Are you a manager, assistant manager, human resource professional, business owner or entrepreneur? Do you supervise and/or recruit staff for your business or organization?

Join us to:

•Hear first hand how Mark Wafer, owner of 6 Tim Hortons restaurants has employed over 85 individuals with disabilities.
•Learn about incentive & wage subsidy programs.
•Discover free training & support.
•Learn about non-visible disabilities.

Event Details:

Tuesday, May 28th at Four Points Hotel & Suites (1150 Wellington Rd S)
5:30 – 6:00 pm Networking
6:00 pm – Complimentary 3 course dinner & presentation

There are limited seats available!! Reserve your seat today!
To rsvp…. 519-472-1541 x248 or natalie@huttonhouse.com

From left to right: Goodwill Donor Greeter Matthew Sturgeon sorting donations; Lisa Bowden (Goodwill VP of Human Development) and Brian Fishleigh (Goodwill Logistics and After Market Sales Manager); Matthew Sturgeon outside Goodwill’s newest social enterprise facility on White Oak Road.

Goodwill Industries is a non-profit social enterprise that creates work opportunities, skills development and social integration for persons facing barriers to employment. Matthew Sturgeon is an exceptional 24 year old who brings this mission statement full circle.

Matthew works as a Donor Greeter at White Oak and Bradley Road in London, where Goodwill is currently converting 113,000 square feet into their newest space. His responsibilities include greeting people, accepting and sorting donations and answering questions at the Donation Centre on site. Goodwill’s Vice President of Human Development Lisa Bowden says, “We consider this one of the most important roles because if we don’t deliver exceptional customer service at that point, we don’t have the donations and donations are what funds our organization”. Lisa emphasises that Matthew’s job is even more important because he is the first face of this new social enterprise facility.

Not only does Matthew play an integral role within the Goodwill, he is also a client who has benefited from the services offered by the organization he now works for. Matthew says after high school it was hard getting his foot in the door in terms of employment. Despite a very strong work ethic, he doubted his own abilities and felt incapable of getting the necessary certification that was required for many of the jobs he was applying for. He remembers this as a very painful time in which he, “felt like a nobody, just a piece of paper” while on Ontario Works. However, this experience also helps him to have empathy for those in a similar situation because he knows how difficult it is.

The turning point for Matthew came when his Ontario Works case worker recognized that Matthew could benefit from additional resources. He was thereafter diagnosed with cognitive disabilities, granted Ontario Disability Support and referred to GEL. The Goodwill Employment Link program provides customized individual service which guides and supports through the process of preparing for, finding, and keeping a job and is available free of charge for persons with disabilities.

Through GEL Matthew was given a one month job placement at a London TSC Store, where he gained valuable work experience and began to have more confidence in his own abilities. After his placement the Goodwill Employment Services Team began looking for jobs that would be a good match both for Matthew and the employer.

At this time Brian Fishleigh, Logistics and After Market Sales Manager with the Goodwill, posted a job opening for a Donor Greeter with Employment Services. By using their in-house Employment Services Brian was able to fulfill the organization’s mission of creating work opportunities, as well as save valuable time. Employment Services screens candidates for employers, matching job postings with qualifications which results in good candidates and takes the task of going through numerous resumes off the employer. Brian says, “During the selection process Matthew was the candidate who interviewed really well”. This was what Matthew calls his first “real interview” and he was offered the job.

Brian describes Matthew as a very warm and friendly person who asks very good questions and always demonstrates a willingness to learn. Matthew also dispels several common myths about employees with disabilities.

Many employers believe that the cost of accommodating a person with a disability is prohibitive. In reality, many people with disabilities require no special accommodations and in the cases of those that do the cost is typically a one-time expenditure of $500[i]. Lisa Bowden says of many employers, “Minds go immediately to physically disabled and they think, I just can’t do this to my business. They don’t even think beyond”. In Matthew’s case, like many others, no special accommodations were necessary.

Another myth is that employees with disabilities do not perform well and require extra supervision. In truth, most employees with disabilities rate average or better on job performance. Matthew demonstrates this and requires no extra supervision. In fact he works 12 hour shifts by himself at the Donation Centre.

Perhaps one of the largest misconceptions is that all disabilities are visible. The truth is that the majority of disabilities are hidden, meaning they are not visible or obviously apparent. Matthew’s wish is that people wouldn’t have, “Prenotions of people with disabilities because there are all different types of disabilities” and many, like his own, are hidden. Lisa Bowden says, “Roughly 50-60% of clients that Goodwill places have some sort of disability, many of them hidden”. Brian Fishleigh believes that people need to be re-educated about hidden disabilities and employers made aware of the benefits of hiring for ability first.

Mathew says that working with the Goodwill has, “Helped me realize even more that I really could work, that I just needed an employer to give me a chance”. Matthew looks forward to going to work and is never waiting for the day to end. He says, “It’s always an interesting day, no matter what day you work. Every day is a good surprise”.  Matthew credits his employment with helping him build his self-esteem and confidence.

Goodwill Industries is a member of the Ability First Coalition, a non-profit group of dedicated professionals who feel strongly about the importance of hiring people with disabilities. When you recognize, interview and hire “Ability First” you are making a sound business decision and a smart move.

The 9th annual “Framing the Phoenix” is an art exhibition brought to you by the Mental Health Promotions Committee of London. It is a venue for artists whose lives have been touched by mental illness to share and to reduce stigma and discrimination. It is also an opportunity for our community, family and friends to come together to gain greater understanding of mental health issues and supports.

The exhibition runs Tuesday April 30th 2013 through Saturday May 5th 2013 at the London Arts Project.

For more information on attending click here and for those interesting in exhibiting click here.

Whether you are an employer looking to hire a new resource, or a person with a disability looking for work, there are resources available to help from Partners In Employment (PIE)!

Employers

There are many reasons why you should consider hiring a person with a disability.  About 13% of people between the ages of 15 and 65 have disabilities according to Statistics Canada.  If you don’t include those people in your search for talent, you might not have hired the best person for the job.  Studies have shown that on average, persons with disabilities have fewer sick days, stay with their jobs longer and perform consistently over time.  Having a diverse workforce brings new perspectives into the workplace and shows your support for the community.  There are also incentives available to ease the process.  Working with Partners In Employment offers many benefits that could include on the job training, work placements, job coaching and in some cases financial incentives. Their goal is to help you hire and retain the best person for the job.

Contact any of the Partners in Employment to learn more.

Job Seekers

Finding work isn’t always easy.   Partners In Employment (PIE) are here to help.  They can help you develop your skills, work on your resume and prepare you for interviews.  PIE can also help you search for job opportunities and may even help provide on the job coaching.  The PIE members work cooperatively and can direct you to the organization that best meets your needs.

Call any of our Partners In Employment to get started!

Since the beginning of the last century Goodwill has existed to create work opportunities, skills development and social integration for people facing disabilities and other barriers to employment.

In London, the Goodwill Employment Link program is available free of charge for persons with disabilities. The program provides customized individual service which guides and supports individuals with disabilities through the process of preparing for, finding, and keeping a job.

We provide a variety of service options for clients with disabilities including Employment Planning, Employment Counselling, Job Development, Job Coaching and Job Maintenance.