Loving yourself through music
Interview with Cassandra O’Neal, keyboardist for Prince
&
Accessibility on Campus
How schools help you reach your full potential
hidden no more A growing awareness of invisible disabilities is lifting the fog.
Putting $500,000 in your pocket. For real. | spring 2012 |
Csis. smarT carEEr choicE sCrs. un choix dE carriErE judiciEux
Current opportunities/ EnginEErs, iT profEssionals, adminisTraTivE assisTanT opportunités d’emplois en Cours/ ingéniEur, profEssionnEl dEs TEchnologiEs dE l’informaTion, adjoinT adminisTraTif
DisabilityAwards.ca Canada’s portal to awards and scholarships for students with disabilities
featuring
20 hidden
who’s
hiring
no more
Hey. Did you know these companies have lots of entry level positions? Visit their websites to see a full list of the positions available.
Whether it’s learning disabilities, chronic health conditions, and/or mental health conditions, these invisible disabilities are difficult for employers to accommodate because they rarely take them seriously or fully understand them. We hope to shed some light on the issue. 15 / Accessibility on Campus. Students with disabilities need certain accommodations to reach their full potential in school. What kinds of accommodations are available? How do you get access to them? And why you shouldn't feel ashamed about asking for one.
6 / Success Story. How does a Computer Engineering graduate fit inside Canada’s largest food retailer, Loblaw? Fenella Chiu gives us the scoop. Brought to you by Rogers Wireless. 8 / Career Cupid. Bacon: it’s not just for breakfast anymore 10 / Loving yourself through music. Exclusive interview with Cassandra O’Neal, keyboardist for Prince. 26 / Profile: Holly Chappus. "How my learning disability hasn’t stopped me." 2
CSIS CGI FINTRAC General Dynamics
who else?
27 / Profile: Elizabeth Iarusci. Job hunting without the sugar coating 29 / Money bites: RDSPs, DTCs and over half a million in your pocket. RDSP guru Laura Mackenrot shows how people with disabilities can save big for their retirement. 32 / Migraines are for real. While employers are slow to accept it, migraines are gradually being recognized as a serious invisible disability.
1 NEADS 9 Humber, The Business School 19 Media Job Search Canada 19 Schoolfinder.com 25 ACE Canada 28 AbilityEdge OBC Wood Manufacturing Council of Canada
stuff to buy 5 Skittles 7 Rogers Wireless 14 Rogers Wireless
(dis)ability edition | spring 2012 | jobpostings.ca
Image: © iStockphoto.com/Rubberball
&
IFC 13 13 IBC
publisher Nathan Laurie nlaurie@jobpostings.ca associate publisher Mark Laurie mlaurie@jobpostings.ca editor David Tal dtal@jobpostings.ca
editor’s
Art Director Sonya van Heyningen svanheyningen@jobpostings.ca
note
The community people with disabilities belong to is both unique and inspiring. It’s made up of individuals who have persevered through life’s challenges to achieve a range of exciting accomplishments. From an aspiring Human Resource professional, to an organic farmer and social worker, to a financial guru, and to a keyboardist
contributors Katie Edmonds, Christine Fader, Michelle Hampson, Eri Tzortzis, Emma Wooley
for Prince — trust me, we’ve got some remarkable people to show you! That said, the other goal of this issue is to shed some light on a topic within the disability community that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves: invisible disabilities. Whether it’s learning disabilities, chronic health conditions, and/or mental health conditions, these hidden disabilities are difficult for employers to accommodate because they rarely take them seriously or fully understand them. In all, the contents of this issue should inform and inspire. That’s why it’s my hope that you explore this magazine, learn from it, and share it with your friends!
sue s i his t in
4
pg. 10
pg. 15
pg. 20
pg. 29
Overcoming adversity, loving music & touring with Prince.
Campus accessibility and reaching your full potential!
We’re shining a light on invisible disabilities.
How RDSPs and DTCs can net you half a million.
assistant sales manager Sarah-Lyn Amaral national account manager Mary Vanderpas sales assistant Shannon Tracey intern Jake Babad, Michelle Hampson
Published by Passion Inc. 25 Imperial Street, Suite 100 Toronto, ON M5P 1B9 jobpostings.ca 1-877-900-5627 ext. 221
Jobpostings publishes disability issues twice a year, in the Fall and Spring. 20,000 copies are distributed to over 100 universities and colleges. Available by subscription: 2 issues for only $8.00 (plus HST). Contents of this publication are protected by copyright and may not be reprinted in whole or part without permission of the publishers. on the cover: © iStockphoto.com/ Rubberball
(dis)ability edition | spring 2012 | jobpostings.ca
Image: © Amani Zein. www.ayzeephotography.com
Upon joining the jobpostings team and taking charge of the magazine’s special (dis)ability issue, I’ll admit I was a tad nervous. I didn’t know much about the world people with disabilities lived within. But after having the opportunity to speak with a number of exceptional individuals, that quickly changed.
web editor Simone Castello scastello@jobpostings.ca
Skittles ® is a registered trademark of the WM. Wrigley Jr. Co., Wrigley Canada Licensee. Skittles MD est une marque déposée do la WM. Wrigley Jr. Co., en vertu de la licence de Wrigley Canada.
successstories
Fenella Chiu
Analyst, Central Data Management (CDM) @ Loblaw Companies Ltd. Where did you go to School? What program did you attend? I went to Queen’s University and graduated from the Applied Science Computer Engineering program in 2007.
