"Our government believes in providing support to programs that help individuals realize their full potential," said Minister Skinner. "By investing in this program we can work to foster greater labour market participation and provide an opportunity for persons with vision loss to participate in the growth and prosperity we are currently experiencing in our province."

In today�s society, people living with vision loss generally obtain similar to or higher levels of education than the general population. However, only 25-30 per cent of working adults living with vision loss are meaningfully employed. These findings suggest that job seekers with vision loss have unique needs that require specialized solutions. This program will provide a range of employment supports focusing on the diverse populations of persons with vision loss.

The funding for this program will allow for an employment specialist to work with students, schools and post-secondary institutions to address student needs, provide access to up-to-date information on assistive technology, career choices and skill development. The employment specialist will also work with employers on how to recruit, hire and retain qualified persons with vision loss.

"If there had been a program that could have helped me deal with the challenges of vision loss, it would have made my transition into the labour market faster and easier," said Duane Morgan, new CNIB Employment Specialist. "My hope is that people with vision loss are provided with a level playing field when it comes to career development and employment. It�s everyone�s right to be a contributing member of society."

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2008 09 15                                                    1:35 p.m.