How To Lend A Helping Hand:
Disabilities or Different Abilities?

I’ve been doing some reading about the idea and term “disability” and how it varies within different communities. Generally mainstream legislation and training describes a disability as something that is lacking, an inability or a weakness.

By comparison, the First Nations Health Authority explains that in some First Nations languages the term “disability” does not exist. Instead of focusing on what is ‘missing,’ emphasis is placed on accepting someone for who they are, their strengths, gifts and contributions, and removing the barriers that prevent them from realizing these attributes, sharing them optimally in their families and communities.

Workright agrees. In fact, we specifically partnered with Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, when we created our Accessibilities for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Training, because this is the essence of their approach.

In our training course you will hear interviews with Ian Ashworth, Dog Guides Director of Program Development, share his wisdom. He talks about everyone having different abilities, and he teaches us how to “lend a helping hand” without offending, assuming or harming. He walks us through demonstrations on how to approach someone with different abilities, how to speak, what to say and not say, and more. It is a gentle, respectful and thoughtful approach.

Your Ontario-based organization must be accessible to those with differing abilities by January 2025.

Workright’s AODA Compliance Course provides all the legislation mandated information required and includes employee testing and certification, so your organization can demonstrate compliance.

As an added benefit, we developed the Helping Hands Guidebook to provide your organization with fillable template forms for your plan, notices, language, checklists and other resources required to meet the mandatory Customer Service Standard piece of the legislation.

It’s June. There are seven months remaining to implement your training and Customer Service Standard requirements. Workrights’s AODA course is offered online, is cost effective and we are here to help you complete your obligations quickly and seamlessly. Group rates are available.

Next Step

Contact Melissa Simons at msimons@workright.ca and she will gladly help you with information, pricing, online, implementation and any other questions you may have.

Warmly,