Nova Scotia

Programs and Services

The Canada-Nova Scotia Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Agreement provides federal funding to a range of provincial programs designed to enhance the workforce participation of working age adults with disabilities by helping them to prepare for, attain, and maintain employment. Approximately 16,000 persons benefited directly from these provincial programs in 1999-2000.

In Nova Scotia, employability assistance programs and services are offered by the departments of Community Services, Education and Health. Programs and services are available to persons with disabilities for the duration of the disability. Consequently, interventions to improve the employability of a person with a disability, assist their entry to the work force or address vocational crisis tend to be long term interventions.

Service Delivery

Community Services

The Employability Assistance program provided assessment, career counselling and training to a total of 3,400 persons with disabilities from 1999-2001. Direct services include information and referral to appropriate services and programs, assessment of disabilities, employment and career counselling, skills training, and the provision of medical and technical aids. Employability Assistance counselors are responsible for assessing the application, counselling and assessment to determine program eligibility, and developing with the applicant a realistic, achievable vocational training plan. Approximately 350 people completed their training plan, and 450 became employed during 1999-2000. Another 23 people were sustained in employment during a vocational crisis. Once the vocational training plan has been established, the counselor may recommend to the Department of Education, Rehabilitation Programs and Services that it provide necessary aids and services to implement and complete the training plan.

Education

Rehabilitation Programs and Services provided supportive services to approximately 900 students and workers with disabilities, enabling them to pursue post-secondary training and to maintain employment during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. The department provided assessment and training interventions focusing on removing disability-related barriers in post-secondary training and employment. Students with disabilities are provided support while in training and on job sites. Ergonomic assistive and adaptive technologies, interpreters, attendants and tutors may be provided to enable persons with disabilities to participate and complete post-secondary training. These services enhance students' capacity to participate and compete in post-secondary training and the labour force.

Health

Addiction Services provides programs to reduce the disabling effects of addictions that create barriers to preparing for, attaining and retaining employment. Interventions focus on developing life and coping skills that address the disability, and on motivation to continue in recovery. By improving employability, persons with an addictions-related disability gain the confidence needed to obtain or maintain employment and, at the same time, gain skills to avoid relapse and employment crises. Approximately 7,200 persons benefited from Addictions Services during 1999-2000. 1,400 people were helped to maintain their employment during periods of vocational crisis.

All services provided by Addiction Services are part of a continuum of care providing prevention and community education, assessment, withdrawal management and community based services. Treatment and rehabilitation services are matched to the client's needs based on continual assessment. Consequently, clients move in and out of the range of programs as is appropriate to maximize progress toward independence. During 1999-2000, approximately 4,450 people successfully completed their programs and approximately 800 people found new employment.

Withdrawal Management provides supervised detoxification and begins the process of individual and group counselling through the Treatment Orientation Program. Community- based services provide structured treatment that helps the client develop a realistic plan for overcoming employment or vocational obstacles by strengthening his/her personal coping skills; providing basic information on addiction and its physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual effects; exploring feelings, attitudes, self esteem, and personal growth issues in a supportive environment; and putting into effect an employment re-entry plan. Depending upon the intensity of client needs, most services can be delivered on a day system through outpatient services. Outpatient services also provide support to clients who have received more intensive services to reinforce long-term recovery and improve employability.

Program Results

No information has been provided.

Consultation with the Public and People with Disabilities

An Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities (EAPD) Reference Committee has been established to advise the Nova Scotia government on the disability community's perspective relative to the EAPD agreement and its implementation. In 2000-2001, an "Interim" Reference Committee developed and tabled a Terms of Reference for a standing EAPD Reference Committee. The Committee is comprised of the community representatives on the Disabled Persons Commission, along with other key disability representatives.

The Reference Committee advises the Canada-Nova Scotia Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Implementation Committee concerning the planning, implementation, management, evaluation and reporting of the EAPD agreement. The Reference Committee may review and provide advice on any proposed changes to the programs and services that will be implemented as part of the multi-year program and expenditure plan; provide suggestions for improvement to the design and delivery of programs and services funded through EAPD; recommend a mechanism for community participation in the delivery of EAPD services throughout the province; and review and provide advice for the accountability framework.

In addition, representatives of the EAPD program meet annually with the Provincial Collaborative Partnership Network that has been established by Human Resources Development Canada to give an update on the program and to seek feedback and concerns from the community. As well, program representatives meet regularly with local Collaborative Partnership committees.

Provincial Contact

Ms. Shulamith Medjuck
Senior Advisor
Federal/Provincial Social Initiatives Unit
Department of Community Services
P.O. Box 696
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2T7
Tel.: (902) 424-4039
Fax.: (902) 424-0502
E-mail: medjucs@gov.ns.ca