P.E.I. association marks end of learning disability awareness month

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The P.E.I. Learning Disabilities Association (LDAPEI) recently met with P.E.I. Lt.-Gov. Antoinette Perry to discuss the recent Learning Disabilities Awareness month

In a Nov. 9 release, the association said Perry spoke with LDAPEI president Mary Lou Griffin-Jenkins and vice-president Amanda MacIntyre about the success seen during Learning Disabilities Awareness Month in October.

Officials said roughly 70 students across the province with learning disabilities are currently receiving weekly tutoring.

LDAPEI has provided information and support to Islanders impacted by learning disabilities since 1975.

Additionally, the group provides presentations to groups seeking information on addressing learning disabilities and helps those affected on a one-to-one basis by phone, online or in-person.

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NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH

Just as Positively Naperville goes to print for its November issue, we will be completing the National Disability Employment Awareness month at the end of October. Declared by Congress in 1988, the idea was to raise awareness of the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities.

According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 4 American adults have a disability. Workers from every type of job opportunity literally are in integral part of our nation’s workforce and are employed in industries and jobs just as diverse as they are.

There are all kinds of studies that show hiring persons with disabilities benefits not only those workers, but their employers as well through increased profitability, competitive advantages, and an inclusive workplace for all workers.

At Little Friends, we have made some significant investments in providing adolescents with training experiences that mirror some community work experiences that our students may be able to have after their education period ends with us. New opportunities on the horizon include a new program where students will learn how to disassemble electronic technology with the purpose of recycling these components. Our plan is to provide job training that ultimately results in job opportunities and work for individuals who learn these skills.

We learned about this opportunity from an organization in Colorado named BlueStar Recycling. Their business model is built around only hiring employees who are on the Autism Spectrum. Their input and guidance not only helped us but served as motivation for what can be done when focused with opportunity.

We are excited about this new program and will be implementing it by the start of the New Year. Next year we hope to be writing at this time about some of the new jobs we’ve helped create with this program!

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Disabled workers paid £3,458 less per year than non-disabled colleagues, research finds

The Trades Union Congress is calling for mandatory disability pay gap reporting as new research finds disabled workers are now paid 16.5 per cent less on average each year than non-disabled workers.

Tuesday November 9 has been calculated by the TUC as disability pay gap day for 2021, the day on which disabled workers effectively stop getting paid and work for free for the last 52 days of the year.

The TUC analysis shows that non-disabled employees earn on average £1.90 an hour (16.5 per cent) more than disabled employees – or £3,458 more a year based on a 35-hour week.

“We know that life costs more if you are disabled, and it’s completely unacceptable that disabled people continue to be underpaid and undervalued,” said Louise Rubin, head of policy at disability equality charity Scope.

“At the very least we need to everything we can to make sure disabled people thrive in work.”

Disabled workers were twice as likely to have had to visit a food bank than non-disabled workers, according to the TUC research which also found that disabled workers have been “hit hardest” financially by Covid-19 pandemic.

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Leeds accountant named one of most influential disabled people in the UK

A Leeds-based chartered accountant has been named one of the most influential disabled people in the UK.

Natalie Hiller, an accountant at PwC in Leeds where she is also co-chairwoman of the firm’s Disability Awareness Network (DAWN) has been featured in The Shaw Trust’s Disability Power 100 List 2021.

The charity’s list highlights 100 people who are working to break the stigma around disability and helping to inspire the next generation for a more inclusive world.

Based at the PwC Leeds office, Natalie helped set up the first regional sub-group of DAWN and this has gone to inspire five further regional groups to become established as well as a nationwide buddy system.

Natalie also encourages disabled people to consider careers in accountancy by speaking at events.

Her advocacy work also extends to communications and branding, with her helping to develop a set of illustrations featuring disabled people at work which have since been incorporated into corporate branding.

On her selection for the list, Natalie said: “I am truly honoured to be recognised on the Disability Power 100 and would like to thank everyone who has supported me.

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