Voices of Tomorrow Talk Youth Inclusion
Dean Askin
Filed under Disability Awareness & Confidence, Inclusive Hiring
Youth of all abilities face several barriers and often lack a voice representing what it means to find meaningful employment. A project led by Re:Action4Inclusion is addressing these barriers. This Ontario-wide group has been in existence since 2008. The movement “seeks to empower youth to take action individually and collectively to make our schools and communities more inclusive spaces”.
A 2021 report titled Voices of Tomorrow, is the findings of a survey that set out to understand youth experiences around employment and attitudes towards inclusive hiring practices in their community. The Youth Advisory Committee’s survey report was done with Re:Action4Inclusion, Community Living Ontario, Community Living Windsor and Community Living Essex County.
It focused on school, education, employment and community youth inclusion for youth of all abilities, in Windsor-Essex County, Ontario.
Revelations about lack of youth inclusion
It’s clear that young people in Southwestern Ontario want more when it comes to inclusion and opportunities. And they’re speaking up about it.
The Re:Action4Inclusion Voices of Tomorrow project wrapped up at the end of the 2021 academic year, and the report was published online with little fanfare at the time. So what better time to bring some attention to this report, than National Youth Week? Here are some of the key findings from the Voices of Tomorrow report:
- Among students surveyed, 49.5% of high-school students and 60% of post-secondary students said it’s difficult for youth of all abilities to find employment today.
- Among students who don’t have a disability, and are working, 57.9% said they don’t have any co-workers who do have a disability.
- Of educators surveyed, 25% believe co-op education programs aren’t inclusive.
- Educators believe more community partnerships with local businesses are needed to create more co-op education opportunities for youth in school, and that teachers need more resources to teach job skills
Why Voices of Tomorrow is significant
What makes the Voices of Tomorrow report significant is this: It’s a report about youth employment and inclusion, written by youth.
“Both the report and its findings reflect the views of youth, teachers and employers, and what [knowledge and experience] they have when it comes to hiring youth of all abilities in the workplace,” says Sarah Julius, a first-year student at the University of Windsor who led the Voices of Tomorrow project.
Sarah adds it’s “crucial” to get the perspectives of students, educators and employers alike “to understand where we’re at and what needs to be done” for and by all parties involved to “have a smooth transition [to work] for youth,” and “ensure inclusive workplaces for students.”
An excerpt from the conversation
Sarah, and Natalia Ayala Giraldo, another member of the Re:Action4Inclusion Youth Advisory Committee who worked on Voices of Tomorrow, shared many insights in episode five of our podcast, You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without a D.
They talked about the Voices of Tomorrow report; what they’ve learned from being part of the project; and what they want to see happen in the Windsor-Essex community as a result of it. They also discussed what they want to see happen across the country with youth inclusion overall.
Here’s a sneak peek at the conversation:
Dean Askin: Sarah, why was it important to you to be involved with Re:Action4Inclusion, the movement, and be on the Youth Advisory Committee and this Voices of Tomorrow project as the lead of it?
Sarah Julius: I’m a passionate youth leader. And I want to make a difference in my community, especially for the youth and future generations. So it’s important for me that all individuals feel included and can be themselves in the communities and in this world, which is what our project really strives for.
Jeannette Campbell: Could you talk about some of the key findings in the Voices of Tomorrow report?
Natalia Ayala Giraldo: Our key findings are the five barriers that students, educators, and employers recognize that there are right now for youth of all abilities. And those are the costs of transportation, the lack of guidance and support that is available for students, COVID-19 restrictions, the lack of options that are available for students and the language barriers.
Jeannette Campbell: What is the most important message that you want to get across to any employers or educators who might be listening to this episode right now?
Natalia Ayala Giraldo: I want to say to employers that when you invest time, money and effort in supporting youth of all abilities to adapt your workplace, then you don’t only benefit them, but your business as well, because you bring a better experience to your customers. And happy customers equal a successful business.
Catch the full conversation with Sarah Julius and Natalia Ayala Giraldo in episode five of You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without a D, here.
Visit Re:Action4Inclusion to learn more about the movement.
Also be sure to read the Voices of Tomorrow report, especially if you’re a business person or an educator reading this post. Here’s the link to the report again.
Dean Askin is ODEN’s Communications Strategist. He’s an award-winning content writer, photographer and communication specialist with over three decades of experience.