Employment Support Providers and Programs for Persons with Disabilities in PEI – Listed alphabetically

This list includes support providers and programs that are accessible for PEI residents. Click on the support provider or program name to visit their website.

AccessAbility Supports Program

Program overview: Provincial programs offered through the Department of Family and Human Services can provide support to Islanders living with disabilities to access the resources and services they need to reach their full potential and contribute to society as fully as possible.

Program services:

• Personal supports: life skills training, technical aids, and assistive devices, and supports that enable an individual to be self-sufficient and live independently
• Housing supports: help with independent living. May include assistance such as financial assistance for a caregiver to provide daily supervision and guidance in a community-based residential setting and financial help for required home and vehicle modifications
• Community supports: assistance with finding or keeping a job including coaching, skills training, and supports for youth transition from the education system to the workforce; supports to enable active participation in the community
• Caregiver supports
• Financial support: help with basic living expenses if needed. May include assistance for basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter household, and personal supplies through what is called Assured Income.

Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA)

Overview of organization: an interprovincial co-operative agency that provides educational services, programs, and opportunities for persons from birth to 21 years of age with low incidence sensory impairments. This includes children and youth who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, blind or visually impaired who are residents of Atlantic Canada.

Services:

• Assist school teams in the provision of service for impaired students. Students receive educational programs designed to meet their individual needs.
• Functional Vision and Psycho-educational assessment
• Braille/Literacy Evaluation
• Assistive technology
• Career/transition planning
• Functional living
• Orientation and mobility
• Provision of Educational Interpreter Consultant
  • Professional development
  • Support and mentoring/coaching to educational interpreters

Canadian Deafblind Association

Mission: To promote and enhance the well-being of people who are deafblind through awareness, education, and the provision of support to our chapters, members, and community partners

Services: 

• Advocacy to facilitating organizations
• Administers Intervenor Services programs
• Established network of independent living residences and home-based Intervenor Services
• Research
• Organization of conferences on deafblindness
• Call for more details

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – PEI Division

Overview of organization: As the nationwide leader and champion for mental health, CMHA facilitates access to the resources people require to maintain and improve mental health and community integration, build resilience, and support recovery from mental illness. Their key goal is to be THE key partner in strengthening and enhancing Islander’s ability to achieve and maintain positive mental health. They deliver programs and services that provide information, education, and various supports designed to help all Islanders improve their mental wellness.

Services:

• Psychosocial-rehabilitation
• Pre-vocation, employment, education, social recreation, education, and training
• Provides and facilitates various training programs and can facilitate custom workshops. Some specific training programs include:

• • Mental Health Works: provided to Supervisors/Managers, focused on supporting employees with mental illness
  • Mental Health First Aid

Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)

Overview of organization: CNIB is a registered charity, passionately providing community-based support, knowledge, and a national voice to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have confidence, skills, and opportunities to fully participate in life.

Services:

• Emotional and wellness support
• Assistive technology services
• Child and family services
• Orientation and Mobility Specialist
  • Can assist students one-on-one, on-campus, over-the-phone, and in group-peer settings
  • Assist with learning pathways
  • Offers training/guidance for Professors, instructors, and peers allowing them to better support the student with vision loss
• Coordinates with the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA) to assist Island students in their transition to post-secondary education.

Career Bridges 

Overview of organization: Career Bridges is a vocational assessment and guidance program for people considering a career change or further training. Career Bridges is designed to assist individuals in career exploration, planning, and decision making. It is a unique and proven PEI-based employment skills program that guides clients through a 12-week journey that starts by unlocking their inner strengths, moves on to teaching career skills, and then finally arranges for clients to put all of this into action in rewarding real-world work situations.

Services: 

• Identify client’s interests, aptitudes, and abilities
• Provides individual and group career facilitation
• Arranges job shadowing and/or career exposure
• Establishes goal setting and future employment paths
• Assists clients with resume, cover letter writing, and interview strategies

Career Development Services (CDS) of PEI

Overview of organization: Whether you are looking for work, changing your career, returning to the workforce, or exploring career and training opportunities, CDS can help. They offer a friendly and confidential environment where people can learn about career options, discover their skills and abilities, and search for employment.

Mission: to support, guide, and encourage individuals to reach their career goals.

