October is Disability Employment Awareness Month, and we are highlighting how Rotarians and local businesses are creating meaningful jobs for individuals with intellectual disabilities through Inclusion Alberta’s Rotary Employment Partnership.

Albertans with intellectual disabilities experience an unemployment rate of more than 70%. The Rotary Employment Partnership is creating life-changing job opportunities while providing an untapped labour market to Alberta’s business community. The partnership has created over 850 jobs to date in areas such as food service to administration to labour, and everything in between. Learn more about becoming an inclusive employer.

This month, CARSTAR – Ellerslie became an inclusive employer, hiring Vince through Inclusion Alberta’s Youth Employment Partnership. Vince has always loved cars and is ecstatic to have found a job in his area of interest! As a Shop Hand he assists the greater shop team in completing their projects for the day, and completing intake and final washes on the vehicles with the vehicle detail team. Vince has also assisted the prep team in sanding down parts in preparation for them to be painted. Vince is a fully included and valued member of the CARSTAR team.

When asked about his experience with inclusive hiring, Deon, the human resources coordinator, says that CARSTAR Ellerslie feels it’s the right thing to do and highly encourages other employers to do the same.

“Giving someone a chance who hasn’t had a chance is a great idea,” says Deon.

Learn more about how you can tap into a valuable labour market by becoming an inclusive employer through the Rotary Employment Partnership. See what inclusive employers have to say about how hiring an individual with an intellectual disability positively affects their bottom line and overall operations here. Let’s move beyond awareness and take action to open doors, build inclusive workforces, and tap into an often-overlooked talent pool.