Searching for Disabilities Employment Programs

Provides training programs and support services for persons with developmental disabilities to enrich their quality of life, wellness, individual and social functioning, and community integration

Professional Services

• speech language services with registered Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)
• mental health counselling with registered social workers
• occupational therapy consultations
• family support and parents group
• community education, outreach, and partnerships

Adult Programs

• daily living enrichment program (Mon-Fri day program)
• vocational training and employment support program - with practical co-op experience (full time and part time options available)
• group living adaptation program
• personal growth enhancement program (1:1 training)
• Saturday social club

Children's Programs

• Kids Link Social Club
• personal growth enhancement program (1:1 training)
• children's interest/extracurricular classes
• summer/winter/March break holiday camps

Youth Programs

• Youth Connect program (everyday Saturday)
• personal growth enhancement program (1:1 training)
• volunteer/vocational training projects
• summer/winter/March break holiday camps

Advocates for and provides support and services to children, youth and adults with an intellectual disability
Children and Youth

• information on early childhood programs, school placement, registration, education plans
• help in accessing funding and programs
• development of a plan to ensure consistency between home, school and community programs
• employment programs for youth

Adults

• skills development including literacy, money management, social skills, and travel training
• job placement
• Case Management Program (Formerly Adult Protective Service Worker Program (APSW))
  • supportive services, including counselling and advocacy, for adults 18 years and older living or planning to live independently in the community

Families

• Family and parent support groups
• in-home consultation and collaboration with other professionals to plan for services

Residential Services

• supported group living
• supportive home share
• supportive independent living
• LIGHTS,www.lights.to -- helps families explore community residential options and funding eligibility

Respite Services

• adult fee-for-service programs
• residential respite for children and adults
• summer camps

ConnectABILITY, www.connectability.ca -- online information, tools and workshops for people with a developmental disability, their families and support networks

Employment supports including Career Café drop-in resource centre and pre-employment skills building workshops

• assistance with job search
• job coaching
  
• resume writing
• interview skills
• problem solving

• Day program for the developmentally delayed teaching life & social skills to enhance ones quality of life.
• Saturday and Sunday program for the developmentally delayed for persons to engage in leisure activities and community outings to receive assistance in meeting developmental milestone
• Afterhours/ Respite program for the developmentally delayed to aid persons with communication, socialization and other life/ social skills.
• Senior program for seniors with Alzheimer's, dementia or any other impactive disorder

• counselling services for families
• literacy
• summer camp
• community outings
• respite and drop-in
• March break
• PA days
• arts and craft
• vocational training
• budgeting
• fitness

• individualized guidance and support: immediate assistance (no w/l)
• education and self help workshops/groups
• respite options: March Break and Summer Camps for Children, Youth, and Adults in Stouffville, Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan * weeknight and weekend programs are offered on an as needed basis
• parent operated programs: led and driven by parents and participants to create program options with the support and guidance of CLYS Coordinators

Supportive housing for patients with serious mental illness, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness: Gatesview House - capacity 6; 25 Neilson - capacity 30

Pathways - program for adults with serious mental illness

• psycho-educational groups
• work activity
• social/recreation opportunities
• medication clinic

• The Ontario Autism Program (OAP)
• consultation services
• Resource Centre and Library
• adult Supports
• transitional adult services
• respite and recreational services
• workshops
• Social Skills groups and sibling groups and Camps
• residential services and supports

Autism programs for children

• Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) programs under the Ontario Autism Program for children with autism
• School Age Bridge Program
• after school academic help
• individually scheduled one-on-one ABA programs

Progressive Bridge Program

• year-round program, Monday-Friday 9 am-3 pm
• enriched ABA program focusing on school readiness
• program delivered in three progressive levels
• children move forward at their own pace until they are ready for school
• children taught in a combination of individual instruction and groups according to clinical assessments

After School Academic Help: individual academic help scheduled after school

Individual Scheduled Program:

• tailored to individual children based on their needs and the family's time and resource constraints
• number of hours and goals are decided collaboratively by the parents and the clinical supervisor

Community-based day program

• recreation
• academics
• arts and crafts
• social skills
• sensory activities
• physical fitness
• communication and vocational training
• spiritual care

Vocational rehabilitation program for persons with mental health challenges

• assessment and training
• basic work assessments
• life skills
• light packaging and assembly work experience and/or volunteering in Meals that Heal Program
• supportive counselling
• mental health wellness groups
• social activities and community outings

Participants who have developed competitive employment skills can then be referred to Transitional Employment Program (see separate listing), the Affirmative Business (packaging and light assembly business) or other programs

• work skills training
• job shadowing
• supportive counselling
• various competitive job opportunities and work experience
• reintegration support and follow up

• Employment Services

Day programming, employment programs, and other support services for neurodivergent adults

• ACE (Abilities, Community, Empowerment) day program
• WorkWise Supported Employment Program
• on-site workplace coaching, sustained long-term support
• STEP (Skills Training Employment Program)
  • provides industry recognized credentials and certifications
  • tailored specifically for neurodivergent individuals
• residential program
  • supportive housing for individuals who can not live independently and need extra support
• recreational and social programs

COVID19

• visit website for list of current changes and closures including visiting policies
• expanded virtual programming