What drew you to your current position? I was really interested in how this role allows me to interact and work with various teams at Loblaw. This position definitely has its challenges, but I also get to learn a lot from it. I have also been given opportunities to receive additional training to further improve my skills.
Tell us a bit about your responsibilities: I work with data analysis tools to generate reports that are used by teams throughout Loblaw. I also build new automated reporting tools to help teams complete their work more efficiently and accurately.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? I love to hear from colleagues who tell me how much time they have saved after using reports I created for them.
A few months after I graduated from university, I was in an accident. The accident left me with a permanent physical disability. After the accident, I had to put my career aside for
“Knowing [my work] will help them improve their work and processes is really rewarding.” Knowing the data they receive is accurate and will help them improve their work and processes is really rewarding.
What accommodations do you use to help you succeed on the job? Loblaw companies places a strong emphasis on creating an inclusive workplace, as reflected by their corporate social responsibility principles. At the Loblaw office where I work, there are a number of reserved parking spots very close to the building entrances and elevators that make travel to and within the building easier. My desk has also been set-up to meet my needs. For example, I don’t need to bend down to plug in power cables for my laptop. I was also given a laptop bag with wheels so I can easily carry items home from the office.
Can you tell us about the history of your disability and how it has affected your career?
some time so that I could focus on getting better.
What advice do you have for students looking to land their first job? Know what your strengths, weaknesses, and interests are, then look for a job or employer that will help you build on your strengths and improve your weaknesses.
Is there anything else you would like to add? There are a lot of programs and organizations out there who help recent graduates with disabilities find work. They have helped me a lot in getting to where I am now. For example, in partnership with Career Edge’s Ability Edge program, Loblaw offers a paid internship program for persons with disabilities to gain experience. This is also how I came to work at Loblaw.
Length of employment: 2 years Degree: Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
6
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Career Cupid
Bacon: it’s not just for breakfast anymore “YOU don’t have a disability!” my friend’s wife scolded me in a shocked and horrified voice, as we ate breakfast at a local greasy spoon one morning. When my friend’s wife looked at me, she saw a woman chowing down on her heart-attack-ona-plate breakfast: no evidence of a disability in sight. Further discussion revealed she was distressed that I would label myself ‘that way.’ After all, I didn’t look as if I had anything “wrong” with me. But what does a person with a disability look like? Apparently, on that sunny Saturday morning, I didn’t fit the image of disability my friend’s wife had in her head. The vast majority of students with disabilities who attend
university or college don’t either. They have a so-called “invisible” disability, just like I do. I often think of my own disability as “invisible” because, with the right accommodations in place, I am able to go about my life without having to think about my disability too much. With daily medication, accommodations and evasive manoeuvres, my disability can be quite invisible. Take me out of my accommodated environment, however, and even I am sometimes startled by how quickly my so-called invisible disability becomes visible. Perhaps because of the “seeing is believing” principle, people with invisible disabilities can also struggle to have their disability and accommodations recognized and supported. My brother-inlaw was in a severe car accident 10 years ago. Once his physical injuries healed, many people commented how amazing it was that he was “back to normal.” However, he sustained a traumatic brain injury that affects his life (and the life of his family and work) substantially to this day. He looks perfectly “normal,” so it has been difficult for him to get the appropriate
ongoing accommodations at his job after the initial crisis stage. Maintaining his performance is extremely stressful, which makes the effects of his brain injury even more invasive to him. Yet, because his physical wounds have healed to the outside observer, he continually faces people who doubt his need for accommodations. Having a disability can run the gambit from being a complete non-issue, to being invasive, to being an opportunity and a proud part of one’s identity. With appropriate accommodations and a supportive world that’s more aware of them, all people with invisible disabilities can contribute their full potential. My friend’s wife was shocked when I comfortably revealed that I had a disability. She was even more shocked to realize that I was being successfully accommodated that very day at breakfast, so that it was “invisible” to her. My heartattack-on-a-plate breakfast was doctor recommended: all that salty food helps me avert fainting episodes. Bring on the bacon.
Christine Fader (pictured left) works as a career counsellor at a Canadian university and is the author of the book, “Career Cupid: Your Guide to Landing and Loving Your Dream Job”. She was a member of the Ontario Government’s Employment Standards Development Committee which created new legislation to increase accessibility in Ontario by 2025. Visit her at www.careercupid.com
8
(dis)ability edition | spring 2012 | jobpostings.ca
10 launch ways to
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(dis)ability edition | spring 2012 | jobpostings.ca
Loving yourself through music
Exclusive interview with Cassandra O’Neal, keyboardist for Prince
by David Tal
“When you’re a child, you want to belong and want to have friends. You don’t want to seem like an outcast. The reality is, with kids, they don’t embrace what they don’t understand.” Cassandra O’Neal is an American keyboardist, musical director, singer, composer, and producer. She has worked with a range of high profile artists, such as LeAnn Rimes, Babyface, Pink, Mary J. Blige, and Macy Gray. And when not working on her upcoming album (due out Spring 2012), she works alongside Prince as a keyboardist in his highly acclaimed band, the New Power Generation. But her current success, did not come easily, especially amidst overcoming her self confidence issues caused by her disability. “I have a condition called Nystagmus.
