Project Work offers free employability training and placement to adults labelled with, or who identify as having, an intellectual disability.

Project Work offers a supported employment program for adults with intellectual disabilities. The program is 29 weeks long and consists of temporary work placements, small group Life Skills sessions, and one-on-one job search support. A placement rate of 90% indicates the integration of people with disabilities is happening—average salary is $7.41. Employers understand that a workforce that reflects the whole community, including people with disabilities, makes good business sense!

Project Work can be reached at (416) 481-2211 in Toronto, or email bwright@projectwork.cnd.com.

Success Story

Client: Male, 28 years old
Education: Below high school level
Income Support: General welfare assistance
Work History: Sporadic, but he has 8 years solid volunteer experience at a senior's home, and still volunteers there when he is not working.

This client has very low literacy skills and low self- confidence, but strong family support for his employment goals. He gained confidence through life-skills sessions and the one-on-one support of his job coach.

The agency cold-called an employer, set up a job interview, supported the client at the interview, then supported him on-the-job for three weeks. The client is now working independently. He is employed part-time at $8.40 an hour in a union position with benefits. The employer is very supportive—they allowed pictures to be posted on the wall to remind the new employee about job tasks, since he had low literacy. The employer said the client was a valuable employee and that he was hired for his contribution, not his disability.

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