Humber Polytechnic has organized a series of webinars, workshops and events this October to show its support for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).

Last year, Humber participated for the first time in the Light It Up! For NDEAM campaign, which is a nationwide event organized by the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN). Humber took part again this year and lit up the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation (Barrett CTI) in purple and blue on October 17.

NDEAM is an annual campaign that promotes disability inclusion in business and the workplace while Light It Up! helps spark conversations about disability inclusion in employment, business and communities.  

Humber has a variety of services to support learners with disabilities on their academic and career journeys and established the Transition to Work program to help students with disabilities prepare for the workplace. It aims to enhance successful career outcomes and strategies for persons with disabilities through hosting workshops and events and connecting learners with Humber support staff, employers, alumni and community agencies.

Alison Bambury, a Transition to Work program specialist, said they’re offering workshops for both students living with disabilities and employers, including those external to Humber, throughout the month.

Accommodations for Employees with Disabilities: Tips and Tools for Employers happens on Thursday, October 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free webinar is delivered online via Microsoft Teams and is for those who wish to learn how to navigate workplace accommodation requests during interviews and onboarding while discovering free online tools to support the process. Registration is required.

The Disability Awareness and Confidence Training: A Workshop for Employers happens on Tuesday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at North Campus. It’s a free professional development workshop where attendees will learn the facts about disability employment and how to navigate hiring and accommodating people with disabilities. Registration is required.

A Speaking with Employers webinar was held earlier this month for students and there will be a Student/Employer Networking event on Tuesday, October 29. It starts at 3:15 p.m. and runs until 5 p.m. at the Barrett CTI. Staff from Advising & Career Services and Accessible Learning Services will be on hand to provide support. Registration is required and those interested in attending are asked to register through Career Connect.

According to ODEN, 27 per cent of the population identify as having at least one disability. Employers who hire those living with disabilities are giving themselves an advantage by tapping into a wider talent pool, said Bambury.

Bambury added that many accommodations for those living with disabilities – for example voice-assisted text – already exist and that most times there is little or no cost to accommodate an employee with a disability.

"As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, it's vital that we recognize that true equity in the workplace means addressing systemic inequities and significant barriers for people with disabilities within employment practices to increase equitable access of opportunity for all,” said Yasmin Razack, dean, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. “At Humber Polytechnic, we are committed to building an environment that works to consistently dismantle these barriers and inclusion isn't just a principle but a sustainable daily practice. Collaborating and empowering employers to hire people living with disabilities enriches our community and enhances the diverse perspectives that drive innovation and success."  

Find out more on the Transition to Work webpage.