Allison was volunteering and job-hunting when she decided to seek help. “I went on probably 50-plus interviews. And then I realized I need help,” she says.
Due to a brain tumour in the past, Allison faces physical challenges such as limited balance and limited use of her right arm. She uses a scooter to commute. Her friend, who works in employment services, encouraged her to approach a disability organization.
At that time, Allison frequently used HandyDART (opens in a new window) – a door-to-door, shared ride service for passengers with disabilities. Many of the Burnaby HandyDART clients would be dropped off at the Neil Squire Society, which is how she became aware of the organization. She applied to the Society’s Solutions for Employment program, which helps people with disabilities and injuries find and maintain employment.
Once she joined the program, Allison’s job developer worked with her to develop her resume and customize her job search. She learned how to job-search more effectively and how to be upfront with employers about her strengths and her needs.
With the help of the Solutions for Employment team, Allison secured a 9-month training program with the Rick Hansen Foundation (opens in a new window) as an accessibility assessor. She would go to different locations, take measurements and photos, and put together reports.
Allison’s work with the Rick Hansen Foundation gave her the confidence to chart her own path. After her contract ended, she continued to use the job-searching and interviewing skills she had gained from the Solutions for Employment program.
“I had a personal interest in the work I was doing with the Rick Hansen Foundation,” she says. “It gave me the knowledge to go on further in the same field. It gave me confidence, so when I went to interview for my current job, it made a huge difference.”
Not only did she begin a new part-time job as a receptionist, but she also started to do some accessibility consulting. “I’m a member of the Burnaby Access Advisory Group, so I’m continuing to do the type of work I was doing at the Rick Hansen Foundation,” she explains.
“I would definitely recommend [the Solutions for Employment program], and I have – especially to people who might need some assistance with technology,” she says.
The Working Together with Employers and Enhancing Employability
program is funded by the Government of Canada’s
Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities