Accident rates in your industry category and in your company dictate your costs.
OBJECTIVES
The Coalition's objectives are to:
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Educate employers on the economic benefits of hiring and retaining persons with disabilities
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Reduce the barriers associated with the hiring and retaining of persons with disabilities
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Identify and celebrate employers who are champions of hiring and retaining persons with disabilities
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Support employers in creating inclusive hiring and retention practices recognizing persons with disabilities
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Provide information to employers about resources and services in the community
Making Cent$ of Abilities is a central reference point that local employers can use to direct them to resources regarding the hiring of persons with disabilities and how to better integrate them into the workplace
HISTORY
In May 2004, the Trends, Opportunities and Priorities report published by the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin (WPB), identified the opportunity facing employers to make better use of the skills, education and qualifications of persons with disabilities in the Waterloo Wellington Dufferin areas of Ontario. With the opportunity presenting itself and the demand for skilled employment-ready personnel increasing, interested parties came together to discuss how to connect these two realities. The result was the Making Cent$ of Abilities Coalition being proposed. WPB agreed to take the lead to move the proposed coalition forward.
In early 2007, the coalition received formal backing and financial support from the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and the Ministry of Community and Social Services. At that point a cross-sectoral Steering Committee was formed and an employer conference was held in June 2008. Based on the enthusiasm expressed by employers for learning more, the Steering Committee formalized the Making Cent$ of Abilities Coalition. In 2009, the coalition received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario) to support the Steering Committee as it developed a strategic plan for moving the Coalition forward.
This strategic plan was completed and in March 2011, the Ontario Trillium Foundation approved funding for implementation of that plan. A Program Manager was retained and the Coalition began to pursue its objectives.