I’ve had it since birth. It’s the involuntary movement of the eyes and it mainly causes me to have near sightedness.” “Growing into puberty, you want to feel like you’re pretty, like you’re beautiful. Back then, I tried to do things to hide my eyes. I would walk around with my head down or with sunglasses on, so people couldn’t see. “As I got older, I realized that my behaviour insinuated that I didn’t like myself, which wasn’t the case. I just didn’t want to deal with all the negative looks and comments. So I told myself: pick your head up! Be strong! This is who you are! “Going into my 20s, I continued to encourage myself: you know what, I am beautiful. I am smart. I am talented. And again, this condition is only a part of who I am. I have 11
“ Understand
that your impairment exists, but it doesn’t define you.”
a personality. I like to laugh. I like to go to the mall, and shop, and do all those same things that young women do. It also helps me push and strive harder towards my goals. “It’s a little different when you’re an adult, because when you carry yourself with confidence and assurance, people read into that more so than they read into your condition. So as opposed to ‘what’s wrong with your eyes?’ It’s more like ‘She’s confident. She’s an amazing musician!’ There’s something different about her, instead of there’s something wrong. At the end of the day, it’s about perception.” When it comes to the music, Cassandra’s voice noticeably brightens. Being a preacher’s daughter from Copiague, New York, Cassandra found her musical potential at the age of three, playing the piano by ear and with perfect pitch. She played gospel music in church and listened to all types of music, including New Wave, rock, pop, and R&B. It was her outlet and the way she made friends. 12
“I sang and played on the piano all the MTV songs and that’s how I made friends. My friends were like ‘Wow, she knows a lot of songs!’” Cassandra eventually moved to Los Angeles, California, and shortly thereafter began touring with American Gospel singer, Daryl Coley, scoring her first big break in the music business. Through working with a variety of artists, she eventually came to know Sheila E (a well known artist and collaborator with Prince). In 2005, she joined Sheila’s gospel tour called Sisters in the Spirit. The two later collaborated in a band called C.O.E.D. (Chronicles Of Every Diva) along with Rhonda Smith and Kat Dyson, which eventually caught the ear of Prince. “Prince asked if we could accompany him to the Montrose Jazz Festival. Sheila E said sure and we began to put something together. As Prince listened to the three songs we recorded, he asked who was playing the keys, and they said, ‘That’s Cassy!’ A little while later after C.O.E.D. got off tour in Japan, I got a call asking me to come out to Minneapolis. “When I flew over, I met up with Prince and his band at their rehearsal. He came up to me, gave me a big hug, then said, ‘So how long do I have you?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, how long do you need me?’ “’Do you have a coat?’ “Two weeks later, I did my first show with him in Paris (at the Grand Palais and La Cigale concerts in October, 2009) and the rest, as they say, is history.”
While talking about working with Prince and the New Power Generation, Cassandra makes it clear how blessed she feels to play among such accomplished musicians. “As a female musician, it is expected of me to play as well as my fellow male players. Over the years, Prince has embraced the presence of female musicians in his band. We rehearse consistently. It’s work. And work is fun, because we get to play all genres. It’s not just funky. It’s rock, pop, R&B, and everything in between. Playing such a variety of music has really helped me to stretch by abilities and broaden my instincts. “In this band, we are all at the same level. There’s no need for egos or arrogance, because we’re playing for the best. In fact, we go out of our way to help one another as a team. I love all of my band members very much. We’re a family.” Asked if she has any advice for students with disabilities looking to land their first job or maybe even follow in her musical footsteps, Cassandra answered, “Don’t be afraid to chase your dream. Understand that your impairment exists, but it doesn’t define you. Know your craft! That in itself will give you the confidence in whatever industry you decide to go into. Know the grind! Practice, do your research, study, and network! These are some of the key ingredients that will enable you to have that edge in your particular field. If I can do it, anyone can do it!” (dis)ability edition | spring 2012 | jobpostings.ca
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accessibilit on campus
by Katie Edmonds
Image: Erik Snyder/ Lifesize/Thinkstock
Any Canadian university or college student is familiar with the dangers of navigating their school’s campus in the dead of winter. The slick, ice-covered concrete steps which lead up to the library and the slippery, wet floors outside the dining hall can wreak havoc on pedestrians, bringing down even the best of us in one foul, embarrassing crash.
jobpostings.ca | spring 2012 | (dis)ability edition
15
“ I didn’t need drug needed that little modation” If you’ve ever sprained an ankle and tried to navigate corridors with a pair of cumbersome crutches, the complications are double what you might face on a normal day. Now imagine trying to get from your dorm room to the dining hall, to your morning midterm on a wintry day as one of the thousands of students across Canada who use a wheelchair. It’s a whole different ballgame, right?