Services:

• Career counselling including job search, job opportunity exploration, resume and cover letter help, job interview preparation, career decision making, identifying strengths and aptitudes, and more.
• Online job board
• Drop-in resource center where clients can make phone calls, print, photocopy, scan, fax, use a computer with an internet connection, and access employment-related books and other publications.
• They offer group workshops on topics such as basic computer use, cover letters and resumes, job search skills, networking, and interview preparation.

Community Connections

Overview of organization: Non-profit organization that provides a range of employment, residential, and support services to adult persons with intellectual disabilities in the region of East Prince, PEI. The purpose of the organization is to work with persons with an intellectual disability and their families, to assist individuals to develop to their full potential, to support them to access and use community resources, to empower them to contribute and participate in a meaningful way in their community.

Services:

• Employment supports
  • Job preparation, resume development, job search, training and job placement, job coaching.
  • Center-based employment through various business operations

• Residential supports such as group home, associate family, and shared care living
• Family and community support
  • Respite care, life skills training, clarification of individual and family roles, in-home support and training, promotion of involvement in community-based recreation and leisure, participation in social clubs, and other organizations.

Community Inclusions

Overview of organization: Non-profit organization that provides support to adults with intellectual disabilities. These supports include day programs, residential, employment, and recreational.

Program offered:

• Employment Program: career counselling, career exploration, resume and cover letter development, job applications, job search, pre-employment skills training, job coaching.

Services:

• Residential:
  • Respite care, supported apartment living, independent living, room and board options, and in-home care providers. Several community housing locations including two residences in Tignish, Alberton House, and the O’Leary Apartments

• Day Programs-Employment:
  • Community integration, off-site employment activities, volunteer work, recreation and social opportunities, life skills training

Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture

Overview of organization: The PEI provincial Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture develops and delivers high-quality programs and curriculum in English and French to Island children from birth to grade 12. The department provides corporate service, including general and financial administration, staff certification, research, planning and evaluation, human resources, and school athletics. The Culture Division provides leadership, programs, and services, including library services, historic preservation and documentation, and cultural development.

Services:

• Student well-being teams
  • Advising, consultation, direct service for students struggling with mental, social, and physical health issues

• Special Educational Needs
  • Alternative education programming, community access, counselling, English and French as an additional language, inclusive education, psychology, individual education planning, services for blind or visually impaired students, services for deaf or hard-of-hearing students, and speech-language services

Department of Family and Human Services

Overview of organization: The PEI provincial Department of Family and Human Services supports Islanders in need and helps them to become more self-reliant. Various services are provided directly in partnership with community organizations.

Program Offered:

• AccessAbility Supports Program (see the program listed above)

Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning

Location: Charlottetown

Overview of organization: The PEI provincial Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning works with all ministries towards greater prosperity and enhances employment opportunities for Islanders. The department is focused on the continued development of a skilled workforce, a culture of entrepreneurship, and the recruitment and retention of a talented and productive population. It also works to grow the population through the recruitment of newcomers, the resettlement of former Islanders, and the retention of young islanders as long-term residents and citizens of Prince Edward Island.

Programs offered: see Skills PEI section below

East Prince Youth Development Centre

Overview of organization: provides youth in the community with resources, information, and skills to enhance their life and employment future.

Mission: To create a brighter, healthier future for youth, families, and our community by providing opportunities for youth to learn new skills, become more experienced and employment-ready, gain self-confidence and become more productive community-minded individuals.

Services: 

• Individual consultation with a Career Practitioner
• Assistance with various client needs including housing, mental health, and employment
• Offer and facilitate various programs, including Career Connect through Skills PEI (See Skills PEI section below)

Prince Edward Island Employment Journey

Overview of organization: an organization that produces a monthly publication covering employment-related news and events in PEI. The website offers resources and news for all islanders including job postings, education and training options, industry and labour market information, and more.

Holland College Career Services

Overview of organization: Holland College offers various supports for its students, including counselling and self-respect is gained through contributing to every aspect of the clubhouse. Through work-based activities, members work side-by-side with staff and/or other members, performing all the necessary tasks in the day-to-day operations of the clubhouse. There is a feeling of cooperation and ownership within the clubhouse. Members are made to feel wanted and needed. All work is done to help members develop new skills and to improve self-confidence.

