YLI Toolkit.org is now live
VANCOUVER, BC, July 13, 2023 – Post-secondary students with disabilities often face significant challenges when it comes to finding employment, resulting in higher rates of unemployment and underemployment compared to their peers. In response to this pressing issue, the Disability Foundation created the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI), a research project investigating causes and solutions to barriers to employment encountered by young people with disabilities. Today, the YLI Team is proud to announce the launch of the YLI Toolkit, an innovative online resource hub aimed at empowering youth with disabilities and supporting employers in fostering inclusive workplaces.
The YLI Toolkit, created after three years of research and development, offers a comprehensive and free multimedia platform that serves as a one-stop resource database. It provides practical advice and guidance to the attitudinal barriers encountered by post-secondary youth with disabilities during their job search journey. The Toolkit is designed to support both youth with disabilities and employers seeking to create more inclusive and accessible work environments.
The YLI study conducted in tandem with the development of the Toolkit explored various employment challenges faced by post-secondary students with disabilities. These challenges include low self-confidence, high performance expectations, perceived discrimination, hesitation in disability disclosure, and lack of workplace accommodation. The YLI Toolkit addresses each of these barriers by offering practical tips, guidance, and resources to overcome them successfully.
Continually expanding and updating its resources, the YLI Toolkit combines the expertise of the YLI team, the YLI Advisory Committee, and respondents to the YLI research. It consolidates a wealth of knowledge and insights gathered from these sources to ensure a diverse range of perspectives are represented.
In addition to barrier-specific information, the YLI Toolkit features carefully curated career tips by the YLI team and offers a list of employers committed to workplace inclusivity.
“Everyone at the Disability Foundation is incredibly excited about the creation of the YLI Toolkit. The toolkit offers youth with disabilities much needed and valuable tools and approaches for mapping out their entry into the labour market. We can’t wait to see the outcomes for youth with disabilities as they start making use of the toolkit.”
– David Fong, former Executive Director of the Disability Foundation
“I’m excited to share how the Youth Leadership Initiative and the transformative YLI toolkit have empowered countless young individuals with disabilities on their journey to meaningful employment,” says Joshua Cabecinha-Alati, Youth Leadership Initiative Coordinator. “As we launch into Phase 2, we continue our commitment to breaking down barriers and creating a workforce that celebrates diversity and inclusivity. Join us in shaping a future where every young person can unleash their full potential.”
Mark Fulton, Associate Faculty Member of Royal Roads University and CEO & Founder LeadingCulture, shared his enthusiasm for the Youth Leadership Initiative toolkit, stating, “The YLI toolkit offers a comprehensive set of tools and strategies that empower young individuals to navigate the complex challenges of entering the job market with confidence. As a longtime developer of leaders, I highly recommend the Youth Leadership Initiative toolkit to anyone seeking to be inspired and be equipped with the tools they need to successfully enter the job market. It truly is a game-changer!”
The YLI Toolkit is now available online at YLIToolkit.org. It is an invaluable resource for post-secondary youth with disabilities, employers, and anyone interested in embarking on a journey towards greater workplace inclusivity and accessibility in Canada.