Image: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
Those slippery, sloped floors become even more hazardous and the ice covered stairs are flat-out impossible. The use of a wheelchair is just one of the many challenges that face tens of thousands of Canadian university and college students with disabilities. Each type of disability presents a new and unique challenge to overcome in the hopes of getting a post-secondary education. For Melissa D., a student at Wilfrid Laurier University in
g therapy. I just e extra accomWaterloo, ON, the challenges with university came not with the physical layout of the campus, but with the increased workload and volume of reading required of her in her first year — she has a learning disability. At 19, Melissa graduated from her Toronto-area high school with top marks. She was a high achieving student who participated in a number of extra-curricular activities and upon entering first year, planned to continue that path at WLU. Partway through her first year however, she began to experience difficulty in her classes. She was still putting in the same amount of energy and enthusiasm to her school work, but it didn’t seem to be enough; the volume of readings was simply too much for her to accomplish in the time given by her professors to get it done. “I just couldn’t keep up. I would stay up late and work my butt off
jobpostings.ca | spring 2012 | (dis)ability edition
but there just seemed to be so much reading that I couldn’t stay afloat and I started to fall behind.”
teaches. I didn’t need drug therapy. I just needed that little extra accommodation.”
After noticing that her difficulties were starting to be reflected in her marks, Melissa went to her school’s counselling centre and health centre where she was diagnosed with adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). At first, she was given medication to combat her symptoms, but the treatment was not successful. Then, she visited the WLU Accessible Learning Centre (ALC) where she was given an educational assessment and was assigned a counsellor who looked more closely at her learning style.
Through the ALC, Melissa was set up with a system that worked for her learning style, including audio and visual aids in the classroom and was allowed extra time to write her exams.
“What I found most helpful and what helped me get back on track was working with my counsellor. They coached me on different learning strategies and explained that I simply learn in different ways than the university system typically
“Being able to take more time to write exams was a huge help,” she explained. “I knew that I had the knowledge to do well on the exam but I just wasn’t able to get all the words down on paper fast enough. As soon as I was given the extra time, my grades starting improving.” Like WLU, most universities and colleges in Canada have in place a network of services and accommodations for students with any severity of disability, including, but not limited to: vision, hearing and mobility impairments, learning disabilities, mental illnesses, chronic illnesses, chronic 17
pain, and attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorders.
of energy. Now I just know how to use that the best way.”
Specifically, these accommodations are academic adaptations or modifications that provide students who have disabilities an opportunity to succeed. These adaptations are ways to make life just a little bit easier for the student and can include physical access to facilities (e.g., wheelchair
And she is not alone. Marc Wilchesky, executive director of Counselling and Disability Services at York University, sees dozens of students come into his office every week, each with different levels of abilities and learning styles. “We have more than 2,500 students who are registered with
students is increasing, awareness of the services available to students is increasing, and identification of extra needs is being identified at earlier stages of the student’s life.” Wilchesky recommends that if you’re experiencing difficulties coping with your course load, or have trouble managing the campus due to a physical challenge, to come and speak
“ it’s not just k a few people here and there” accessibility, ramps etc.), exam accommodations or other services, and auxiliary aids (e.g., a notetaker, tape recording of lectures). For Melissa, the biggest hurdle was allowing herself to accept that she needed the extra help. “At first, I was really embarrassed about being ‘disabled.’ I knew I was smart and capable, but I had begun to feel stupid because I couldn’t learn the same way other people did. Now, I know this is manageable and in some ways I am lucky. I am able to look at things differently than other people do. I can think outside the box and I have loads 18
us and who have documented disabilities, so it’s not just a few people here and there.” These numbers seem to be the standard at campuses across the country, with the number of students using accessible learning centres on the rise with each passing year. “The number of students accessing our services has been steadily increasing,” said Gwen Page, manager of the Accessible Learning Centre at WLU. “We have experienced a five percent growth in the past year alone at our office and that is due to a number of factors. The number of
with someone in your campus’ accessibility office. “Also, one of our main focuses is confidentiality,” he explained. “We make sure to take a strong position on privacy and confidential support for each student that comes in to our office.” For Melissa, the decision to get the extra help was the right one. “Going to the Accessible Learning Centre was so worthwhile for me. Instead of continuing to struggle and feel like a failure, I got help and got back on track, and it’s made a huge difference.”