Services:

• Career Development: Employment counselling, job search and resume assistance, transitional employment placements, education and literacy supports, skills training and volunteer placements, member advocacy
• Member services: Pre-employment training opportunities to aid in the development of transferable skills and to create opportunities for social activities among others. Newsletter and flyer production, statistics and research, outreach, reception, planning social outings, and fundraising

Learning Disabilities Association of PEI (LDAPEI)

Mission: The Learning Disabilities Association of PEI exists to advance the interests of people with learning disabilities

Programs offered: 

• The Island Reader Program: one-to-one reading/spelling tutoring program, where children progress at their own pace, without pressure. This program benefits those with reading difficulties including dyslexia. Students do not need a formal assessment to take part in the program.
• The JUMP Math Program: a numeracy program that is delivered in groups of up to 4 students. The groups are divided by grade, age, and attainment level. JUMP Math is dedicated to helping children succeed at, and enjoy, learning math. Students do not need a formal assessment to take part in the program.

Services:

• Advocacy for literacy, improved education, health, and employment opportunities for Islanders who have a learning disability by providing information, resources, and support related to learning disabilities.  Call to find out more aboout employment
• Technology: they have several Adaptive Technology programs to lend to adults, children, parents, and teachers, including Kurzweil 3000 (reading application) and Dragon Naturally Speaking (speech-to-print technology)
• Community presentations: specialized presentations and workshops are available to community groups upon request. These presentations can be tailored to suit your organizational needs.

March of Dimes

Overview of organization: provides a wide range of services to people with physical disabilities throughout the country

Services:

• Accessible modifications
• Alternative communication services
• Assistive/accessible devices
• Attendant care/clinics
• Business and training services
• Development disability programs
• Employment services
• LIFE skills and transition services
• Polio/post-polio services
• Rehabilitation – conductive education
• Recreation/accessible travel
• Stroke/brain injury services
• Supportive housing

Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI

Services: 

• Employment services

• • Administers employment/based programs and services to all Aboriginal people living on PEI.
  • Partner with valuable employers, training institutions and government departments

• Health services

• • Wide range of programs and services designed to support the health and wellbeing of Lennox Island and Abegweit First Nation Members living on-reserve.

National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)

Overview of organization: a consumer-controlled, cross-disability charitable organization that represents its constituents through specific projects, resources, research, publications and partnerships.

Mission: to support full access to education and employment for post-secondary students and graduates with disabilities across Canada

Services: 

• Online support and networking:
  • Breaking it Down employment portal: resources for students and employers. Provides information and resources on disclosure, interview preparation, and how to search for employment and navigate accessible workspaces.
  • Program website: http://breakingitdown.neads.ca/

• Student debt reduction
• Student experience in class and on campus
• Student graduate employment:
  • Skills training resources relevant to students with disabilities in post-secondary education and employment
  • Conducting relevant research on access to post-secondary education and employment opportunities

Neil Squire Society

Overview of organization: a national not-for-profit organization that empowers Canadians with disabilities through the use of computer-based assistive technologies, research and development, and various employment programs.

Mission: We use technology, knowledge and passion to empower Canadians with disabilities.

Program offered:

• Working Together: this program seeks to help people with disabilities obtain and maintain employment by offering:
  • Customized programs or group programs
  • Career and personal development
  • Wellness for work and job search support
  • Wage subsidy possibilities
  • Ongoing support from professionals
  • Ergonomic and assistive technology assessments and solutions

PEI Association for Community Living

Overview of organization: Family-based association assisting people with intellectual disabilities and their families to lead the way in self-advocacy advancing inclusion in their own lives and their communities.

Program offered:

• Ready, Willing, and Able: A national program designed to increase the employment rate of people with intellectual disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by engaging employers and helping them understand the value of hiring people with disabilities.

PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada

Overview of organization: non-profit charitable organization that provides short-term settlement services, and long-term inclusion and community integration programs for new immigrants in the province.

Programs offered:

• Newcomer Entrepreneur Program
• Connecting Culture Through Culture
• International Student Information Sessions

Services:

• Employment services:
  • Professional mentorship for newcomers with experience in law or accounting
  • Employment counselling
  • Assessment of strengths and skills
  • Identifying and overcoming employment barriers
  • Career and educational supports
  • Referrals to other programs and services
  • Resumes, cover letters and application forms
  • Job search plans
  • Improving interview skills
  • Encouragement and support
  • Resources and support for employers hiring newcomers
  • Host employment workshop

Public Service Commission of PEI – Diversity Employment Program

The Diversity Employment Program (DEP) provides casual and temporary job opportunities to qualified candidates who are registered with the program.

