People Living With Disabilities
The Opportunities Initiative
Training, experience and employment for people living with disabilities
A disability – whether it’s mental, physical, learning or anything else – creates barriers to job-specific training, experience and employment. Ampere, with funding from the Government of Canada, is here to help unemployed and underemployed people living with a disability leverage the power that STEAM creates, and use it to launch their careers.
L'initiative Opportunities d'Ampere
The Opportunities Initiative combines training, real-world experience and one-to-one support, to assist people living with disabilities as they overcome barriers to employment. It includes:
- Four weeks of in-person, virtual or hybrid training (including a stipend), focused on critical job skills
- 1-to-1 support to find a job and plan your career
- A paid internships for up to 12 weeks, with the potential for continued employment
The 4-week training program can be completed virtually, in-person or in a hybrid format, and includes a daily stipend for all participants. Training includes dedicated, one-to-one support from an Ampere expert and focuses on both digital skills and job preparedness training, including:
Internship:
Participants will be placed in a paid internship of up to 12 weeks with an employer in an in-demand or emerging market. Historically, a very high percentage of Ampere’s internship program participants have continued to ongoing employment in the same role.
Space is limited
Training:
- Digital skills (Google Workspace, email/internet basics, virtual meeting platforms, etc)
- Social media platforms
- Online Safety and Security
- Personal skills exploration and goal setting
- Resume building, job searches and interview skills
- Employment readiness
- Emotional Awareness
- Networking skills and workplace professionalism
- and much more!
Date and Time: training occurs from July 8 – 31 (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 am – 1 pm)
Location if in-person: Kawartha Lakes Makerspace, 12 Peel Street, Lindsay, Ontario K9V3L8
Eligibility:
- Self-identify as living with a disability
- Aged 15 and up
- Unemployed/underemployed
- Living in Ontario, Northwest Territories, Nunavut or Newfoundland and Labrador
Advance your career
For employers:
As an employer, you’re fundamental to ensuring our economy is accessible for people living with disabilities. The Opportunities Initiative offers a range of hands-on training and supports, to diversify your workplace and to create inclusive and accessible work environments for employees with disabilities, and to assist those who support persons with disabilities in employment.
Wage subsidies:
- Up to $6287 for a 12 week paid internship placement.
- Stipends available for making the workplace accessible if required.
Training:
- Training to enhance your organization’s ability to be more inclusive and adaptable for hiring and retaining talented employees that are living with a disability.
