• Français
Future Skills Center logo
Français
Partners
UOIT York University Nipissing University Durham College National Educational Association of Disabled Students Council of Canadians with Disabilities Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities Quebec Association for Equity and Inclusion in Postsecondary Education

$650,632 in funding over two years

Locations
Manitoba Quebec
Topics
Future Skills
Inclusive Economy
Related Tags
career pathways digital platform mentorship mid-career mid-career workers people with disabilities Social and emotional skills development soft skills development tool development
Home| Innovation Projects|Project

Supporting Mid-Career Workers with Disabilities

While today’s changing labour market can be challenging for many workers, mid-career workers with disabilities (MCWD) are both more vulnerable to market disruptions and face additional barriers to career adaptability.

Evaluation Report:
Mid-career workers with disabilities Evaluation Report

Download Report
Three students working in front of laptops in a library setting.

Ontario Tech University, together with partners including the National Education Association of Disabled Students, Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities and Quebec Association for Equity and Inclusion in Post-secondary Education, has designed a project to assess MCWD needs and develop and evaluate tools and resources to increase their ability to make key decisions about career transitions.

The Future Skills Centre will invest $650,632 in this project, which will take place over two years, and will impact hundreds of mid-career workers with disabilities across Canada.

The project has three aims: (1) to increase peer support and networking opportunities, (2) to develop career adaptiveness and related skills, and (3) to provide a sense of hope about work. This will be accomplished in three phases:

  1. Identifying the needs and experiences of MCWD in their work ecosystem (employers and disability organizations/advocacy groups);
  2. Developing tools and resources that match these needs, including an educational toolkit, peer-to-peer online network, career resources, and a virtual coaching series; and
  3. Testing and evaluating these tools and resources.

The tools and resources will be informed by research into the experiences, perceptions, and needs of mid-career workers with disabilities.

Evaluation Strategy

This project will be evaluated using tools and approaches aligned with its goals, context, and stage of development. The evaluation will focus on generating the right evidence at the right moment to move the intervention forward. Read more about our evaluation strategy.

Featured Projects

Group of young coworkers analyzing data while sitting in front of computers while one of them looking through notes in notebook
Project

Testing Innovative AI for Career and Skills Navigation

  • August 2026

  • GuruLink
This project investigated the feasibility, value, and implementation conditions of using generative AI to support career navigation. It did so across two related phases.

2
Related Reports
Construction workers on a building site
Project

BOLD: Better Outcomes for Laid Off Displaced Workers

  • August 2026

  • Canadian Skills Training & Employment Coalition
The BOLD–Better Outcomes in Layoffs and Downsizing project aimed to test a layoff aversion model among manufacturing workers in Ontario by adapting and implementing the U.S. model. The project partnered with manufacturing employers and unions to support workforce retention during periods of economic uncertainty and sector disruption.
3
Related Reports
Students working together in a classroom, with a laptop and notebook.
Project

Professional Practice Certificate: Propelling Careers through Essential Workplace Skills

  • August 2026

  • Eeyou Istchee College of Science and Technology
This project offers a scalable and replicable model that has the potential to close long-standing education and skills gaps in Northern and Indigenous communities.
2
Related Reports