Queens County Residential Services

Overview of organization: a not-for-profit organization that delivers a range of programs and services to adults with intellectual disabilities. Their programs strive to enrich the lives of their clients, providing person-centred plans that promote self-esteem and well-being; offer continued development and growth; give opportunities for community involvement and integration, and support individuals to be the best they can be.

Mission: Partnering with persons with intellectual disabilities, their families and the community as a resource committed to individualizing, learning and personal growth.

Programs offered:

• Community support program: designed to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families living in the community.
  • Find opportunities for community involvement and integration
  • Offer activities for the promotion of an individual’s self-esteem and overall well-being
  • Provide social activities such as swimming, bowling, cooking and more
  • School system outreach helps families prepare as their loved ones come to adulthood
• Employment Preparation Program: Job practical skills and experience
• Residential program: associate family program, independent apartment search, respite care, group homes, spall options homes, life bridge
• Summer program for youth

ResourceAbilities

Overview of organization: an organization that promotes the full participation and inclusion of people with disabilities in Island society.

Mission: the promotion of the full participation and inclusion of people with disabilities in Island society.

Programs offered:

• Employment Counselling and Service Program:
  • Provides clients with support and tools needed to assist in reaching their employment or educational goals
  • Assists clients in finding a job, as well as obtaining the necessary training, skills development and educational opportunities
  • Empowers individuals in developing and implementing effective job search and self-marketing skills through the Work Abilities Program
  • Provides assistance and consultation in transition from school
  • Employment Specialists work with clients to achieve employment goals – including assistance with finding financial support for education or childcare, assistance with applications, wage subsidy or referrals to other organizations that may prove beneficial
  • Job coaching
  • Assistance with job search, career assessments, access to training and educational opportunities, resume building and employment maintenance skills
  • Assist employers with worksite assessments, information hiring/working with persons with disabilities, referring qualified individuals to available positions, and setting up work placements and referral to wage subsidies

• Work Abilities Program:
  • Helps develop essential skills required for individuals’ career of interest
  • Builds self-confidence in individuals before they enter the workforce
  • Prepares people to secure employment

• CareerConnect Canada:
  • Job search assistance, mentoring, resume development, interview reparation, general support, career-related lesson plans.

Skills PEI

Location: Charlottetown, Montague, O’Leary, Souris, Summerside, Wellington

Overview of organization: SkillsPEI is a Division of the Department of Economic Growth, Tourism and     Culture. It was established in 2009 to manage the design and delivery of employment and skills development programming funded by the Canada-Prince Edward Island Labour Market Development Agreement and the Canada-PEI Workforce Development Agreement.

Programs offered:

• Diversity Employment Program: Provides casual and temporary job opportunities to qualified candidates who are registered with this program. To register, you must be a member of one of the designated diversity groups (Aboriginal people, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, women in leadership and management, and women and men in non-traditional occupations).

• Career Connect: Provides individuals who qualify for regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits an opportunity to continue to receive those benefits while attending full-time post-secondary studies within Canada for the duration of their claim.

• Graduate Mentorship Program: An employment program to help unemployed recent post-secondary graduates develop new skills and gain work experience in their field of study through on-the-job training. A temporary wage subsidy is provided to an employer to create long-term employment opportunities and assist with the cost of hiring and training a new employee. At the end of the wage subsidy, the employee should be fully productive and contributing to the success of the business.

• Career Prep program: An employment program was developed to help full-time post-secondary students develop new skills and gain work experience through on-the-job training during their last year of study. A temporary wage subsidy is provided to an employer to create opportunities for students to apply their education and training in the workplace. This work experience should prepare the student to move into the workforce after graduation.

• Work Experience PEI Program: A short-term employment program that provides job seekers with an opportunity to work on a project with a local organization. The on-the-job work experience will help the job seeker develop new skills needed for employment in the workforce.

• Self Employ PEI: An employment program was developed to help job seekers who want to launch their own business. This program provides financial support and business counselling to new entrepreneurs during their first year of operation. SkillsPEI offers Self Employ PEI information sessions for interested job seekers to find out more about the program.

• Passport to Employment: 5-week program was developed to help unemployed mature workers develop job search and employment skills that assist them to re-enter the workforce. At the end of the program, job seekers should have new skills to help them find work and continue to make a valuable contribution to the workforce in Prince Edward Island. SkillsPEI works with community organizations to deliver this program across the province.

• Training PEI Program: Assists job seekers to gain the skills and education necessary to find and maintain employment. Financial support is provided to enab;e a job seeker to complete a post secondary certificate or diploma program.

