New partnership will support people with disabilities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
Toronto — The Ontario government is investing $1 million through a partnership with OWLware Limited to help more than 60 jobseekers and workers with disabilities prepare for good jobs in the digital and accessible media sector. Through this partnership, the government is extending an innovative SkillsAdvance Ontario training project in close cooperation with local employers in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
“Our government is proud to support training opportunities in digital and accessible media through this partnership with OWLware Limited,” said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. “This program helps people with disabilities connect with employers and develop the job skills necessary to succeed and thrive.”
Participants will attend workshops from Mohawk College Enterprise and the Accessibility Professionals of Ontario and receive training in website accessibility, podcasting, editing, closed captioning, and graphic design and participate in an experiential placement with the Disability Channel, where they will create digital content and convert it into accessible formats. They will also receive job career planning and information on disability rights.
“Training is essential to our economic success,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “With the right skills, workers will find good, meaningful local jobs. Supporting innovative projects in communities across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area is part of our plan to help hard-working families recover from the impacts of COVID-19.”
OWLware will offer three training sessions, with cohorts beginning in August 2021, Winter 2022 and Summer 2022. Once training is completed, participants will attend a two-week paid job placement provided by employers. An industry-recognized credential will be awarded upon completion of training.
There are approximately 80 active SkillsAdvance Ontario projects across Ontario, dedicated to sector-specifc training for jobs in the hospitality and tourism; hospitality and food; steel; mining; construction; manufacturing; warehousing; transportation; healthcare; social assistance; PSW; early childhood education; agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting; arboriculture; landscape and horticulture; cannabis; financial services; and accessible digital media transportation sectors.
Quick Facts
- Ontario is investing $1,060,760 over the next 2 years in the SkillsAdvance Ontario project led by OWLware. The project started in 2020 and trained 37 people since then.
- The funding for OWLware’s project is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
- The Employment Ontario network includes more than 300 partner organizations across Ontario that offer a range of free services and supports that help businesses find workers and connect jobseekers to training and job opportunities.
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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