Ready, Willing and Able
Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) is a national partnership active in more than 20 communities across the country. RWA is designed to help employers discover the business case for inclusive employment of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or an intellectual disability.
In today’s hyper-competitive business environment, the difference between success and failure lies in the talent and diverse skill set of your workforce. There are approximately 500,000 working age adults with intellectual disabilities or ASD. This untapped workforce can help address current labour shortages while making businesses stronger, more diverse and more productive.
As a national strategy to develop inclusive and effective labour markets, RWA will:
Connect and support employers, persons with intellectual disabilities or ASD and local, provincial and national community agencies
Promote understanding and awareness among employers and the general public as to the business value of hiring people with intellectual disabilities or ASD
Complement and enhance the capacity of community employment service delivery organizations by connecting them to new employer demand
RWA provides:
Information about why hiring a person with an intellectual disability or ASD is good for business
Individualized assistance to help you become a more inclusive employer
Assistance in identifying persons with an intellectual disability or ASD to address labour force needs in your company
Disability awareness information for your current employees
Direct connections to community agencies who provide employment-related services and supports to persons with intellectual disabilities or ASD
Individual on-the-job support for the employee to do their job effectively, including disability related accommodations if necessary
Connections to other employers who have hired individuals with intellectual disabilities or ASD
Connections to available research, best practice and expertise in the field of inclusive labour markets