Resources

Two people sit at a meeting desk. One of them shakes hands with a person standing across the desk. The image represents a networking meeting between a facilitator and potential mentors or employer. 

Contents

Scroll down to explore or click on the tabs below to go to specific resources.

MentorAbility Resources

As a Mentorship Facilitator there are several supports that you can access, including your Hub Coordinator, the National mentor list, resources, and optional trainings.  

MentorAbility Canada is committed to providing network members with access to current resources designed to:
  • Promote the initiative.
  • Track key information (e.g., mentoring stats on a national level).

  • Share the impact of mentoring through experience stories.
  • Promote the inclusion of persons who experience disability in the Canadian workforce.
  • Share emerging and promising practices around mentoring.
Scroll down to explore relevant resources.

Your MentorAbility Hub

Did you know that the Hub Coordinator in your province or territory is there to support your work?  To learn more about how you can make the most out of your role and connection with MentorAbility, contact your Hub Coordinator.

To find and contact the Hub Coordinator in your province or territory, go to MA Network page by clicking on the button below. 

Partner Information Resource

By participating in MentorAbility, you can support your clients and the employers in your network — as well as your organization and community.

Download the resource below to share with your team and contacts who may be interested in becoming MentorAbility partners. It provides information on how to become a MentorAbility Partner and join a national network of employment organizations working toward employment inclusion!
  Click the button below to download partner information. Download link opens in new tab.

MentorAbility Canada Hub Highlight Series

Every month, MentorAbility Canada proudly presents one of our implementing partners. They are the MentorAbility coordinators—the backstage workers who quietly go about their tasks to ensure that job seekers, employers, and service providers can shine in the spotlight.
  Click the button below to learn more about the MentorAbility Canada Hub Highlight feature. Link opens in new tab.

MentorAbility Hub Activity Fund

A MentorAbility Hub Activity Fund has been created to further support project partners in strengthening their MentorAbility outcomes. This Activity Fund is available to Hub organizations and their Community Partners to undertake activities that may be beyond the scope of the standard Hub budget and that will secure increased project outcomes. 

Eligible Activities

Activities that are eligible for funding have the following outcomes:
  • Strengthen and increase commitment of the Hub’s existing employer or service provider partner network.
  • Increase 1:1 MentorAbility mentoring matches in the Hub’s province or territory.
  • Strengthen the disability awareness and/or commitment of employers to inclusion and to be further engaged in MentorAbility. Share the impact of mentoring through experience stories.
  • Increase the sustainability of the MentorAbility initiative in the Hub (or nationally). 
  • Allow the Hub to reach new communities, including rural communities, minority language (EN/FR) communities, and equity deserving groups. 
  • Better understand the current labour workforce challenges for persons experiencing disability, including remote work, hybrid work, and in-person work models.

Who Can Apply?

  • A Community Partner organization can request funding for an activity they will undertake alone.
  • A Community Partner organization and a MentorAbility Hub can collaborate on an activity together.
  • All activities must follow the 9 Guiding Principles of Supported Employment.
  • If a Community Partner organization is applying for funding, they must meet all 
    the following eligibility requirements: 

  • Have completed the MentorAbility Partner Sign-up Form.
  • Be a not-for-profit organization.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to the MentorAbility project and its 
    outcomes. For example, the organization might have:

  • Facilitated at least one MentorAbility mentorship match. 
  • Hosted MentorAbility events.
  • Promoted MentorAbility through their network and social network.
Download and review the "MentorAbility Activity Fund" resources below for more information.
  Click the button below to download the "MentorAbility Activity Fund" in either English or French. Download links open in new tabs.

Mentee Information Resource

As you know, a MentorAbility mentorship experience occurs when a job seeker or individual who experiences disability (Mentee) is matched with an employer or mentor for a short mentoring experience. 

Download and review the "Mentee Information" resource below for more information. You can also share this resource with potential mentees. 
  Click the button below to download the "Mentee Information" in either English or French. Download links open in new tabs.

Mentor Information Resource

Based on the Mentee’s area of interest, connect with local employers or individuals who are working in that sector. The more employers and mentors you connect with, the more options you have to secure a good mentoring match for the job seeker you work with.

Download the Employer Information resource below to learn more and to support your relationship-building. You can also share this resource with employers and mentors who want to learn more about the initiative.
  Click the button below to download the "Employer Information" in either English or French. Download links open in new tabs.

National Mentor Matching

Based on job seekers' interests, Hub Coordinators can support you to secure mentorship matches with national employer partners within the MentorAbility network.

We are proud to work with National Employer Partners who offer online and in-person mentorships across their office locations in Canada. Our National Employer Partners are: 
  • EY
  • IBM
  • Sun Life
  • Canada Post
  • Accessible Media Inc. 
  • Coca Cola Bottling 
  • Communication Securities Establishment  
  • Stingray
If you are interested in facilitating a mentorship with one of our National Employer Partners, please contact your Hub Coordinator. 

Training Course: Preparing to be a Mentorship Facilitator 

Preparing to be a Mentorship Facilitator course serves as a detailed guide to your role. The course offers: 
  • Downloadable checklists exploring the mentorship facilitation process and best practices.
  • Strategies to connect with mentors and employers.
  • A video on preparing a 45-second pitch.
  • Resources to engage mentors and employers.
To learn more about this course and to enroll, click on the link below to navigate to “The Facilitator Role” page. 

Other Training Opportunities 

As a national initiative, MentorAbility is committed to offering relevant, timely, and practical training that you can use for your own professional development. Many of these courses also cater to employers and mentors and can be used as engagement and value-added offerings to build relationships with employers.

Click on the button below to go the Training page to explore our current complimentary courses.

