Disability Awareness Trainer

Disability Awareness Trainer – Job Description

The Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) is a professional body of employment service providers united to increase employment opportunities for people who have a disability. We have over 130 members from across the province who support people of all disability types.

Our Vision

That all people who have a disability in Ontario have access to the labour force and the ability to achieve meaningful employment.

Our Mission

• Remove barriers that limit employment opportunities for people who have a disability
• Developing marketing initiatives and provide education for the business and corporate sector about the merits of including people who have a disability in the workforce.
• Improve the skills and competency of employment service providers through networking, information sharing, training, and the promotion of best practice.
• Work with government on issues that impact service delivery and employment service providers’ ability to help people who have a disability achieve their employment goals.

Mandate – Centre for Excellence in Employment Services

ODEN operates the Centre for Excellence in Employment Services. The mandate for the Centre for Excellence is to ensure Ontario builds and maintains the best possible employment service delivery network through five core areas of work – promoting innovation and best practice; providing top-notch training and development for professionals in the sector; providing consulting assistance; engaging the business community; and supporting community networks.

Core Principles

We subscribe to some basic but core principles in our work

1. Our job is to make it practical and simple for both businesses and service agencies to work together and increase employment for job seekers who have a disability
2. We respond to all customer requests – businesses and employment service agencies in a timely manner
3. We uphold a high standard of professionalism in all we do
4. We operate and act with honesty and integrity

Our Team

We are a dynamic team, comprised of a Chief Executive Officer, Director of Development and Capacity Building, Director of Special Projects and Innovation, a team of Disability Employment Inclusion Specialists, Director of Business and Financial Services, Administration and Membership Coordinator, and a Communication Strategist. ODEN team members work from home offices and collaborate in person via virtual platforms and scheduled, in-person meetings.

The Disability Awareness Trainer has expertise in training and consulting for the business and/or disability service sector, with a focus on disability inclusive hiring.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Employer Engagement and Capacity Building

• Engage and encourage business owners/operators to include people who have a disability in their hiring and recruitment processes
• Make presentations to business audiences based on the Business Case for including people who have a disability in the workplace
• Deliver Disability Awareness and Confidence Training, specifically designed for businesses, to increase employer awareness, employment opportunities and job quality for people who have a disability
• Utilize evaluation tools and modify curriculum and delivery methods in consultation with ODEN team members
• Participate in the creation of outreach and marketing tools that will provide businesses with the ability to register for and participate in training
• Participate in the creation and testing of sector-specific curriculum products, resources, tools & toolkits for employers, utilizing various mediums i.e., print, digital, video
• Provide consulting assistance to businesses on disability-related issues, recruitment and onboarding processes, accessibility, accommodations
• Provide local follow-up support to businesses that may include coaching, consulting, and process reviews
• Participate in the identification of ODEN Business Champions

Employment Services Engagement

• Support the marketing and socializing of the Project to Employment Service Providers
• Develop and foster relationships between businesses and their local community Employment Service agencies to facilitate easier access to employees/employment
• Engage employment service providers, through various ODEN Connection events, outreach material, and media channels
• Coordinate/broker job opportunities with community employment agencies to provide job candidates and support services

Additional Duties

• Apply evaluation tools and modify approaches accordingly to ODEN’s model of continuous improvement
• Contribute to the development of case studies of promising practices, inclusive hiring methods, and successful employment from the employment service and business sectors
• Participate and represent the project at ODEN’s Annual Rethinking Disability Conference, sponsored trade shows, external conferences, and other events
• Provide input and content relevant to the project for ODEN’s social media posts, monthly newsletters & communication for employers and the ODEN membership
• Maintain documentation of work and records to support ODEN’s outcomes measurement and compliance requirements for funders, grants and contractual obligations

Reporting:

The Disability Awareness Trainer reports directly to the Director assigned at time of hire. This reporting may change as the needs of the organization change.

Working Conditions:

• ODEN is based on a ‘virtual’ platform, and no offices exist. As such, candidates must have a fully equipped, secure and ergonomically suitable home office including a computer capable of operating MS Office 365 and other current software
• An advanced computer literacy and competency level with MS Office 365 applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams, SharePoint) that enable you to successfully meet the functions of the role independently
• The ODEN Team meets routinely, both in-person and through video conference. We expect all team members to contribute to meeting discussions and organizational development goal setting and attainment
• Travel is required and the ability to work outside of regular working hours for meetings and community events, training, seminars, or to work in other locations, including overnight stays while on assignment
• All team members are expected to work collaboratively with their Directors in setting personal development goals and to work toward the attainment of those goals
• Work closely with their Director to ensure all proposals, correspondence, reports, etc. conform to ODEN Brand guidelines, pricing structures, templates, etc.
• Ensure all required reports, contracts, time sheets, expense claims, etc. are provided to the administrative team and/or updated in the CRM in a timely manner
• All team members will adhere to ODEN’s Code of Ethics, Conflict of Interest, and all policies and practices as outlined in the Personnel Policy Guide

Please Note:

The role description outlined above indicates the general nature and level of work expected. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities, and may be altered due to the changing nature of work.

At ODEN we are committed to an accessible, diverse, and inclusive work environment where all employees are valued, respected, and supported. We encourage applications from candidates with a variety of lived experiences, especially candidates who have a disability.

Application deadline is December 22 at 4:00 PM EST.

Contact Duration: Starting date of January 5th, 2026. Concluding on March 31, 2026, with the possibility of extension.