Pediatric rehabilitation and complex continuing care hospital
Inpatient Services

• brain injury rehabilitation
• specialized orthopedic and developmental rehabilitation (SODR)
• complex continuing care
• Get Up and Go - pediatric pain service

Outpatient Services

• augmentative and alternative communication; writing aids service
• autism diagnosis and treatment services; Autism Assessment Diagnostic Hub
• brain injury rehabilitation, concussion centre
• cleft lip and palate/craniofacial service
• clinical seating
• creative arts and music therapy
• dental clinic - by referral by physician or dentist only
• feeding
• neuromotor and neuromuscular
• orthotics, prosthetics and myoelectrics
• respite
• snoezelen rooms for inpatients and the community
• spina bifida and spinal cord services
• swim programs
• therapeutic recreation and life skills
• youth engagement and employment programs

Early Learning and Development

• infant and child development consultation and early intervention
• consultative support to childcare centres on programming, occupational therapy and school transitions
• 2 nursery schools -- see separate entries

Adult Services

• orthotics
• prosthetics and myoelectrics
• swim programs

• individualized guidance and support: immediate assistance (no w/l)
• education and self help workshops/groups
• respite options: March Break and Summer Camps for Children, Youth, and Adults in Stouffville, Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan * weeknight and weekend programs are offered on an as needed basis
• parent operated programs: led and driven by parents and participants to create program options with the support and guidance of CLYS Coordinators

• Markham
• Vaughan

Social enterprise courier service staffed and run by people with lived experience of mental illness and substance use

• supported employment opportunities including permanent and transitional employment
• employment includes transition and service navigation support and advocacy, and social support network opportunities such as staff breakfast, social activities, alumni and art clubs
  

Community-based day program

• recreation
• academics
• arts and crafts
• social skills
• sensory activities
• physical fitness
• communication and vocational training
• spiritual care

Day programming, employment programs, and other support services for neurodivergent adults

• ACE (Abilities, Community, Empowerment) day program
• WorkWise Supported Employment Program
• on-site workplace coaching, sustained long-term support
• STEP (Skills Training Employment Program)
  • provides industry recognized credentials and certifications
  • tailored specifically for neurodivergent individuals
• residential program
  • supportive housing for individuals who can not live independently and need extra support
• recreational and social programs

• direct service including counselling
• advocacy
• escort to appointments
• help to navigate different systems, such as housing, legal, health care
• help with application for ODSP, connecting to housing workers, finding a doctor
• referrals for case management through The Access Point (see separate entry)

• using different therapeutic methods, such as Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT), Solution Focussed, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Narrative

• on-call mobile crisis service for adults 65 years and older, with addictions or mental health challenges
• partners include LOFT Community Services, Haven Toronto, and South Riverdale Community Health Centre; see Toronto Seniors Helpline listing for details

• community based program that helps adults experiencing mental health issues find paid employment

Employment Services - support and training for job seekers and workers with disabilities

• 1-on-1 goal planning and coaching
• resume and cover letter support
• interview skills practice
• guidance on requesting accommodation and disclosing disability
• supportive job search
• participants have access to Career Management Portal

Support to businesses

• recruitment
• ongoing support after employing a CCRW candidate, including workplace accommodations and modifications

CCRW locations:
Kitchener, 127 Victoria St S, Suite 201, N1G 2B4, [email protected]

Ottawa, 130 Albert St, Suite 1103, K1P 5G4 [email protected]

Toronto, 1867 Yonge St, Suite 906, M4S 1Y5 [email protected]

Employment programs for youth and young adults, offered at locations in York Region

Specialized Training for Employment Program (STEP), 647-637-6023
Employment training and supports, including counselling, one-on-one job coaching and paid work placement opportunities, and first aid and workplace safety training if needed

• for youth who self-identify with mental health challenges
• must be unemployed and not attending full time school

Base 4 Success (B4S), 647-393-3749
12 week paid pre-employment training and paid work placements for youth who face barriers to employment

• must be unemployed and not attending full time school

Supporting Students to Work (SSW), 647-525-7973
Supports high school students with barries to employment by providing job readiness skill-building training and supports

Youth Success Strategy (YSS), 647-229-4183Assistance with job search process, including resume, cover letter, and interview preparation

Advocates for and provides support and services to children, youth and adults with an intellectual disability

Children and Youth

• information on early childhood programs, school placement, registration, education plans
• help in accessing funding and programs
• development of a plan to ensure consistency between home, school and community programs
• employment programs for youth

Adults

• skills development including literacy, money management, social skills, and travel training
• job placement
• Case Management Program (Formerly Adult Protective Service Worker Program (APSW))
  • supportive services, including counselling and advocacy, for adults 18 years and older living or planning to live independently in the community

Families

• family and parent support groups
• in-home consultation and collaboration with other professionals to plan for services

Residential Services

• supported group living
• supportive home share
• supportive independent living
• LIGHTS, www.lights.to -- helps families explore community residential options and funding eligibility

Respite Services

• adult fee-for-service programs
• residential respite for children and adults
• summer camps

ConnectABILITY, www.connectability.ca -- online information, tools and workshops for people with a developmental disability, their families and support networks