(dis)ability edition | spring 2012 | jobpostings.ca
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jobpostings.ca | spring 2012 | (dis)ability edition
19
(dis)ability edition | spring 2012 | jobpostings.ca
Hidden no more The “if” and “how” of discussing your invisible disability in the workplace
Image: © iStockphoto.com/Rubberball
by Emma Wooley
Jessica, a full-time student in the sciences, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 22. This disorder, characterized by extreme mood swings, can make working and keeping up with homework very difficult. When explaining to her professor that she has good and bad days, she was told, “We all have bad days.” 21
“Physical disabilities aren’t always as obvious as having to use a wheelchair or crutches” “Most of them [educators] didn’t take my condition seriously, and I felt it was because I don’t immediately appear ‘disabled’,” says Jessica. Bipolar disorder is just one of many invisible disabilities that affect Canadians. The less noticeable conditions can include physical symptoms, such as pain, mobility/agility issues, fatigue, chronic illness, dizziness, and weakness. Invisible disabilities can also be cognitive dysfunctions, such as learning difficulties and mental disorders. Such impairments aren’t always obvious, but they can limit a person’s activities and productivity, especially in the workplace. Unfortunately, because invisible disabilities are well, invisible, they aren’t always taken seriously. According to the Centre 22
for Addiction and Mental Health, 46% of Canadians think people use the term mental illness as an excuse for bad behaviour, and a recent survey of for-profit businesses in British Columbia revealed that 89 percent of respondents didn’t have a plan in place for invisible disabilities. While workplaces and schools have a legal responsibility to make accommodations for all people with disabilities, stigma and a lack of understanding can make asking for them very difficult. Jessica, whose bad days are more than just bad days, says, “They [most educators] probably assumed I was taking advantage of the system for the perks and extensions.” If you have an invisible disability, you’re not alone. In 2006, about half a million Canadians over the age of fifteen
reported having less noticeable disabilities. The following is an overview of some of the most common conditions and how to make sure you get the accommodations you need.
Chronic illnesses Physical disabilities aren’t always as obvious as having to use a wheelchair or crutches. (dis)ability edition | spring 2012 | jobpostings.ca
One of the most common chronic diseases is diabetes, which affects nearly two million Canadians. Anne, a fine arts and social work graduate, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 15. While working in private childcare, she could easily explain that the cause of her type 1 diabetes is more complicated than a poor diet, but rather the fact that her body has simply stopped producing insulin. Explaining her disease wasn’t so easy once she entered an office environment. “People make gross assumptions and I have been in more than one situation where people at work have publicly declared that I shouldn’t be eating the cake or candy in my hand.” “It got bad enough in one place that I just stopped eating around co-workers. It was really uncomfortable and made me feel different and unwelcome. This made me feel self-conscious about other aspects of my condition, like organizing time off to get to doctor’s appointments or thinking about how my coworkers would react if I had a severe hypoglycemic reaction.”
jobpostings.ca | spring 2012 | (dis)ability edition
In situations such as Anne’s, when co-workers and employers are aware of your condition, knowing your rights as a person with a disability is very important. She also recommends getting to know the various organizations associated with your condition, and says, “I know that if I feel like I’m experiencing prejudice in the workplace I can call the Canadian Diabetes Association for advice.”
Mental health conditions According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 20 percent of Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime and the remaining 80 percent will be indirectly affected through a friend, family member, or colleague. At least eight percent of adults will experience major depression at some point in their lives.
the workplace and in school environments, people should discuss it more so it loses its taboo.” With so many preexisting negative stereotypes about mental illness — for example, only 49 percent of Canadians polled said they would socialize with a friend with a mental illness — it can be difficult for those affected to talk about it. “Many people walk around with myths about mental illness,” says Bonnie Kirsch, an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. ‘It may be that what needs to happen is a discussion about what that actually is.”
Learning disabilities
Learning disabilities can affect a person in several areas, such as listening, speaking, reading, memory, writing, and math. Like Despite the prevalence of mental chronic diseases and mental illness, people who experience health conditions, learning it still deal with a lot of stigma. disabilities are common: one “I found most in 10 Canadians people assume are affected. people with Similar to other bipolar disorconditions, der are violent, learning of Canadians will delusional, or experience a mental disabilities illness in their lifetime manifest drug addicts,” says Jessica. “I’ve themselves never really explained my disabil- differently and to varying ity to a boss before — aside from degrees of severity in people. using the term ‘mood disorder’ Anne, who also has diabetes — because of my fear of being and depression, is officially judged. But I think in order to diagnosed with Attention Deficit achieve more understanding in
Image: Goodshoot/Thinkstock
Some of the most self-reported disabilities include mobility and agility issues (such as difficulty standing for long periods of time and picking up objects), and over half of Canadians are living with some kind of chronic disease.
23
“Early intervention is important to avoid workplace disability and recurrent leave” Disorder (ADD) but prefers to tell people she has difficulty with her short-term memory. She says that many places were very accommodating to her needs (for example, writing out instructions instead of conveying them verbally), but she went through a lot of trial and error before figuring out what she needed to do to succeed. “I realized pretty quickly after missing a meeting that I needed to be more diligent about getting things marked on my calendar. That meant that if I didn’t have something to write it down in right away, I needed to get better at asking people to send me a quick reminder over email.”
To tell or not to tell? No matter what kind of disability you have, deciding whether or not to tell your employer and/or co-
24
workers can be a tough one. While hiding a part of yourself can feel like a burden, showing it could have negative consequences.
If they’re not, and you’d really rather disclose, you may want to consider working elsewhere.
Arranging accommodations Before talking to your employer, learn what works best for you. Kirsch uses the example of early mornings, which don’t work well for many people with disabilities. “Say I really can do this, but I’m better at doing this when it’s later in the day.” Many organizations will allow you to have flexible hours as long as you work a specified number a day.
