In December 2010, Jeff attended the disAbility Expo (new window) in Saskatoon, where he met the Neil Squire Society (new window)’s Prairie Regional Manager, Nikki Lamb, who was hosting the table for the Society. While chatting with her he learned about the Employ-Ability Program.

Jeff uses a wheelchair, making it difficult for him do any sort of manual labour. He’s also legally blind from a condition called Uveitis (new window). “With this combination, the jobs that I can do are limited,” explains Jeff.

“Employ-Ability Program was especially appealing to me because I had spent the previous several months trying to find work on my own. Through that time period I sent out several applications, went in for interviews, but still had no work,” says Jeff, “I was losing some hope at this point and so the Employ-Ability Program gave me a ‘lift’ in my attitude. I was having doubts about my disabilities, thinking that perhaps I was being filtered out of employment because of them or that my disabilities were limiting my job opportunities to a point of near impossibility.”

“Though all the sections of the course have been helpful to me, the Career Development section has been especially helpful. In this section, learning how to make a Resume, Cover Letters, interview skills, job websites, etc. have all enhanced my job hunting skills. Though I did already have a resume and cover letter, it was helpful to have someone with a skilled and critical eye examine my papers such that they are now written quite professionally. Further, through the whole course in general the opportunity to meet all the people in the course and those instructing has given me many more social contacts, as well as a great deal of networking opportunity.”

With the course at an end, Jeff is now equipped with a strong resume, cover letter, and interview skills. He has been tracking various job postings websites and submitting applications to jobs that suit my abilities. He has had a number of interviews and is confident he will find an employment opportunity that fits.

Good luck, Jeff!