Dave: Nikki Langdon in the studio with me from the Neil Squire Society. She is the Prairie Regional Manager. It’s so good to chat with you every time Nikki because you always have these amazing stories and these amazing opportunities. And we’re talking a bit about the opportunities this time around for employers.

Nikki: Yes, yes, we have people who will so meet your needs. We have electricians, we have welders, we have cooks, we have cleaners, we have people looking to work in warehouses, we have drivers. We have people with all kinds of degrees. We have one guy who’s got a high level spinal cord injury but I mean, this guy is so brilliant. He has got a Bachelor of Science, an Honors with a Major in Computer Science, and a Minor in Economics and an Honors in his first Major. He is just looking for a chance. He uses Dragon Naturally Speaking voice input and I mean, this guy, I just better hold onto my job. He is brilliant. We have got a huge pool of people and we’re talking qualified people to do the work you need. Something else, Dave, I wanted to share this with you is we have now expanded our program to work with people aged 15 years of age and up.

Dave: Oh, okay.

Nikki: So I’m talking about summer students too. So if you’re an employer and you want to hire a summer student, we can pay the wage for that summer student as well, and so give us a call and let us know. You’re a small business, you’re sure not, a small town. Let us know and we can connect with you and find qualified job candidates.

Dave: I am speaking with Nikki Langdon from the Neil Squire Society, for people just joining us part way through. They match up employers with people with disabilities who are looking for work.

Nikki: Yes.

Dave: Some visible, some not. Perhaps some barriers, but not just that, but with amazing abilities as well.

Nikki: Amazing abilities. Look at the degrees this guy has. We’ve had lawyers through the program, like I said, these tradesmen, lots of tradesmen. People with all levels of skill. We are talking about hiring skilled employees, hiring people for that job you need done. We’re exactly what you said before. We’re not creating a job. It’s not a handout situation. It’s about connecting and we are so lucky to be the connectors because, the last program that we had, 78% of our clients were employed after the wage subsidy was finished because they’re great employees. That’s all we’re asking. Give us a call. We can connect you. If you’re looking for a job or if you’re an employer and come out the Job Fair because you’re going to meet a whole group of really talented able people.

Dave: Job Fair, of course, April 6th. It’s a job fair for people with disabilities. It’s at the University. Nikki Langdon in the studio with me, Prairie Regional Manager for the Neil Squire Society. We touched on this, I think it might be worth touching on again Nikki, about for employers who aren’t familiar with hiring people with disabilities. Ok, so what does this mean then, you know? What am I going to have to do? Do I need to have a special workspace?

Nikki: It’s very, very minimal, and you know what, you have us. We just don’t hook you up with somebody and say, Okay, bye, nice knowing you. You have us. We help with the accommodation piece. We help with all the education. We can help with even the purchase of items for that person in some cases. We will help you through this and accommodation is minimal. Accommodation is not overwhelming. It’s as simple as a small piece of equipment, maybe letting the client have a quiet space for a few minutes two or three times a day, like they’re just minimal, minimal things. But you’ve got us in your corner too. As soon as you hire one of our clients or one of the employees that we work with, we don’t just walk away. We’re there to help you and you can give us a call, you know. I don’t know how to help this person learn. Oh, this person needs everything written down. Okay. Or this person needs everything audio recorded into your cell phone. They can listen to it. These are little, little things and they make people very successful.

Nikki: And they’re great employees.

Dave: Great employees, and you know, for employers that are looking, you know, for a business that is looking or an organization that is looking, not only do you have that opportunity to get a great employee, but the impact that it can have.

Nikki: The impact on the person’s life. Imagine if you were alone watching TV, day in, day out. Now we all imagine, ‘Oh, that would be lovely,’ and then you do it for a week and you’re like, ‘I really cannot deal with one more reality show.’ Imagine if that was your life and imagine if that’s all you got to do? How unfulfilling is that? How depressing is that? We can help you connect with somebody or you can give them back life, and I’m talking, it can be five hours a week, it can be 40 hours a week. It’s just about not being so alone and so isolated and giving a person, and not only will you get a great employee — lots of times you get a friend. And that’s pretty nice.

Dave: Well, it goes both ways. I mean, from the employees, from your clients, when they do get that opportunity.

Nikki: The blooming, you should see the blooming! People who were non-communicative, would look down, they wouldn’t engage with you. All of a sudden, say hi, they smile, they go out of their way. I was just sharing a story. We have this adorable man. He’s just, you would love him so much. He has been in our program for a few months because we also have a job development education program. We were outside the other day and we actually thought somebody was being hurt in the alley, and we went down to check on them, and he was singing. He was singing. He had his headphones plugged into his phone and he was singing his heart out, and the joy that comes out of people when you give them an opportunity to engage in life, and engage with others. Though we asked him if he was okay, he said he was fine. He was just enjoying life and we just let him carry on with his singing.

Dave: And the other side of it too is that these are men and women who will wake up in the morning and can’t wait to get to work.

Nikki: That’s absolutely right. They’re not the people who are just going to be, ‘Oh, you know what, I don’t feel like working today. They’re not used to easy and so they, when given opportunities, they are so thankful because they do have all the skill and ability and they just want to share it. And so they are responsible. They’ve managed the disability their whole life. They’re responsible, and they’re ready to work and they just want the chance.

Dave: Really quickly. The Job Fair. Tell us a little bit about the Job Fair here. How can employers get involved?

Nikki: Just contact us at Neil Squire Society. You can give us a call at 306-781-623 or through our website at neilsquire.ca

Dave: Job Fair goes April 6. As an employer, you want to be there. Nikki, so great chatting with you again. Thanks for coming in.

Nikki: Thank you.

Dave: Nikki Langdon, the Prairie Regional Manager for Neil Squire Society. Again, the website: neilsquire.ca Thanks for listening. Catch you next time round.

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