CASE Member Spotlight
Family Support Network for Employment (FSNE)
For the French version of this post, please click here. | Pour la version française de cet article, veuillez cliquer ici.
The Family Support Network for Employment or FSNE is a family-led coalition that advocates for systemic change to improve employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities facing higher employment barriers. Established in 2018, FSNE has a fast-growing base of over 250 families in Ontario.
The Value of Different Types of Employment
Families Are Stronger Together
FSNE strives for employment for all, regardless of (dis)ability, by supporting families to become “Critical Thinkers” to disrupt the employment system in Ontario.
Persons with intellectual disabilities face higher barriers to employment in the open labour market. Inspired families with information, knowledge, resources, and advocacy skills will LEAD and frame the employment journey for their family member with an intellectual disability.
Families are key stakeholders in employment-first best practices.
Finding a Purpose through Labour Market Participation
FSNE advocates for:
- Employment opportunities and jobs in the open labour market for individuals with developmental disabilities who face higher employment barriers.
- Consultative Selling with Third Party Support Representation as the employment model that better serves job seekers with developmental disabilities.
Research, consultations, and focus groups drive the work they do to empower families through digital engagement and learning.
FSNE works on developing:
- Standardized approaches for peer-to-peer knowledge transfer about Real Jobs with Real Pay in the open labour market for family members and caregivers of persons with intellectual disabilities so that employment can become a reality for many.
- Resources to enhance the knowledge and understanding of Ontario’s employment stakeholders about Consultative Selling with Third Party Support Representation and related best practices.
They are focused on strengthening the knowledge in Ontario around FSNE’s work and values.
Best practices for third-party employment agencies on working with job seekers with intellectual disability.
Evidence-Based Best Practices
FSNE’s families are committed to a better future, fuelled by their principles of inclusion and employment-first framework. They believe that equal and equitable opportunities for access to employment in the community is a human right. FSNE supports the implementation of best practices, including government funding and programming, in the educational system and in employment service providers’ delivery in Ontario.
Their work builds on the research and consultations conducted over the years and on families’ lived experiences and stories of success and challenges. Their solutions highlight evidence-based best practices that respond to the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities facing higher employment barriers. One solution includes using digital Peer-to-Peer Knowledge Transfer that is sustainable and scalable.
Employment in the general workforce is the preferred outcome for all working-age citizens with disabilities, regardless of the level of disability.
Long-term employment in the general workforce for people with intellectual disability is possible, practical, and sustainable for all involved.
Personal stories from self-advocates who are or want to be employed in the open labour market.
A Vision for Inclusion: Building Capacity throughout the Employment System
FSNE will continue to build capacity to address the lack of employment for individuals with developmental disabilities facing higher employment obstacles and increase their Market Share of Employment Opportunities.
Families with knowledge about best practices and skills will raise awareness, identify systemic changes that need to happen, and demand employment as an outcome.
FSNE will continue to develop resources based on best practices for every employment stakeholder. They are creating powerful, trusted learning paths for all employment stakeholders in the system in Ontario.
They are for:
- Families so that they become empowered in the journey to employment for their family member with an intellectual disability.
- Educational Systems so that schools and secondary education can support students with an intellectual disability to prepare for the job market.
- Developmental Service Providers to understand their role, responsibilities, and the support they should provide to families early in life and during the school years.
- Employment Service Providers to understand the Consultative Selling with Third Party Support Representation Employment Model.
- Government so that Employment Ontario policies, practices, and funding respond to the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities facing higher employment barriers.
They are for no one being left behind.
For more information about FSNE, visit their website.
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