Ontario Supporting Greater Employment Opportunities for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Kenora | Ministry of Community and Social Services

Province Announces Employment and Modernization Fund Project

August 23, 2017

Ontario is supporting young adults with developmental disabilities in Kenora as part of a provincewide program that promotes community-based employment and improves employment services and supports.

Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services, visited the Kenora Association for Community Living to see how funding is being used to help young adults to pursue real work for real pay in mainstream workplaces, through co-op placements and summer employment. The project involves collaboration with two Kenora high schools, local businesses, parents, and the First Nation community of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug.

This is one of 38 projects that are receiving support through the second phase of Ontario’s Employment and Modernization Fund, which is helping develop collaborative solutions to promote greater inclusion and independence for adults with developmental disabilities.

Helping young adults with developmental disabilities live as independently as possible is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

Quotes

“As I visit agencies across the province, I see the continued expansion of strong partnerships that are driving more inclusivity for people with developmental disabilities in our communities. We have already begun to see the progress that the Employment and Modernization funding has had on agencies being able to deliver programs that are giving individuals with developmental disabilities greater opportunities for employment.”
- Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services

“The Kenora Association for Community Living welcomes funding from the Ontario Government for our Collaborations to Promote Youth Employment program. Through this initiative we’re able to empower young adults who have a developmental disability, allowing them to experience inclusion in their community as well as the opportunity to pursue real work for real pay in community workplaces.”

- Deborah Everley, CEO, Kenora Association for Community Living

Quick Facts

As part of Phase II of the Employment and Modernization Fund, the government is investing over $7 million in 38 creative projects across the province.
The Kenora Association for Community Living is receiving $315,000 in funding for its Collaborations to Promote Youth Employment program, which enables young adults and transitional age youth to pursue real work for real pay in mainstream workplaces, through co-op placements and summer employment as part of Phase II of the fund.
The Employment and Modernization Fund is part of the Ontario government’s $810 million multi-year investment strategy in community and developmental services.
Ontario currently invests over $2 billion a year in developmental services.