April 2, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario – Employment and Social Development Canada

The Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), today recognized World Autism Awareness Day, addressing the crowd gathered on Parliament Hill for the second annual Autism on the Hill event.

Minister Bergen highlighted measures in Economic Action Plan 2014 that help Canadians with disabilities, specifically those with Autism Spectrum Disorders, get vocational training and access to new employment opportunities. By supporting the development of a skilled workforce, the Government is ensuring that Canadians, including those with disabilities, have the opportunity to reach their full potential in the job market.

The Ready, Willing & Able initiative will support up to 1,200 new jobs for Canadians with Autism Spectrum developmental disabilities, expand existing activities in 20 communities, and enable the Canadian Association for Community Living to host 40 employer forums.

The CommunityWorks initiative will expand a network of vocational training programs in centres across Canada to create employment opportunities for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. It is estimated that approximately 1,200 youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders will benefit from this initiative each year.

Quick Facts

• Through Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government:
• increased ongoing funding for the Opportunities Fund for Canadians with Disabilities to $40 million per year so even more Canadians with disabilities can get training for in-demand jobs;
• provided $222 million annually over the next four years, matched by the provinces and territories, through a new generation of Labour Market Agreements for Canadians with Disabilities.

Quotes

“Autism Spectrum Disorders impact many families and individuals from all walks of life. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Harper, we have made it a priority to ensure that individuals with these disorders are not marginalized, but instead given the opportunity to thrive.”

- The Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development)

 src:news.gc.ca