The unemployment rate for Canadians with a disability is nearly twice as high as those without a disability, according to the 2022 Labour Force Market report. Many face barriers to meaningful and lasting employment and for the second consecutive year, St. Mary’s General Hospital, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and KW Habilitation are partnering to change that.

Known as “Project SEARCH”, the program helps students gain employment skills to help find meaningful employment upon graduation. Through mentorship, guidance and support, students learn how to work independently and with a team, building self-confidence and skills.

“This is the second year that St. Mary’s is proud to partner with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and KW Habilitation supporting our Project SEARCH interns to help prepare them for entering the workforce,” says Sarah Farwell, Chief of Strategy and Governance at St. Mary’s General Hospital. “Participating last year was such an incredible experience for our teams who, while supporting the students in their learning, learned so much themselves along the way. At St. Mary’s, supporting Project SEARCH reflects our commitment to inclusion, and represents a pool of potential employees who can contribute to excellent and compassionate patient care delivery in Waterloo Region. We’re honoured to be a part of these students’ journeys.”

Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre in 1996, to bring more people with disabilities into the workforce, ensuring the patients seeking care there were well represented by the employees that served them. Project SEARCH has grown internationally, including in Canada, with more than 600 programs immersing students into a school-to-work training program that prepares them for meaningful and integrated employment.

“The total community impact of Project SEARCH reaches beyond the success of the interns,” says Stacey Mitchell, Manager, Community & Employment Supports, KW Habilitation. “The sense of belonging that is created in this space results in a shift in attitude that can have a ripple effect throughout our community. We have already seen success from our previous group of interns, some of whom have gained competitive employment. We look forward to celebrating the success of others as they continue their journey.”

December 3^rd marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). The United Nations proclaimed this day of observance in 1992 to promote an understanding of issues facing individuals with disabilities and the work to be done to break down barriers to inclusion.

“We at the Waterloo Catholic District School Board are thrilled to reaffirm our commitment to the Project SEARCH program, an initiative that aligns seamlessly with our mission to provide tailored support for the diverse needs of our students,” says Lema Salaymeh, Senior Manager of Communications, Waterloo Catholic District School Board. “As a school board, we are excited about the positive impact that Project SEARCH continues to have on the lives of our students, providing them with the tools they need to flourish in their chosen paths. We look forward to witnessing the continued success stories that will undoubtedly emerge from this invaluable program.”

Additional Stats:

• In Canada, almost one-quarter of Canadians have a disability. The most recent Canadian Survey on Disability by Statistics Canada showed that in 2017: One in five Canadians (22% or 6.2 million people) reported living with a disability. Over the next 20 years, that number is expected to rise to 25% as the population ages.
• Over 75% of Canadian consumers are more likely to buy a product or service from a business that hires people who have a disability. (2008 Compass Research poll)
• Of Canadians surveyed, 78% say disability should be part of workplace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies (Angus Reid Institute/Rick Hansen Foundation survey, November 2021)
• A 2018 Accenture study showed that businesses practising disability-inclusive hiring experience 72% more productivity; a 45% increase in workplace safety; 30% higher profit margins; and two times the net income of other businesses in the study.
• Working Canadians who have a disability have fairly high job satisfaction in key areas. A June 2021 Angus Reid Survey revealed, 60% are satisfied with career advancement opportunities; 65% are satisfied with their pay and benefits; 79% feel respected and welcome; and 79% feel they’re able to use their training and skills in their job.
• In a 2017 survey of businesses by the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work, 71% of companies said the reason they haven’t hired disability-inclusively is that they lack awareness about skill levels of people who have a disability.
• Disability inclusion is driving the future of work more than ever. According to the findings of the May 2022 Valuable Truth Report 2022 by The Valuable 500, 70% of businesses surveyed are “actively investing in services and supports” for employees who have a disability. And 85% are “working to remove top barriers to employment.”  
  

More Information:

Dayna Giorgio | Manager, Communications

St. Mary’s General Hospital

dgiorgio@smgh.ca | 519-895-6540

Margie McLean | Communications Coordinator

KW Habilitation

mmclean@kwhab.ca | 519-498-6682

Lema Salaymeh | Senior Manager of Communications

Waterloo Catholic District School Board

Lema.Salaymeh@wcdsb.ca | 519-897-6181

Background

Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH is a unique school-to-work training program for students with disabilities. Students are immersed at a host business and get more than 700 hours of hands-on work experience geared to in-demand roles in the local labour market. They learn employability skills and plan their careers with guidance from a teacher and skills trainers. A local employment agency supports graduates and their employers.St. Mary’s General Hospital

Located in the heart of Kitchener, St. Mary’s is home to the Regional Cardiac Centre, Regional Chest Program and Regional Eye Program. As leaders in our field recognized globally for world-class, innovative healthcare, our vision of “Inspiring Excellence. Healthier Together” is not just about our approach to patient-centred care, it’s also about our commitment to our staff.

For nearly a century, St. Mary’s has provided compassionate care to our community serving over 1,000,000 patients locally and beyond each year. We are the second-largest acute care hospital in the St. Joseph’s Health System with a team of over 2,000 staff, physicians and volunteers dedicated to ensuring patients receive the highest-quality care possible.

Learn more about Our Mission, Values & History and the future of care at St. Mary’s.

KW Habilitation

KW Habilitation is a local not-for-profit organization that provides a wide range of individualized services and supports to children with any special need and adults with developmental disabilities. We believe that a good life is fostered through early learning supports, inclusive living services, community involvement, and employment supports.

Our work is guided by our Vision Statement: “A community where everyone belongs and participates” and by our Mission Statement: “Together with our community, KW Habilitation inspires abilities to enrich the lives of children, youth, adults and families”.

Waterloo Catholic District School Board

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and four adult education facilities, serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary, and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 186-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education.

Follow us on Twitter: @WaterlooCDSB – #WCDSBAwesome