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Introducing CanWork BC! 

Working together to support youth with disabilities

Diversity in the workplace benefits everyone. Whether you’re a youth looking for employment, an employer looking to hire, or a service provider, educator or caregiver keen to connect people, CanWork BC aims to make it easier for youth with disabilities to find and keep employment. Check out the tools and resources designed to help you reach your goals.

Get the tools and resources

A smiling cute yellow blob character with their thumb up and a backpack, representing CanWork BC's youth audience.

Youth

Learn employment skills at your own pace.

Learn about youth tool
A smiling cute blue blob character with a headset and a briefcase, representing CanWork BC's employer audience.

Employers

Access guides to attract and retain staff while creating more inclusive workplaces.

See employer resources
A smiling cute pink blob character using a computer on a desk, representing CanWork BC's service provider audience.

Service providers

Explore tools to help connect youth with employers.

See service provider resources
A smiling cute green blob character writing with chalk on a blackboard, representing CanWork BC's educator audience.

Educators

Check out learning resources to help students.

See educator resources
A smiling cute red blob character with their arm around a smiling cute yellow blob character wearing sunglasses, representing CanWork BC's caregiver audience.

Caregivers

Explore ways to support youth’s employment, independently or with you.

See caregiver resources

How we got here

CanAssist at the University of Victoria, with the support of the BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, wrote the Provincial Employment Strategy for Youth with Disabilities (ESYD). A provincial network of key service providers and a youth advisory committee informed the work, as well as perspectives from more than 1,800 people through focus groups and surveys.

Their insights informed the strategy and its tools and resources, all built on six guiding principles.

Who it's for

CanWork BC’s tools and resources are for employers, educators, service providers, and caregivers who support youth between 15 and 30 years of age who self-identify as having a disability and are interested in employment. The CanWork BC youth tool is an online platform for youth with disabilities that can be accessed independently or with support.

Within the scope of this project, disability means an inability to participate fully and equally in the workforce due to the interaction between an impairment and a barrier. By this definition, mental health and substance use challenges are disabilities.

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1️⃣

Focus on youth experience.

Provide programming that is flexible to the youth-to-adulthood transition.

2️⃣

Amplify community voices.

Promotes inclusivity and boosts morale.

3️⃣

Foster inclusivity.

Unique skills contribute to success.

4️⃣

Embrace diversity.

Shows commitment to social responsibility.

5️⃣

Promote life-long learning.

Diverse teams tackle challenges effectively

6️⃣

Prioritize wellness.

Diverse teams tackle challenges effectively

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