There are many different free employment programs for people with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions. Services offered can include career planning, skills training, job placement, or workplace accommodations. Listed below are some of the organizations that provide these services in BC. Check the websites for eligibility for each program.
- Work BC : Job options and services designed to support people with disabilities: post-secondary education, funding or assistive adaptations for your education, and gain work experience.
- BC Centre for Ability: Provides a wide range of community-based services for people with disabilities and their families. Employment programs include:
- Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities: Assists people with disabilities to obtain employment or self-employment by contributing to training plans and funding.
- Work BC Case Management Services: Offers support to job seekers with a disability or chronic health condition in Vancouver’s northeast. Adult and youth job seekers receive vocational support from a Case Manager, within the full service WorkBC Employment Services Centre.
- Neil Squire Society: Provides services for individuals for whom a physical disability is the primary barrier to employment. Programs include:
Working Together: an individualized program or group-based learning environment, career & personal development, job search support customized to meet your individual needs and ergonomic and/or assistive Technology assessments and solutions.
Solutions to Employment provides specialized case managed services for people with disabilities and injuries. The range of services support job seekers to find and maintain employment and improve employment readiness.
Job Focus: is an employment service for persons with disabilities and work workplace injuries, designed to help them reach their vocational goals. This service is offers one-to-one flexible services to help individuals work towards full or part-time employment, volunteer work, or self-employment. Clients are supported as they plan and/or search for employment.
- Bowman Employment Services: Offers a variety of employment assistance and training programs for people with and without disabilities. They have locations in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, North Vancouver, Salmon Arm, Penticton and Vernon.