Working Together to Advance Disability Inclusive Employment Across Ontario

Strengthening Inclusive Employment Across Ontario’s Integrated Employment Services System

The Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN), funded by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD), is leading a provincewide initiative to strengthen disability inclusive employment across Ontario’s Integrated Employment Services (IES) system.

This project supports Service System Managers (SSMs), Employment Service Providers (ESPs), employers, and other employment stakeholders in building the knowledge, skills, partnerships, and practices needed to improve employment outcomes for people who have disabilities.

By providing access to training, coaching, resources, peer learning opportunities, and employer engagement supports, the initiative helps create a more coordinated, confident, and inclusive employment service system across the province.

Why This Project Matters

People who have disabilities continue to experience significant barriers to finding and maintaining meaningful employment, despite the commitment and efforts of employment service providers and employers across Ontario.

This initiative was created to help address those challenges by strengthening capacity within the employment services system and promoting effective, evidence-informed approaches to disability inclusive employment.

The project recognizes that lasting change happens when service providers, system leaders, employers, and job seekers work together toward a shared goal: creating equitable pathways to employment and workplace success.

What the Project Delivers

Through a range of province-wide supports and resources, the initiative helps:

• Build organizational and staff capacity through professional development opportunities focused on disability inclusive employment practices
• Strengthen job development, job retention, and workplace support strategies
• Increase confidence and competency in serving job seekers who have disabilities
• Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across regions and service providers
• Support employers in developing inclusive recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention practices
• Promote innovative and promising practices that improve employment outcomes

The project also creates opportunities for networking, peer learning, recognition, and sector-wide engagement that support continuous improvement across Ontario’s employment system.

Supporting Employers and Employment Service Providers

A key focus of the initiative is strengthening connections between employers and employment service providers.

Employers are supported to better understand the value of disability inclusion and gain practical tools to build more inclusive workplaces. At the same time, employment professionals receive access to enhanced learning opportunities, coaching, resources, and proven strategies that support successful employment outcomes.

Together, these efforts help create stronger partnerships and more opportunities for people who have disabilities to secure meaningful and sustainable employment.

A Collaborative Provincial Initiative

This work is founded on collaboration. ODEN works alongside Service System Managers, Employment Service Providers, employers, community partners, and people who have disabilities to identify needs, share knowledge, and advance best practices across the province.

By bringing stakeholders together, the project helps build a stronger and more connected employment system where disability inclusion is embedded in practice, not treated as an exception.

Building a More Inclusive Ontario

This initiative represents an important investment in the future of Ontario’s workforce and communities. Through shared learning, capacity building, and employer engagement, the project aims to make disability inclusive employment more consistent, accessible, and achievable across the province.

Together, we are creating a stronger employment system where people who have disabilities can fully participate, contribute their talents, and succeed in meaningful careers.

The Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) Working
Together to Advance Disability Inclusive Employment Across
Ontario project is funded by the Government of Ontario