Project Update: May 2023

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Word cloud made by the Youth Advisory Committee in response to the question "What does employment support mean to you?"

What have we been up to?

• Our team is growing! We are glad to welcome Alejandra Hergert as the Community Network Engagement Facilitator. She will support all Community Network Engagement efforts (user-testing, working groups, external reviews). Alejandra has over 10 years’ experience working with people facing barriers to employment. You can read more about Alejandra’s experience and that of the rest of our team on our Teams page.

• Our Youth Advisory Committee reviewed the Guiding Principles Checklist during their May meeting. Our team is using this feedback to refine the language and content of the Checklist to ensure that it meets the diverse range of needs and identities held by young people with disabilities.

• As we work on finishing the Youth Survey Report, we are turning to our Caregiver Survey data. This report will be published after the Youth Survey Report, followed by the Service Provider Survey Report.

• The Caregiver Survey engaged 133 caregivers from across British Columbia. They identified the employment support-related gaps and barriers experienced by their youth. They also identified practices that have helped their youth access employment support programs and gain and keep employment.

What's next?

• We have established two working groups to support us in building out our employment support model for youth with disabilities. There is a Youth working group and a Field Professionals and Subject Matter Experts working group.

• User testing of the Guiding Principles Checklist is scheduled to begin in June.

• Our Youth Survey Report is nearing completion and is planned for publication in June.

• Both the Caregiver and Service Provider Survey Reports are being written. We look forward to sharing these insights with you once they are completed in the coming months.

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