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4 Ways to Get Involved in NDEAM 2023

Is your business making the disability inclusion connection?

National Disability Employment Awareness Month, led by the Ontario Disability Employment Network in October, promotes disability inclusive hiring and workplace practices as smart business decisions. Why? Roughly 22 per cent of Canadians have a disability. That means inclusive employers can tap into a wider labour pool of skilled, dedicated, and often overlooked workers, and inclusive businesses can open their doors to a growing number of consumers with disabilities. Need more incentive? Roughly 78 per cent of Canadians say they are more likely to buy products or services from inclusive businesses.

Here are four ways for your business to get involved:

Test Your Disability Knowledge: Take the Ontario Disability Employment Network’s disability myth quiz
Review Your HR and Recruiting Policies and Processes: Does your business have policies and programs that support employees who have a disability? Are your recruiting and interviewing processes accessible?
Make Sure Disability is Part of Your EDI Conversations: Equity, diversity, and inclusion includes disability. Too often, disability gets left out of the conversation.
Participate in Light It Up! For NDEAM: Join the national movement on disability inclusion by lighting your location in purple and blue on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Sign up your business and show your support.

This year’s campaign theme is Making the Disability Inclusion Connection. It explores the connection between disability inclusion and success in both employment and in business. Not only do inclusive businesses have better retention rates and higher morale, they also boost their innovation, profitability, and long-term sustainability.

We are here to help. We encourage employers and businesses to reach out to our Employment Services team at Employment@clhuntsville.ca or 705-789-4543, Ext. 8, to start the conversation.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Jerrett

Community Engagement Specialist

Community Living Huntsville

Spotlight: Employment Services

Linking employers and workers for meaningful employment

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Become an inclusive employer and you’ll be making a smart choice for your business.

Community Living Huntsville offers free Employment Services for employers looking to grow their businesses through disability-inclusive hiring and workplace practices.

Our Employment Specialists work with you to fulfil your staffing needs by building your confidence, connecting you to workers with disabilities who can do the job, and supporting you and your employees so everyone's needs are met.

Learn More

What's On

A stone building at night light with purple and blue flood lights. Text reads: Light It Up for N D E A M.

Light It Up! For NDEAM on October 19

Join the movement! On Thursday, October 19, 2023, light your location in purple and blue to Light It Up! For NDEAM. Buildings, businesses, bridges, signs, and landmarks across Canada will shine these signature colours to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Community Living Huntsville's offices at 99 West Road will light it up to show support for disability inclusion in employment. Will you?

Learn More

A young boy sat at a desk concentrates while drawing with markers.

Holiday Card Drawing Contest for Kids!

Calling all young artists! Community Living Huntsville invites community members ages 12 and under to participate in our 2023 Holiday Card Drawing Contest.

The winning entry will be featured on our official holiday card in December. The artist will receive a prize of $50 Downtown Dollars.

The submission deadline is October 31! Visit our website for full contest details.

Contest Details

a collage of seven photos that show people enjoying mimosas, food, conversation, and speakers at an indoor brunch event.

2023 Autumn Brunch raises $25K for housing initiatives

Mimosas, brunch, and comedy! Our 2023 Autumn Brunch presented by Tall Trees on October 1 raised more than $25,000 toward our housing initiatives. Thank you to our guests and supporters, who include volunteers, silent auction donors, and event sponsors. Together, we are opening doors to housing inclusion in our community.

We offer a special thank you to Tall Trees' owners Ashley and Randy Vowels, who donated their talent, time and, with contributions from their suppliers, all the food for the event. Thank you, Ashley, Randy, and your team, for your incredible and heartfelt contributions to your community and Community Living Huntsville.

Thank you, too, to our 2023-2024 Signature Event Partners, including Tall Trees, Muskoka Party Rentals, Lovegrove Construction, Dan Willett Financial, Stephenson District Lions Club, Refined Kitchen and Bath Muskoka, and the Brothers of the Blade Motorcycle Club Muskoka. This event and others would not be possible without you.

If you missed the brunch and would like to learn more about how you can support our innovative housing initiatives, please visit our website:

Visit Website

Did you know?

2023 Annual General Meeting

Community Living Huntsville’s board of directors hosts our organization’s 2023 Annual General Meeting at Partners Hall, 37 Main Street East, Huntsville, on Tuesday, October 24, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Everyone welcome. If interested in attending, please RSVP to Sharon at CLH@clhuntsville.ca.