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.

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

Shot of a businesswoman having a meeting with her colleague while using a digital tablet.
Project

Work in Manitoba

This project sought to address the challenges employers in the province were facing in connecting with the right talent and having to navigate multiple recruitment platforms with no guarantee that postings would reach qualified candidates.
A young indigenous woman in a library.
Project

Indigenous ICT Development Centre

This project investigated the potential benefits of establishing an Indigenous ICT Development Centre to offer ICT services and training within local communities.
Young business people working at office on a new project.
Project

Advanced Digital and Professional Training (AdaPT)

The Advanced Digital and Professional Training (ADaPT) program is a sector-based training initiative designed to address the disconnect between the skills of postsecondary graduates and the needs of the IT sector.