Carolyn Dewa, head of the Centre for Research on Employment and Workplace Disability at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, says, “On one hand, you can’t ask for accommodations if you don’t say you need them. On the other hand, your decision depends on the workplace. If you have a manager who isn’t understanding, it may create a barrier between you and things like promotions.”
Another major and commonly necessary accommodation is being able to leave work to get treatment, as many providers don’t offer services during evenings or weekends. “Early intervention is important to avoid workplace disability and recurrent leave,” Dewa says. So if you have to make appointments during the day, talk to your employer about it so you can make up for that time. Can you treat it as a lunch break, stay later, or come in earlier?
While it’s illegal for employers to discriminate that way, unfortunately it happens. In order to gauge whether or not that could happen to you, Kirsch says: “Take a look at the organizational culture first. What happens to people here if they’re different? Are they treated well?”
Most important, try not to get stuck on what you have trouble with. “Focus on the positives,” says Dewa, to help employers see that your situation is a workable one. “I think most people — it’s just the nature of it — come in with what they can’t do. Go in with what you can do.” (dis)ability edition | spring 2012 | jobpostings.ca
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special profilesection “One was dyscalculia, which is like dyslexia, only with numbers. I also have a disability of written expression, which makes it difficult to translate my thoughts onto paper.”
How my learning disability hasn’t stopped me
the hardest to recognize and very often don’t get identified until later in life. That’s why people with learning disabilities often get frustrated with school and themselves due to their difficulty working through class lectures and materials.
When asked about how she overcame her disabilities, Holly explained, “I had physical accommodations like time extensions on exams and a special exam room where I could focus by myself. The school also gave me the services of Shirley Soleil (a tutor and counsellor), which really helped with the emotional aspect, like helping me through my exam anxiety.”
“It was a huge relief, it really was,” Holly Chappus remembered. “Throughout high school and the beginning of my bachelors degree, it was ‘oh, you’re being lazy’ or ‘you need to try harder.’ It was very frustrating for me. But when I discovered I had learning disabilities, it was a huge relief.”
But if ever there was an example to stick things through, Holly is it. While attending Acadia University, she earned her bachelor’s degree with a major in Sociology and a minor in Geology. Right now, she’s going after a second bachelor’s degree for Social Work from Dalhousie University. She’s also thinking of pursuing a Masters in Social Work, specifically in mental health and addiction services.
But it’s not all about absorbing text books and writing papers. While working part time as a waitress and raising a small family, Holly has worked hard to find balance. “I take things one day at a time. I plan things on a weekly basis. It’s all about time management really. I’ve also become self employed recently. I registered an organic farm called Humble Hills Heritage Farm this past winter.”
But accomplishing all this didn’t come easy. “Growing up I had low high school marks due to my undiagnosed disabilities. Because of that, I was accepted into Acadia on a conditional basis, where I worked through my first year on my own and got accepted into a Bachelors of Geology. But in my second year, we discovered that I had AD/HD, so I began to work with counsellors at the school. And then in my third year, they learned that I had more learning disabilities.
When asked about what advice she has for students with disabilities looking to build their education and/or land their first job, Holly’s advice is to, “Take it one day at a time and never give up. Everyone has their own way of learning, but those with learning disabilities are a little bit different, so it’s important to find a tutor who understands your learning disability. And most important, take the time to appreciate your accomplishments before you move on to your next challenge.”
by David Tal
While it may seem odd at first, Holly’s reaction is similar to many who have grown up with learning disabilities. These disabilities are
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(dis)ability edition | spring 2012 | jobpostings.ca
special profile section
by David Tal
Job hunting without the sugar coating “You’re going to get denied sometimes and it’s very tough, but I just found the courage to educate employers whenever I could that, while I may have a disability, if they just give me a chance and give me the tools, I’ll do whatever I need to succeed in that job.”
It’s that fearlessness and perseverance that’s given Elizabeth the drive to attend evening courses for her Bachelor of Human Resource Management at McMaster University, while working full time at the university as a Coordinator of Tests/Exams with Student Accessibility Services.
Elizabeth Iarusci was born legally blind due to congenital cateracts in both eyes, along with Colobomas. Her right eye has no usable vision, while her left eye has difficulty with distance vision. “So reading street signs, whiteboards, even menus is really difficult for me.
“What I love most about my job is seeing students with disabilities succeed. You want to support them and show the different departments that these people can do it. If you accommodate them, they will be successful. I always say, we’re not different, we just do things differently.”
“And job wise, I can’t apply to certain positions because my distance vision isn’t the greatest. And when I go in for interviews, I can tell when the interviewer is concerned about my eyes. So growing up it was very difficult. But growing up, I was a fearless. I was not afraid of anything. I’ve kept that with me my whole life.”
