It has become evident over the years that people living with a disability have often been overlooked in many life situations, particularly employment. Since April 1, 2007 Career & Employment Youth Services has become the service delivery provider for the Abilities Project. We have been working with people from Brandon and the surrounding rural communities within the Southwest Region of Manitoba in providing opportunities where getting back into the workforce within their own communities is the priority. Our services under this project are not limited to any catchment’s age category, and we strive to offer our employment assistant services free of charge throughout the surrounding Southwestern Region of Manitoba.

The Abilities Project for persons with disabilities is an employment-based program geared to assist clients in pursuing an active goal within the workforce. The objective of the Abilities Project is to generate innovative activities that help people with disabilities prepare for, obtain and keep employment or self-employment.

To be an eligible participant of the Abilities Project, an individual must:

• Self-identify as having a disability
• Be unemployed or under-employed
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada
• Be in need of assistance to prepare for, find, or become employed or self-employed.