Many employers still hold the view that disability is a limitation that is ongoing and more or less permanent. This may not be the case for those who experience periods of good health between periods of limitations or illness. In addition, these periods of wellness and disability are unpredictable. As a consequence, a person may move in and out of the labour force in an unpredictable manner.
Realize is a leader in research and advocacy where we examine and address the range of complex barriers to inclusion that are faced by people living with episodic disabilities. As the secretariat for the Episodic Disabilities Forum, we bring individuals together from multiple disability communities and organizations to work on these shared issues.
The Episodic Disabilities at Work Workshop will cover:
- What are Episodic Disabilities and what impact do they have on people’s lives?
- What are common workplace accommodations requested by people living with episodic disabilities?
- How employers can accommodate employees with episodic disabilities
- Tools and resources available to support return-to-work
The Episodic Disabilities at Work Workshop is presented by our Employment Services Department as part of the Epilepsy Employment Group (EEG). To register for this workshop, or find out more about our services, please contact [email protected].
About the presenter:
Melissa Egan is National Lead, Episodic Disabilities at Realize and has worked in the field of health and HIV for over 15 years as an educator and facilitator. Melissa’s experience includes front-line work at YouthCO, a peer-led agency working to reduce the impact of stigma related to HIV and Hep C. She spent eight years as Regional Educator for the Prairies with CATIE, an organization that works to strengthen Canada’s response to HIV and hepatitis C by bridging research and practice. Using her training in curriculum development and adult education, she also helped to created online learning courses about HIV and Hepatitis C Basics and Preventing the Sexual Transmission of HIV, along with webinars on Episodic Disabilities and Employment. She has worked extensively with marginalized, LGBTQ, and Indigenous people developing and delivering workshops across Canada.