Policy Recommendations for Increased Labour force Participation of People with Episodic Disabilities By Eileen McKee and Melissa Popiel

Policy Recommendations for Increased Labour force Participation of People with Episodic Disabilities

By Eileen McKee and Melissa Popiel

Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation

2

Overview• Inputs• Developing a Canadian Model• Model Highlights

– Income and Benefit Supports– Workplace Policies– Disability Management Centres– Recommendations

• From Plans to Reality


3

Inputs• Social Program Evaluation Group

(SPEG) from Queen’s University recommendations

• Multiple sector representatives• Models currently in use ex. NIDMAR,

Service Canada Centres, Promising Practices, CCRW etc.


4

Queen's Report Summary

• Review of international disability support policies• 21 recommendations for comprehensive supports

– Definitional/Conceptual Changes– Policy/Legal Changes– Administration– Income Benefits– Employment– Integration Strategies


5

Queen's Report Key Points

• Disability is not only a medical condition• A ‘social’ approach to defining disability

should be adopted• A commitment to flexible & timely income

assistance & employment policies for people with episodic disabilities

• Any new policies and programs must recognize the changing nature of the workplace


6

Queen's Report Key Points Continued

• Government should provide tax incentives or grants

• Everyone needs to be better informed about the advantages of involving people with episodic disabilities more equitably

Developing a Canadian Model


8

Process• Review of recommendations from

Queen’s report• Consultation with disability management

professionals and other champions• Draft review by Project Advisory

Committee members, disability management consultants, academia, insurance sector and government representatives


9

Model Highlights• Income Support, Health and Other Benefits

– Financial supports– Drug, Health and other Benefits– Individualized supports– Supports benefit both employees and

employers

• Workplace Environment– Workplace policy changes

– Comprehensive employee supports


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Disability Management Centres (DMC)– Comprehensive supports for both

employees and employers

– Can be accessed multiple times

– Services meet the needs of the individual or organization

• Employee Service Process

• Employer Service Process

Model Highlights


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Disability Management Centre Services

Employees

Varying Support NeedsVarying Levels of employment engagement

Employers

Varying SizesVarying economic motives

Disability Management Centre


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Disability Management Centres

● A unified accessible system of structural supports ● Comprehensive case management support

regarding episodic disabilities to both employers and employees

• Consulting and various other services designed

• Engage disabled employees in the workplace to their optimal capacity


13

Employee Service Process


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• Partial CPP(D) benefits● Continuous federal extended drug and health benefits ● Improved coordination with the insurance sector●Portability of benefits●Federal incentives to underwrite

insurance premiums for the uninsured

Recommendations


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Strengthening the Workplace Environment

Workplace Policy Changes (legislative or voluntary): ● Continuous employee assistance

● Allows persons to work to their potential as their health permits;

● Seamless income support and benefits coverage whether or not able to work.


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From plans to reality

• Next steps include strategizing the design and the national implementation process for the pilot sites

• Monitoring and evaluation recommendations and pilot sites

• Strong support is needed from all sectors


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A Role for Everyone

Upcoming work within the breakout sessions is designed to identify the nature of support that is

needed from each sector. The following questions will be addressed:

What can your sector bring to move on the recommendations?

What complementary response is needed from other sectors?

THANK YOU!!!

Documents

Policy Recommendations for Increased Labour force Participation of People with Episodic Disabilities By Eileen McKee and Melissa Popiel