In October of 2013, the Neil Squire Society partnered with the Carlyle Chamber of Commerce to establish a base of operations in southeast Saskatchewan to allow Neil Squire to introduce the "Working Together" program.
Six months into operations, Jena Lawrence, case manager based in Carlyle, explained that she has seen a lot of interest on the part of businesses in the southeast, but fewer individuals.
"Our program on a national level is doing quite well," Lawrence explained. "Carlyle hasn't had a Neil Squire office before, so Carlyle [and surrounding area] is a little bit slower than the national average, but just because people don't really know what Neil Squire is yet."
Essentially the Neil Squire Society looks at partnering people with a disability with a business to provide long term employment. In addition to helping people or businesses find someone that will be suited for the available position. This can in fact be achieved in different forms.
"If I have a participant who is interested in customer service and I see a help wanted sign or a posting anywhere I can approach the business and say 'This is our program and I think I have someone who might fit your criteria.' And then I can work with them on that," Lawrence said. "On the other side too if a business says I'm interested in your program, if you have anyone that fits this profile please refer them to me."
"And I've also had people who have said 'I've applied for this job, they're interested in me, but now we're interested in your program.' So it works all different ways, even if they've already found each other I can help them because we do accommodations too."
This step of Neil Squire becoming involved in the process then leads to an individual who will travel from Regina to the business and provide work place assessments to ensure the best fit possible.
"We have someone in Regina that comes out and does work place assessments, so even things that people or employers might not realize that if they change it will make it work better." Lawrence explained. "We do work with the client and the employer to make a better match."
As Lawrence further explained her work to The Observer it became obvious that the term "disability" can be defined by many people in very different terms and the people they assist in finding positions simply have a barrier that makes working difficult. This could be anything from anxiety, to dyslexia, to needing the office to be accessible.
"Disability is a very broad, broad term. It's self declared, if you see something as a barrier to yourself, it could be something like you could have had a heart attack and you tire out around the five hours of work and you just need to sit down for 45 minutes that's an accommodation," Lawrence stated. "People don't really think that if you've had a heart attack that it's a disability; but, it is because if there's a barrier that you need extra accommodation at work [then] that's a disability."
Accommodations then can range greatly as Lawrence says no two people ever need the exact same change in the work place.
"It's not always cut and dry, like a wheel chair ramp is really easy, everyone kind of recognizes that, but some accommodations are just so small like if you're going to give this person directions they listen better if it's a quiet room, one on one, that might be something like if they had anxiety."
Lawrence pointed out that many accommodations are quite easy and often cost very little. If an individual has dyslexia for example, it may simply require the employer giving verbal instructions instead of written ones.
"Most of the accommodations are easier fixes than people perceive them to be," she explained.
However, if there are costs surrounding a necessary accommodation then the Neil Squire Society can often help in this regard as well. For example, if someone needs computer software or hardware or specific gloves or an item needed to do a job Neil Squire has funding available for that.
Overall Lawrence looks to make long lasting connections between businesses and a new employee.
"It's an individual and an employer that has to be matched, you can't just place someone because they want a job, this is for long term employment, we're just giving everyone a chance to work the kinks out and get over some fears," Lawrence explained.
Though the "Working Together" program requires individuals to be job ready, Lawrence explained that the Regina offices have further programs that may be beneficial. This includes the "Long Distance Training" program which is a computer class that is completed at home. Thus, if it is the right fit for someone Lawrence is able to get in touch with the Regina office and the individual would be able to complete it from home.
In the southeast, Lawrence works from Weyburn to Estevan and up to Yorkton taking in a large area. She has seen much interest on behalf of employers in the area regarding the program, but hasn't been contacted by as many participants, but with more and more people becoming aware of the Neil Squire Society she is hoping this will change.
Since it is a large area and those Lawrence is working with are unemployed she traverses the countryside to meet with each person.
"Obviously they're unemployed and looking for a job money can be tight and so I will travel to see them and I will work out of their area, then it's not a concern of having to come to the Carlyle office, I do travel," Lawrence stated.
In addition to these efforts the Neil Squire Society can also help subsidize wages for their participant if they are given time to learn on the job. Neil Squire is able to help between six months to one year in this regard.
"There's kind of an untapped market of people who want to work and have the ability to work and who don't want to just be given a job where it's a job," Lawrence explained. "They want to work and they want to contribute, and we just need employers to realize that they can do it that they want to do it and the wage subsidy helps with that."
The Neil Squire Society recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, which for a non-profit organization is quite a milestone and they are looking to the future to continue making a difference in peoples' lives, including those in southeastern Saskatchewan as they are committed to the area.
For more information on the Neil Squire Society visit their website, www.neilsquire.ca, or contact Lawrence at (306)471-0773.
