers are currently involved in delivering the program in their communities. Flo Paul, chairperson of the Provincial Advisory Committee on Supported Employment commented, "We see great value in supporting local leaders to deliver training resources in their own communities and strengthening the support base for the future of supported employment in our province."

Photo #1: Signing of Proclamation

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