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Wendy McDonald, COO of Inclusion Alberta and former President of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Mayfield spoke February 5th on the creation of the Rotary Employment Partnership in 2001. Her goal, along with Bruce Uditsky of Inclusion Alberta, was to open minds and hearts and create employment opportunities for all community members.
Over 800 jobs have been created with 96 in Lloydminster. Jobs provide a person an identity and life outside their home and increases income on average by 44% for people with developmental disabilities. Local Rotarians Glen Fagnan and Robin Action were lauded for their efforts in starting the local program.
Rotary Employment Partnership
The Partnership is a collaboration between Districts 5370 and 5360, Rotary Clubs, Inclusion Alberta and the Government of Alberta. The purpose of the Partnership is to create meaningful employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities in association with business owners, employers and municipalities.
If you are an employer wondering if someone with a developmental disability could work in your business, consider the following:
- Studies show that people with disabilities have lower absenteeism and stay with employers longer than their non-disabled counterparts
- 60% of people with disabilities rated better in work safety than their non-disabled colleagues, with 78% lower costs related to workplace accidents
- 90% of people with disabilities rated average or better on job performance a good indicator of their independence in the workplace