These Businesses Hire Disabled Ontarians:
Looking to curate a list of employers who actively employ/seek out disabled Ontarians to hire. Can you help me?
— Amy Volume (@amyvolume) May 31, 2022
If you are not on Twitter but wish to respond: amy@chez106.com
Check back for updates. This post will (hopefully) have some employment resources for Ontarians living with disabilities who are seeking employment.
Follow @EARN_UWEO - A United Way East Ontario-led initiative bringing employers and service providers together to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Here is the comprehensive list of employers who hire persons of all abilities.
Comments from Social Media users:
“I work for a college in the Testing Services department which allows me to support students who require accomodations for any number of reasons and it’s the most rewarding job in the world. I am striving to give [them] the respect and opportunity their deserve to grow and reach their goals.” - Carrie, who is physically disabled.
“I’m a client with Performance Plus Rehabilitative Care Inc. who specialize [in helping] individuals with different disabilities find work. They also have a list of employers.” - Guylaine, living with physical and mental disabilities.
“Check out the Happy Popcorn Co. in Cornwall.” - Daniel
From Happy Popcorn’s website:
“…the cornerstone of our popping was grown from one of the deepest kernels of our heart: our son Jack!
Jack is on the Autism spectrum, and as parents, we wanted to plan for his future. Grateful to be able to open a business inspired by Jack’s love for popcorn, we set out to create a place of inclusion – not only for Jack but for others too.”
“My wife is one of a few disabled people who got hired at TD Place to work as an usher for Redblacks games. They are very inclusive.” - Eric
To add to Eric’s comment, I worked at TD Place for the Compass group when I was laid off by a shuttering radio station. I was the pregnant bartender!
35F: Christmas Wishlist
Here are some gift ideas for the 35 year old on your shopping list. These items help make life easier.
Give a gift to the men in need at the Ottawa Mission.
Here is a wish list of their Most Needed items - should you with to purchase anything from this list, it will be sent to my radio station (CHEZ 106, Rogers Sports and Media, located at 2001 Thurston Drive). CLICK HERE to buy something today & I will deliver it for you. You are also able to direct shipping to your house.
Air Purifiers. So hot right now.
These could be considered modern day ‘snake oil’ but when something very smelly sprayed my cottage and I couldn’t get the stink out… I gave this Hamilton Beach model a whirl and have since used it to rid the sour milk stink from our car (which was extreme) and refresh common areas in our house with great success! I am convinced that these things are the real deal but buyer beware: there are many brands and models out there to choose from. Lucky for me, I seem to have chosen wisely out the gate.
The Best Underwear: Period.
I had always been interested in ditching tampons and pads but they just seem to be a necessary evil. Until someone recommended Knix and flipped the script on free bleeding. You heard me. Comfiest underwear (and bras) ever. I would like one of each of this Canadian owned businesses’ offerings. They often have good sales, too. Not sure which size or style to purchase? Gift cards work.
Smart Devices make Life Easier.
Some people love ‘em, others hate ‘em and almost every tech company you can think of has something voice-activated on the market. Here are some of my favourite brands and suggested items that really elevate my quality of life. I’m physically disabled so every step matters in terms of pain management, energy conservation and accessibility.
Google: hub, mini, chromecast and display.
Globe: light bulbs and LED strip
Wyze: camera and plugs
Geeni: outdoor plug, smart strip (power bar) and wall tap
I tried getting into IKEA’s smart home line (Tradfri) but my experience with their hub, dimmers and bulbs was excruciating. Would not recommend.
Everyday Things.
Lip chap, toothpaste, gas & grocery cards, hair elastics, a good travel mug, socks, winter weather accessories or heated items for maximum comfort. Little things that get used every day always make a great gift because… they get used frequently and are likely to need replacing or replenishing.
There’s nothing terribly flashy about My Wishlist this year. If you are hoping to purchase a gift for someone like me (35F, mom, FT career, commuter), I would suggest grabbing something that helps to make their life easier. I think this advice could apply to anyone on your shopping list at any time of year. Pandemic life has been tiring. If you can’t think of anything your giftee needs, consider donating to a favorite charity in their name.
Here are some of my favourite charities: the Ottawa Mission, CHEO, Minwaashin Lodge, the Food Bank, the Ottawa Hospital and the Canadian Cancer Society. Leave yours in the comments below!
Being asked to PROVE a disability is like being punched in the face.
TL;DR: Accessibility Policy of local music festival needs revision to avoid failing those with "invisible" disabilities.
I want to approach last night's personally humiliating situation with a caring and understanding disposition. I mean, maybe people fake handicaps to get special treatment? That's really unfortunate for people like me who have a (sometimes) invisible disability.
I do not have a ParaTranspo account and driving was not an option with the extreme road closures. My partner and I decided to Uber to the location but were dropped off fairly far away due to said closures. Hundreds of people including police and security witnessed me "doing my best" to walk (which was more of a painful hobble) from Scott and Preston down to Wellington.
Once there, we were told by a security person to talk with the accessibility volunteers working a gate that was fairly close by.
"Yes!" I'm thinking. "Finally, we can get in and sit down!" Because at 30, I have to sit down at a concert because it's too painful to stand for a length of time.
July 13 EDIT: We were instructed by a police officer and festival security to speak with staff at the Para Transpo/Accessible Entrance gate to gain nearer entry to festival grounds. At that gate, volunteers told us we couldn't enter without proving my disability. Look down and to the right for some of the things security asked me for. None of these items are listed under the festival's "Accessibility Policy" so there is no way for festival goers to know.
As a result, we had to walk to the main gate which was much further away. It was very painful.
I don't want to relive the experience that keeps playing over and over in my head this morning... It was humiliating, spirit breaking and poorly handled. This is the same shit I've been dealing with my entire life - "where's your proof"?
Being a meticulously over prepared person by nature, I wasn't expecting to be caught off guard. I checked and double checked what was OK to bring into the grounds. We Ubered as close as we possibly could to spare me pain and energy (I have a limit). I did not know I needed any of these extra things to prove what was last night (and what has been this last couple weeks) visible: my disability.
If it wasn't my favorite artist playing I would have left.
I was so upset that I cried while limping to the main gate.
I cried while security watched us enter the main gate.
I cried when my partner was approached by the leader of the accessibility services team with bracelets to the accessibility area for concert viewing as a way to try to make up for our shitty start to the night. (???)
Things security suggest I do:
- Bring them my handicapped parking permit
- Provide a doctor's note
- Call my manager, a coworker or former coworker to corroborate my claims of being physically handicapped
November 11, 2014: I was pregnant and unable to walk to the Remembrance Day ceremony - that didn't stop me from paying respect.
I'm 30 and have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 28.5 years. I have good days and bad days. My body has been at war with itself, literally eating away at joints from my toes to my neck (everything except my back is affected). Not only does RA wreak having on bones and joints, the three decades of drug use has killed my stomach, esophagus and organs used to filter said medicines.
“Emotionally, it takes a toll. It is a pretty unreal feeling to wake up and learn that every day brings you new life lessons about what you are no longer capable of. Like, “Oh shit. I guess I can’t use scissors anymore!” That’s my reality.”
Despite spending a lot of my childhood in hospitals (CHEO, SickKids and Hugh McMillan) I didn't grow up focusing on the things I can't do. I focus instead on the things I can.
I can use my voice to ask YOU the public and concert/festival/venue organizers to be better at not making people with a lot going against us feel like you're against us, too.
Please clearly post or state that in order to benefit from an accessible entrance or accessibility services, one must bring proof of one's disability. In my case, going home to retrieve proof was not an option physically.