Accessible Employment Pathways for Newcomers: Insights for Settlement and Employment Professionals

Summary

OCASI, in collaboration with SMILE Canada Support Services, invites you to a Hybrid Forum:
  • Date: October 8, 2026
  • Time: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Location: Ottawa Conference and Event Centre, 200 Coventry Rd, Ottawa, ON K1K 4S3
  • Register to attend in-person!
    Please register in person only if you're fully committed, so we can plan an exceptional experience for everyone.
  • Register to attend online!

About this Event

This full-day hybrid forum is designed to enhance settlement workers’ capacity to support immigrants and refugees with disabilities, chronic illness, trauma-related experiences, mental-health conditions, or other accessibility-related barriers in accessing equitable employment. The sessions will focus on the practical application of knowledge related to employment barriers, human rights obligations, accessible hiring practices, and referral pathways, aligning with priorities in workforce integration, rights and safety, and career development.

By participating, settlement service providers will strengthen their ability to:

  • Identify and respond to intersecting employment barriers affecting immigrants and refugees with disabilities
  • Apply human-rights principles, including the duty to accommodate, in employment-related support
  • Explore accessible job-search, recruitment, and job-entry processes
  • Navigate and utilize referral pathways, employment supports, and accessibility systems
  • Strengthen collaboration with employment, accessibility, and community partners to improve outcomes

Light breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided.

ASL, LSQ and simultaneous English ⇆ French interpretation will be provided.

Read full session descriptions!

In-Person registration deadline: September 25, 2026

Organizations are welcome to display their materials. To book a display space, please contact: pdevents@ocasi.org

If you have any questions, please contact pdevents@ocasi.org

Related Resources