Job Seekers Profile-April

 Now in its eight year, the Edmonton Employment Partnership is a collaboration of District 5370 & 5360 Rotary clubs, the Alberta Association for Community Living, and Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) Program Branch and Community Boards (Alberta Seniors & Community Supports).

The purpose of the project is to create meaningful employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities in partnership with Rotary business owners and employers.   Many Rotarians are making an invaluable difference by helping people with developmental disabilities "get their foot in the door" of business and industry - to have a chance for real jobs. In turn many Rotarians are learning about the contribution people with developmental disabilities can make from improving the bottom line (e.g., by reducing turnover) to increasing customer satisfaction.  

So just how does an employer go about employing someone with a developmental disability? Employers may think, at first, that they simply do not have any jobs for someone with a developmental disability.  However, our experience and that of an increasing number of Rotarians, demonstrates that many jobs exist when an employer has the support and opportunity to think about the benefits of hiring someone with a developmental disability. The project staff helps business owners and employers to think about how jobs can be re-defined so as to maximize efficiency and productivity while creating the possibility of an employment opportunity for someone with a developmental disability.