Many Yellowknifers may know the Yellowknife Association for Community Living (YKACL) as just the Abe Miller Building on 53rd Street.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut itSA国际影视传媒檚 more than this building,SA国际影视传媒� said executive director Lynn Elkin. The non-profit organization offers a variety of supports including free employment services, respite care and programs that help people with disabilities transition from the school system into the workplace.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a variety of disabilities that we support, through our employment services, itSA国际影视传媒檚 not just intellectual and developmental disabilities. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a whole range of any disability at all, including mental health and physical disabilities,SA国际影视传媒� said Elkin. On a given day they work with around 100 individuals with disabilities and their families, she said.

Those individuals include people like Kineta Michel. Michel has worked at the local Boston Pizza since last March, a job she was able to access through the YKACLSA国际影视传媒檚 employment program.

SA国际影视传媒淚 do prep work,SA国际影视传媒� said Michel. SA国际影视传媒淚 do the pasta, the wings, the cheese, the pizza dough, and mashed potatoes.SA国际影视传媒� Michel said she likes her job, especially getting paid, and sheSA国际影视传媒檚 planning on saving up her money.

The roster of clients using the YKACL's employment services ranges from 40 to upwards of 50 people in a given month and has steadily grown over the years, said Elkin.

SA国际影视传媒淣ot just because there are more people but because people with disabilities realize they can work, and they have seen it be successful,SA国际影视传媒� said Elkin. Employers also continue to be more open, which creates more opportunities for clients, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淎nyone who has a disability or self-identifies as having a disability, we can definitely help them,SA国际影视传媒� said Junn Gesmundo, EmployABILITY and Employment Services Manager at YKACL.

The services they provide include helping people create or update resumes and cover letters, conducting mock interviews, and finding employment.

SA国际影视传媒淲e also have our School 2 Work program where I go to all the local high schools,SA国际影视传媒� said Gesmundo. The School 2 Work program was created six years ago to help fill the gap when students leave high school Teachers select students they feel would benefit from the program, which connects them to employment opportunities.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese students can be ranging from anyone on the spectrum or anyone that might need a little bit of support,SA国际影视传媒� he said. The program starts out with volunteer work experience in grade 11 transitioning into paid employment in grade 12. Before this program was established, they found some students with disabilities didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know what to do after high school.

SA国际影视传媒淩ather than staying at home...this programs exposes to them that they have different options because we know that some students are not able to do post-secondary,SA国际影视传媒� said Gesmundo.

But some employers can be very hesitant to hire a person with disabilities.

SA国际影视传媒淪ome think that theySA国际影视传媒檙e in a wheelchair, they canSA国际影视传媒檛 do this. But no, itSA国际影视传媒檚 just that some of our clients do have obstacles. But it does not mean they canSA国际影视传媒檛 do the job,SA国际影视传媒� said Gesmundo.

SA国际影视传媒淓ven if the employers are ready, some of the coworkers might not be,SA国际影视传媒� said Donna Meserah-Zydb, the Skills Training and Community Inclusion Manager. She works with the Yes Program, which was created a year and a half ago.

SA国际影视传媒淲e focus on employment, what to expect when youSA国际影视传媒檙e employed, how to behave in an employment setting, get used to routines, so coming to work every day, eating lunch, no cellphones, once you start a job you complete a job, those types of things,SA国际影视传媒� she said. They also work on communication skills, social skills, and literacy skills.

Meserah-Zydb currently works with 13 clients in the skills program, over half of whom have their own part-time job, and sometimes multiple jobs.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have to go at a pace that works for them, so we try and gradually increase so that they get used to being at work,SA国际影视传媒� said Elkin. SA国际影视传媒淏ecause if you havenSA国际影视传媒檛 done that for a while, maintaining that focus can be a challenge.SA国际影视传媒�

The YKACL advocates for their clients to help them find employment in Yellowknife, which is critical for people who might not realize the opportunities.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey havenSA国际影视传媒檛 been told they have lots of options, they think they can work one or two places,SA国际影视传媒� said Elkin.

Having work placements in the community opens their eyes to whatSA国际影视传媒檚 out there, she said, adding theySA国际影视传媒檝e had people working everywhere from photography studios to dental clinics.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have people employed all over the city, so any employer thatSA国际影视传媒檚 open to having the door open for us is really, really great,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The YKACL also runs the Odd Jobs Squad, which is less of a long-term commitment and clients are paid by the job.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e cut down peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 trees, weSA国际影视传媒檝e cleaned their garages, helping them clean their yard, move stuff, and they do that with a job coach,SA国际影视传媒� said Elkin. The Odd Jobs Squad can help people transition from wherever they might be, she said, whether they are re-entering the workforce, or just looking for some work experience.

But funding is a challenge for the association, said Elkin. SA国际影视传媒淭he need is far more than the funding that weSA国际影视传媒檝e been getting from the government and other sources,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The YKACL has 24 different funding sources, many of which have to be renewed annually.

SA国际影视传媒淲e try and make sure that every service we operate has more than one funding source. Having those multiple sources allows us to ensure we never lose a service for a client,SA国际影视传媒� said Elkin. The most important part about their funding is that it happens behind the scenes, so it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 interrupt clients services, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to say, sorry go away,SA国际影视传媒� said Elkin.

When people are first starting out with employment, some of them need support like job coaches for longer periods of time, which is an expensive process.

SA国际影视传媒淒own the road, it leads to good things,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The associationSA国际影视传媒檚 annual Gumboot Rally is a major fundraiser for them, and they are currently doing an online art auction.

SA国际影视传媒淭hose are fantastic because that money doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 come with strings attached and we can put it to the best use,SA国际影视传媒� said Elkin.

Over that last several years, YKACLSA国际影视传媒檚 board has used those funds to support employment programs and respite care.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are community living, we want people out in the community living, working, playing just like everyone else,SA国际影视传媒� she said.