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VICTORIA – The Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance has awarded contracts worth $900,000 to six community-based service providers to deliver supplemental employment services as part of government’s $20-million-a-year Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities (EPPD).
The new contracts were awarded to Assistive Technology BC, Back in
Motion Rehab Inc., BC Centre for Ability, Canadian National Institute for the Blind
(CNIB), Gastown Vocational Services and Neil Squire Society. Each three-year
contract, worth $150,000 annually, has an option for two one-year
renewals.
These agencies will provide specialized employment services designed to
meet the unique needs of persons with a neurological
disability, persons with a visual impairment, Aboriginal persons with
disabilities, and persons with disabilities requiring workplace technology
supports.
The ministry and Community Living British Columbia have both allocated $550,000 annually for a three-year Customized Employment Demonstration Project. The $1.1-million-per-year program will address the specific employment needs of persons with developmental disabilities. A request for proposals (RFP) seeking seven to 10 service providers to deliver services to these individuals was posted on BC Bid on March 28, 2008.
The $20-million Employment Program
for Persons with Disabilities provides approximately 6,000 British Columbians a
year with a full range of individualized employment services. These services
help both ministry clients and non-ministry clients to participate in the
workforce as they are able.
The ministry’s total investment in employment programs is over $70 million this year. This includes $35 million for the new BC Employment Program; $7.5 million for the new Community Assistance Program; $20 million for the new Employment program for Persons with Disabilities; $5 million for the Bridging Employment Program; and $5 million for the Community Volunteer Supplement Program.
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Communications Director 250 387-6489 |
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