Innovation Lab
The Innovation Lab Project
Collaboration and Innovation Accelerate Employment Outcomes
In 2021, the Canadian Association for Supported Employment’s Innovation Lab (IL) Project embarked on a transformative journey rooted in collaboration.
Over the next three years, with funds from Employment and Social Development Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, the IL Project worked with partners to spur innovative practices to accelerate employment outcomes for persons experiencing disability.
The goal was to dream something bigger and to explore new ways to move the needle on disability inclusion in employment.
Key IL Project Activities
Promising Practices Projects
Three regional initiatives that had potential for national impact were supported.
New Concept Projects
Through an innovation-focused Request for Proposal (RFP) process, 23 groundbreaking new projects from 16 organizations tested and expanded technological and innovative approaches in workforce development.
Research Project
In partnership with the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC), inclusive apprenticeship pathways in skilled trades were explored, helping job seekers experiencing disability access training and career development opportunities.
Promoting Supported Employment and Project Impact
CASE’s national programs were leveraged to create awareness of supported employment and to amplify the impact of IL projects.
The IL Project stands as a testament to what can be achieved when organizations come together with a shared vision to break employment barriers and to create opportunities for all workers.
By November 2024, the IL Project had united stakeholders, supported innovative initiatives, and built a strong foundation for ongoing inclusivity in employment.
CASE and the IL Project are deeply grateful for our project partners, our funder Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), CASE staff, and the many people and organizations who contributed to this initiative. Thank you for sparking dreams and unfolding them into the lives of persons experiencing disability across Canada.
As the IL Project concludes, the excitement and passion for collaboration and innovation will continue to move the needle forward in the supported employment sector.
Voices of Impact:
Redefining Employment through Innovation
Storytelling brings data to life, fosters deeper engagement, and drives real change.
Read the IL Project stories to glimpse the tangible impact of thoughtful, personalized approaches and the human element to all the data, which is also included at the end of the document.
Learn how collaboration, innovation, and empathy can empower individuals and reshape traditional employment practices.
Voices of Impact - Flipbook
Click the cover on the left to go to our Voices of Impact flipbook, which is hosted on an external website.
Voices of Impact - Accessible PDF
Download an accessible pdf of Voices of Impact by clicking on the button below.
CASE Course: Nature of Innovation
Deepen your understanding of the economic and social value of innovation in relation to advancing the inclusion of persons who experience disability within the Canadian workforce.
Module One: Focuses on defining innovation within the field of supported employment, identifying different types of innovation and the associative levels of risk, and exploring the role of Theory of Change in developing innovative products, services or systems.
Module Two: Highlights the key characteristics of innovative cultures and organizations, explores the value of collaborators and partners, and identifies benefits and considerations around innovation in creating a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Module Three: Designed to support organizations in developing an innovation project. Participants in this module will have an opportunity to directly apply the theories and information reviewed in modules one and two. They will also receive tips and strategies for designing each component of their project/proposal.
Sign up now by contacting [email protected] and inquiring about the “Nature of Innovation” course.
Contact Us!
To learn more or ask any questions about the CASE Innovation Lab, please reach out to [email protected]
This project was funded by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program.
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