This attitude is also what has seen her through a range of ups and downs, and as a result, a colourful career journey we can all learn from.
jobpostings.ca | spring 2012 | (dis)ability edition
“In my last year of high school, I had to turn down a full time job offer from Home Hardware after I completed my co-op there. It was
difficult, but I wanted to pursue a post secondary education. It also motivated me because they saw that I could do the job. They saw my abilities. “So I later pursued a post secondary education to become an instructor of life skills for those with visual impairments. Out of that, I did two placements where I did assignments across Ontario and got a job with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). Years later though, Elizabeth decided to try a new challenge and went back to school in 2010. “It was something I was initially hesitant to do, afraid to do. But sometimes you just have to take a risk. It’s an appreciation of lifetime learning. Now I’m three courses away from completing my diploma in HR.” When asked about what advice she has for students with disabilities looking to enter the workforce, Elizabeth answered, “From my experience, you should never shy away from applying to anything you feel qualified for. Keep putting your name out there. As long as you’re professional, and keep the focus on your abilities, eventually something will stick. Just believe in yourself!” 27
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RDSPs, DTCs, and $500,000 in your pocket How people with disabilities can save big for their retirement. by Michelle Hampson
Laura, born with severe arthritis, has been a poster child for the Arthritis Society in British Columbia since the age of four. Getting around was difficult and she says she was probably one of the first kids to have a mobility scooter by the age of ten. Knowing that a desk job would be her future, Laura’s goal was to go to university. She attended the University of British Co-
lumbia, where she found a great deal of success. But at times, her arthritis caused her to miss quite a few classes in third and fourth year. “I didn’t leave my dorm room for a lot of the time because I had to lie down. I couldn’t carry the books. I could barely hold the pen.” But she did it. With her left hip replaced just before graduating, Laura walked across the stage to accept her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Sauder School of Business, in June, 2004. And boy did she have some big plans to celebrate. “I always told myself I was going to travel six months
Image: © Getty Images/ Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Thinkstock
What if there was a way to not only save money, but make some? Although the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) can help people with disabilities triple their retirement savings, it largely remains a secret. In fact, more than half a million Canadians are likely eligible, yet only about 60,000 have opened a RDSP since the government began the program in 2008.
Laura Mackenrot, a self-proclaimed RDSP Guru, heard about the plan by word of mouth when it was announced at the end of 2007. She didn’t know much about it at first, but given her history, she knew it would be an important part of her life.
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Someone saving $1,500 a year … for more than 30 years, may end up with a RDSP worth over half a million dollars.
The trip started off great — a real adventure. But after travelling across various countries, something happened during a backpacking trek in Spain that would change her life forever. “One of my eyes just totally went black within three weeks. I thought I was just having headaches or heat dehydration because I was backpacking, but it wasn’t that.” Arthritics need to get their eyes checked every few months for inflammation, and while Laura had experienced minor issues with her eyes in the past, this was much more serious.
Laura Mackenrot, RDSP Guru
after my last surgery.” So following graduation and the surgeries that later saw her right hip and knee replaced, she hopped on a plane on May 1, 2005 to travel through Europe. 30
Her vision deteriorated quickly: glaucoma caused pressure on her optical nerve, triggering blindness in her right eye. Soon the other eye began to act up and Laura knew her life was about to change.
“So instead of that trip being a taste tester of a bunch of cities I thought I would one day go back to, my trip turned into: I have to see everything as much as possible, because I will never be able to do this again.”
Now, 30-years-old and completely blind, Laura sells mutual funds as an independent financial professional, going to the homes of people with disabilities and discussing their options for financial independence. She believes it’s her calling to help people with disabilities lead independent and financially secure lives, and that’s why she’s a firm advocate of raising awareness about the RDSP. Getting started with DTCs “A large chunk of people with disabilities aren’t aware that they are eligible to receive approximately $1,400 per year in tax credits.” Many believe that their low income disqualifies them from the benefit. However, the beauty of the Disability Tax Credit (DTC is that it’s transferrable, similar to the way students can transfer their tuition credit to their families. It gets better: the DTC is retroactive for up to ten years. “In some cases, we have talked to people who’ve lived with a disability their whole lives and have never heard of the DTC. These people are eligible to claim their retroactive tax credits for up to ten years. That’s approximately $14,000 that they’re getting back in tax relief for themselves or their family.” The credit can be spent however the person desires, and some decide to put the money toward a Registered Disability Savings Plan. In order to start a (dis)ability edition | spring 2012 | jobpostings.ca
The 411
you
For the first $500 you invest in your RDSP each year, the government will match each dollar with $3. For the next $1,000 that you contribute, the government will match each dollar with $2 in grant money. Anyone — family, friends, neighbours — can make private contributions to the plan. If a person is living on low income (less than $24,183), then they are eligible to receive the Canada Disability Savings Bond. This is an additional $1,000 each year, for up to 20 years. Partial bonds are available for people
RDSP, you must also qualify for the DTC, which means having a severe disability. The power behind RDSPs While a person can put any amount into their RDSP, Laura has a magic amount to invest each year in order to maximize the plan’s benefits: $1,500 (or $125 per month). She points out that a person who was unaware of the DTC now has an extra $1,400 per year in tax credits, and only needs to come up with an additional $100 to meet this magic number. Investing $1,500 per year allows them to receive up to $3,500 in RDSP government grants that year. If jobpostings.ca | spring 2012 | (dis)ability edition
+
the government
with an income between $24,183 and $41,544. A person can put in more than $1,500 per year if they want — up to $200,000 in their lifetime. The federal government will contribute up to $70,000 in grant money over a person’s lifetime. The “holdback period,” means a person cannot withdraw money until ten years after the last federal contribution.
the person with a disability is a part of low-income household, then he or she is eligible for an additional $1,000 bond as well. That’s $6,000 per year invested for your future! When should you invest? The sooner the better. Someone saving $1,500 a year, properly invested, for more than 30 years, may end up with a RDSP worth over half a million dollars. It takes 20 years to maximize the grants and bonds of the RDSP and the cutoff age for those grants and bonds is 49. So start now. For more details about the RDSP, check out the sidebar above.
