Skip to content

LiveWorkPlay is the 2024 recipient of the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) “Disability Employment Service Award for Promising Practice and Innovation”

From the official notification of the ODEN awards committee (la traduction française apparaît ci-dessous):

LiveWorkPlay has been selected as the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) recipient of the Disability Employment Service Award for Promising Practice and Innovation for 2024! This award recognizes your promising practices and innovation in service delivery that has significantly contributed to increasing employment opportunities for people who have a disability.

The selection committee was truly impressed with the evidence presented about the Public Sector Employment Supports Model© which stood out as an excellent example of an innovative approach to supporting jobseekers who have a disability and fostering disability-inclusive workplaces. Congratulations once again on this well-deserved award. You have truly made a difference, and we are honoured to celebrate your success.

As a recipient of the Disability Employment Service Award for Promising Practice and Innovation, LiveWorkPlay was formally recognized at ODEN’s Rethinking Disability Conference on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, in front of hundreds of peers and community partners.

Announced by ODEN Vice-Chair Chris Guillemette and presented by Ingrid Muschta, Director of Special Projects & Innovation. Accepting for LiveWorkPlay were Co-Leaders Julie Kingstone and Keenan Wellar, Director of Employment Supports Anna Nelson, and Employment Supports Team Lead Rebecca Coxon.

La notification officielle du comité des prix disait :

VivreTravaillerJouer a été sélectionné par le Réseau ontarien pour l’emploi des personnes en situation de handicap comme lauréat du Prix du Service d’emploi des personnes en situation de handicap pour les pratiques prometteuses et l’innovation pour 2024 ! Ce prix récompense vos pratiques prometteuses et vos innovations en matière de prestation de services qui ont contribué de manière significative à l’augmentation des opportunités d’emploi pour les personnes en situation de handicap. 

Le comité de sélection a été réellement impressionné par les preuves présentées au sujet du Modèle de soutien à l’emploi© dans la fonction publique, qui s’est imposé comme un excellent exemple d’approche innovante en matière de soutien aux demandeurs d’emploi en situation de handicap et de promotion de lieux de travail favorisant l’intégration des personnes en situation de handicap. 

En tant que lauréat du Prix du Service de l’emploi des personnes en situation de handicap pour les pratiques prometteuses et l’innovation, VivreTravaillerJouer a été officiellement reconnu lors de la conférence Réimaginer le handicap, le mardi 5 novembre 2024, devant des centaines de pairs et de partenaires communautaires.

Special thanks to:

    • Jen Soucy, original staff leader for the Federal Employment Strategy Group (succeeded by current Director of Employment Supports, Anna Nelson, in 2017).
    • Mary Gusella, Daniel Spagnolo, and Dan Carleton, original members of the Federal Employment Strategy Group (Mary joined as a recently retired public servant and former Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Daniel and Dan are both current federal public servants).
    • Ready, Willing and Able for your financial support of the Canadian Network Supporting Inclusive Public Sector Employment (CNSIPSE) and your ongoing encouragement of our efforts.
    • The Ministry of Community, Children and Social Services for including us as an Ottawa area Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Employment Suppors provider (transitioned to Employment Ontario and the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development in 2023-2024).
    • The Government of New Brunswick for creating their own extensive inclusive employment standards including the implementation of the LiveWorkPlay model.
    • The Azrieli Foundation for your financial support in helping us expand hires across the country with our CNSIPSE partners.
    • Ottawa Community Foundation and United Way East Ontario for helping this initiative get off the ground.
    • Nadine Ghadie, the team at Finance Canada, and Ines Escallon and the team at the Family Network for Supported Employment for creating this wonderful video.
  • The team at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada for their partnership and leadership over many years!
  • The team at Health Canada for being one of the early adopters and champions of inclusive hiring!
  • The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and the Public Service Commision of Canada for issuing “the challenge” and helping inspire our 2021 Case Study in promotion of our Employment Supports Model!
  • The Canadian Association for Supported Employment for giving us a national spotlight during a dark time back in 2021.

Special thanks to all 42 (and counting) agencies and departments of the Government of Canada for hiring one or more employees with an intellectual disabilities and/or autisitc persons!

And most of all: to the amazing jobseekers who honoured us with the opportunity to support you on your employment journey, and for making us look GREAT by so capably serving as public servants in the Government of Canada.