Fort St. John Association for Community Living participating in National Disability Employment Awareness Month

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John Association for Community Living (FSJ ACL) is participating in National Disability Awareness Month for October, starting with a video featuring one of their clients.

Sheri Ashdown, inclusion and employment manager for the FSJ ACL, said the local organization partnered with Inclusion BC to create a video for one of their job placements.

The film is part of Inclusion BC’s Challenging Misconceptions campaign and is focused on Andrea’s story with her family and her job placement at the North Peace Leisure Pool.

“It’s very cool to be highlighted because we’re so far north, and we never really get chosen, like after Prince George, nothing exists,” Ashdown said.

She said it’s important to spread awareness about how important inclusivity is to communities and the partnerships in Fort St. John.

“Just creating awareness to help eliminate the barriers that prevent Canadians experiencing disability from participating fully in the work in society is really important,” Ashdown said.

“Especially with our staff crisis that’s happening in Canada right now, it’s an untapped pool of people that are absolutely amazing if they just have a little more time to learn.”

The inclusion and employment manager said the retention rate for the local ACL’s career program is 95 per cent stay for at least three years.

“Good luck trying to find a retention rate like that in today’s society,” Ashdown added.

Throughout October, the local ACL will highlight inclusive employers in different ways, including two parades.

On October 12th, they will begin the first parade at the FSJ ACL office and walk or drive to inclusive businesses, including SJA Promo, Ideal Solutions, Home Hardware, KFC, Diversified and Homesteaders Health Food Store.

The second parade will be later in the month and may include the Community Living BC WOW Award received locally, with details to be announced.

For further information, visit FSJ ACL’s Facebook page.