Item - 2020.DI8.7

The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee recommends to the Economic and Community Development Committee that:

1.  City Council direct the City Manager, in partnership with Economic Development and Culture and Toronto Employment and Social Services, to examine the City of Toronto’s role in, and provide a report on, opportunities to support the economic advancement for persons living with disabilities, including but not limited to:

a.  Support services and vendors relevant to the safety, success, and well-being of persons with disabilities for employment provisions which have been researched, and reviewed.

 
b.  Internal employment opportunities to help foster inclusion, diversity and accessibility for persons with disabilities by providing internal job vacancies with the City of Toronto.

2.  City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, and the Chief People Officer, in collaboration with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and in consultation with accessibility stakeholders, to develop an outreach model and determine an appropriate pilot strategy, for the purpose of providing support and referrals to relevant services, to inform workers with disabilities of their employment rights, and report back to the November 16, 2020 meeting of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee.

3.  City Council request the Province of Ontario to examine partnership opportunities for economic advancement of persons living with disabilities including mentoring, internships and skills training as well as job creation.

Striving to obtain, and sustain meaningful employment is a barrier regularly faced by people living with disabilities. A supportive and ongoing employment program is essential for the vitality and longevity of persons with disabilities who are seeking to access employment and training opportunities for their daily living goals and achievements as citizens within our society. An exploration into the feasibility of a partnership with the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto to allocate a socio-economic development strategy for persons with disabilities in relation to job creation and advancement opportunities would greatly impact the success of these individuals. Obtaining meaningful transformations of inclusion, diversity and accessibility to employment opportunities for persons with disabilities through funded support and interventions can bridge the gaps and challenges that persons with disabilities face every day. As advocates of social change and equity, funding job creation and avenues of mentoring, internships, skills training, skills development, and practice, we can help to lift the weight of being in a state of “not enough” for persons with disabilities living below the poverty line.