Sign-Up Forms

Listed below are forms for different participants to sign up with MentorAbility. It is helpful for Facilitators to be familiar with these as you may need to ask mentees, mentors, or partners to fill out these forms if they are interested in participating in the initiative.

Note: The three sign-up forms are bilingual. You can switch between English and French by clicking the language toggle on the top of the form.

Mentee Form

If you connect with an individual who is interested in participating in a short-term
mentorship with a mentor, please have them fill out the Mentee Form found at the link below.
 Click here to view the Mentee Form. Link opens in a new window.

Mentor Form

If you connect with an individual who is interested in participating in a short-term
mentorship with a mentee, please have them fill out the Mentor Form found at the link below.
 Click here to view the Mentor Form. Link opens in a new window.

Partner Form

If you connect with an organization or an employer who is interested in having their staff participate in a short-term mentoring experience with a Mentee, please have them fill out the Partner Form below found at the link below.
 Click here to view the Partner Form. Link opens in a new window.

DEAM Resources

Explore the following resources to learn more about ways to engage employers, service providers, and community partners during Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM), held every year in October.

DEAM Forms

MentorAbility can support with customizing DEAM resources for you. Contact your Hub Coordinator to coordinate customized DEAM resources and/or to learn more about ways to get involved during DEAM! Click the button below to explore DEAM resources on CASE's Website.
 Click here to view Deam Forms. Link opens in a new window.

Explore Mentorship Success Stories Across Canada

Experience stories draw our attention to what's possible, and through that process, they inspire us to take similar actions towards success. They increase our knowledge of how people can connect with each other to foster mutual growth and allows us to learn from their journeys.

To that end, each MentorAbility Experience explores the meaningful connections between a mentor and a mentee through a mentorship experience. This experience is supported by a local employment service provider who is part of the MA network. They show the initiative's impact and reach across Canada.

Scroll down to read this month's featured story! You can also click the button below to explore other stories shared by various MentorAbility participants and understand the unique value a mentoring experience offers each participant. 

 Click here to view MentorAbility Experience Stories. Link opens in a new window.

Featured Monthly Experience Story: Devin

Reconnecting with Cooking

“MentorAbility helped Devin to reconnect with his past cooking experience and confirmed how much he misses the satisfaction derived from those tasks. from.”  

— Zachery, MentorAbility Mentee

A graphic representing 3 people, the mentor, mentee and mentorship facilitator is shown. The accompanying text reads: "Devin: Reconnecting with Cooking. Facilitated by: March of Dimes Canada and Oden." The graphic contains the logos for MentorAbility Canada, CASE, and the Government of Canada at the bottom.

Devin's Experience Story

* For privacy reasons, we have chosen the name “Devin” to tell this participant’s story.

 While participating in March of Dimes Canada (MODC) programming, Devin learned about MentorAbility and decided to participate. Given Devin’s past cooking experience and interests, he was matched with a mentor in the hospitality industry.  This mentor has collaborated many times with MODC, has ties with many employers, and is known for supporting individuals facing employment barriers. They operate in a multi-faceted kitchen and manage events like weddings that require overseeing various tasks at the same time.   During the mentorship, Devin explored the culinary offerings at the hotel, and many were novel experiences. Devin was able to ask the chef about working hours, kitchen tools, and certifications. He was exposed to the intricate workings of a large production kitchen with its varied tasks. The mentor also emphasized the broader aspects of their industry so that Devin can infuse fresh perspectives into work and industry conversations with others.   For Devin, MentorAbility served as a reconnection with his past cooking experience. It confirmed his ability to perform those tasks and how much he misses the satisfaction derived from them. This experience inspired Devin to consider returning to work in a kitchen and helped him to see the potential assets he could bring to the role.   The MentorAbility mentorship played a crucial role in supporting Devin to learn more about the current hospitality industry and to establish a network. He is continuing in the career exploration phase and is working on pre-employment and job development with a specific focus on a culinary and food services career.  We’ll be first in line to taste your culinary offerings, Devin! 

Abilities at Work Podcast

A graphic containing text that reads:"Abilities at Work/Les forces au travail. Hosted by/Organisé par: CASE/ACSE (Canadian Association for Supported Employment/ L'Association Canadienne de soutien à ľemploi.)"
On the Abilities at Work podcast, we hosts knowledgeable speakers who answer questions about connecting individuals who experience disability with meaningful employment and mentorship opportunities.

Click on the button below to explore our podcasts!  
  Click on the button below to explore Abilities at Work podcast episodes. Link opens in new tab.

Listen to the Latest Episodes Here

A Spotify player embedded loaded with the latest Abilities at Work Podcast episode. Transcript for the podcast is provided below the description. For other podcast players and lists of other episodes and their transcripts, visit the CASE website.

Employers and Service Providers Shed Light on Workplace Inclusion

On the newest episodes of the Abilities at Work podcast, employers share how they’ve integrated disability inclusion into their operations and why it’s important to their strategic goals.

In past episodes, employment service providers and the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) explain what supported employment is and the supports available for workers experiencing disability and employers.Employers will better understand how to attract and retain skilled talent and how to access expertise for extra support.Employment service providers will find nuggets of information to enhance how they work with employers and clients who experience disability.
 Click below to download the episode's transcript. Link opens in a new window.
To check out more Abilities at Work episodes, click on the below buttons to listen on your preferred podcast streaming service.
  Click the button below to listen to Abilities at Work episodes on your preferred podcast streaming service. Links open in new tabs.
Listen and subscribe to stay current on insights, resources, and emerging trends in the field of supported employment. If you have a question that you’d like to hear answered on the Abilities at Work podcast, email us at AbilitiesAtWork@Supportedemployment.ca.