= If the federal government contributed more to your RDSP than you (and your family and friends) did, then there is a limit to how much money you can withdraw each year: the money in your RDSP divided by the number of years before you turn 83. Also, using the DTC or RDSP will not affect your federal or provincial disability benefits!
RDSPs are now retroactive for ten years, back to when the plan began in 2008. So if you’ve been unaware of the RDSP, it’s not too late to claim your DTC, start a RDSP and receive grant money for the past few years, as long as you have had your disability during that time. In all, Canada is the first country in the world to have a plan like the RDSP and how successful it is over the coming years may determine if other countries adopt a similar plan. “It’s pretty revolutionary. Literally, just by saving a little bit each month, you’ll save a huge sum each year that can set you up for your future.”
Image: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
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characterized by recurrent headaches that can be so debilitating as to interfere with the performance of daily tasks.”
‘Oh, it’s just a bad headache, you’ll get over it soon.’ That’s the misconception far too many people (and employers especially) have of migraines and those who struggle with them. Naturally, many people are surprised to learn just how serious migraines can be and that they are one of the most frequent causes of absences at school, work, and other day-to-day activities.
the release of chemicals from nerve fibres that surround them. During the headache, an artery enlarges and releases chemicals that cause inflammation, pain, and further artery enlargement. In many people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head. Also, migraines often run in families and it’s been discovered that females are much more likely to suffer from them than males.
So, what is a migraine anyway? A migraine is a severe, painful headache that is accompanied by several sensory signs, such as flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light, smell, and sound. The excruciating pain that migraines bring can last for hours or even days for some individuals.
Now just how badly can migraines affect someone’s quality of life? Again, the impact is probably a lot more significant than most people realize. Migraines can make even the simplest and most mundane tasks seem impossible.
Migraine headaches are a result of blood vessel enlargement and 32
Amesh A. Adalja MD, FACP Clinical Assistant Professor at the Department of Critical Care Medicine, describes them as, “A complex, incompletely understood, and common disorder
Dr. Ken Reed, a pioneer of the Reed Procedure (an innovative new treatment that blocks migraine pain), says of chronic migraines, “Often people can’t work. They can’t enjoy quality time with their family or friends. They become isolated and depressed. (But) we’ve seen remarkable results with the neurostimulation migraine treatment. Patients… now enjoy long-term relief from their migraine pain.” For years, medical associations have struggled to get migraines officially recognized as a disability and their struggle is far from over. Teachers, employers and even family members must make an effort to understand this disorder and how seriously it can affect a person’s abilities, so that they can provide the necessary assistance and accommodations. It’s about time that we, as a society, pulled the veil off this hidden culprit — migraines are for real. by Eri Tzortzis (dis)ability edition | spring 2012 | jobpostings.ca
Image: © iStockphoto.com/PeskyMonkey
Migraines are for real
But there is hope. Although the direct cause of these headaches is still unclear to the medical community, new and innovative treatments targeted at migraines are constantly evolving. Some popular options are antiinflammatory medications, acupuncture, Botox (injected into the forehead), and most recently, neurostimulation (a special device that activates key neurons within the brain to relieve pain).
Wood Employee Readiness Curriculum
WERC In Advanced Wood Manufacturing ENTRY-LEVEL CAREERS FOR FIRST NATIONS, METIS, INUIT, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND NEW IMMIGRANTS The WMC WERC Skills Development program is designed to prepare individuals for entrylevel occupations in advanced wood manuincluding First Nations, Inuit and Métis, new immigrants and persons with disabilities. Participants of the program are provided with skills upgrading in the following areas: • • • •
Job Readiness Essential and Life Skills Introduction to Basic Wood Manufacturing Safety Training, Job Shadowing and Job Placement
Successful candidates of the minimum 8 week program will be better able to seek long term career opportunities in cabinet making, furniture, manufactured housing and other advanced wood sectors across Canada. If you are interested in participating in the WERC program in your area or are a manufacturer looking for new entry level woodworkers, please visit www.wmc-cfb.ca or contact: Wood Manufacturing Council 1016 -130 Albert Street Ottawa, ON, Canada K1P 5G4 Tel: 613-567-5511 * Fax: 613-567-5411 Website: www.wmc-cfb.ca
130 Albert Street, suite 1016 Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4
T 613-567-5511 F 613-567-5411 www.wmc-cfb.ca
Funded by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program