Stars for Life – Foundation for autism

Overview of organization: foundation that provides services and program planning for the future of children with autism spectrum disorder. The voluntary board of committed community members are adamant that these individuals are given the same rights and opportunities as their non-disabled peers.

Mission: The foundation is committed to creating a quality of life for young people with autism spectrum disorder, fully included in their community, with a commitment to continued education, life and job skills training and inclusion.

Services: 

• Day programming that offers one-to-one support to help individuals accomplish:
  • Post Secondary education
  • Social learning
  • Relationships
  • Mental health
  • Finding employment
  • Self-advocacy
  • Financial support

Tremploy Inc

Overview of organization: registered charitable non-profit organization that provides adults who have an intellectual disability with vocational training, life skills training, life enrichment and support services. Tremploy will assist each individual to explore their potential and empower them to contribute and participate in the community in a meaningful way.

Services:

• Employment Assistance Services Program
• Skills assessments, skills training, individual job placements, employment counselling, job training and support to both client and employer in the workplace.
• Vocational Training Program
• Functional Skills Development Program
• Life Enrichment Program
• Life Skills Program
• Employment Preparation program

UPEI Accessibility Services

Overview of Organization: Encourages the full participation of all students, including students with disabilities, as members of the University community. They strive to ensure fair and consistent treatment for all and provide equal access to University services, programs, and facilities.

Services:

• Confidential consultations
• Individualized program planning for academic accommodations
• Arranging for identification of learning disabilities
• Test and exam accommodation
• Assistance with grants
• Access to specialized technology
• Note-taking, tutoring and mentoring
• Use of scribe or oral testing
• Learning strategy support
• Campus accessibility
• Assistance with self-advocacy
• Transition planning with high schools and families

Workplace Learning PEI

Overview of organization: offers solutions for assessing training needs and works with businesses to develop a plan for delivering and managing training.

Programs:

• Workplace Essentials Skills: this program is aimed at helping adults who are underemployed or seeking employment and require additional essential skills to succeed.
• Workforce Employability Readiness Certificate: this is a training program that matches job seekers with hiring employers and develops their skills. 

Women’s Network PEI

Overview of organization: a non-for-profit organization that works to strengthen and support the efforts of PEI women to improve the status of women in our society.

Programs offered:

• Trade HERizons: Career exploration and college prep program with a focus on exposure to trades and technology careers, enhancing essential skills, career exploration and personal development. Participants will experience hands-on learning opportunities with Holland College, will meet mentors and tour with industry employers. Participants will enhance life skills and focus on labour market research, resume, interview, math and team building.

• Youth Hub: Youth Hub is a 20-week free program for youth in Hillsborough, with youth engagement and food security focus.

• GRIT: GRIT is a research project using focus groups, surveys and interviews with key informants to better understand barriers to staying in trades for women in PEI.

• Propelle: Life skills and employment readiness program with a focus on jobs where women are underrepresented. Propelle focuses on confidence building, conflict resolution, group activities, learning styles and overall wellness by following four pillars – Personal Development, Employment Readiness, Career Exploration and Community Engagement.

If there is a program or service provider that should be added to this list, please contact UPEI Career Services at careerservices@upei.ca

Other Resources for People with Disabilities

Breaking it Down Employment Portal

The website is offered by the National Education Association of Disabled Students (NEADS). It is a resource for students and employers that provides information and resources on disclosure, interview preparation, and how to search for employment and navigate accessible workspace

Centre for Equitable Library Access

The Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) is a national not-for-profit organization focused on the creation, collection, delivery and presentation of both digital and physical alternate format accessible materials to print disabled Canadians through public libraries. Access to the CELA collection is offered in several ways, including direct downloads and delivery by mail to your home.

Employment and Social Development Canada

ESDC works to improve the standard of living and quality of life for all Canadians. They do this by promoting a highly skilled labour force. They also promote an efficient and inclusive labour market.

Programs offered:

• Employment Insurance
• Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities
• Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities
• Youth Employment Strategy
• Job Bank and Labour Market Information
• Workforce Development Agreements
• Enabling Accessibility Fund
• Policy initiative: Making an accessible Canada for people with disabilities

PEI Human Rights Commission

An independent body that administers and enforces the PEI Human Rights Act. The Act establishes a complaint process for the investigation and adjudication of complaints. The Commission also develops programs of public information and education about human rights.