SEPTEMBER 2014 / INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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ACHIEVING GOLD | FUNDING FOR EVERYONE | GOING ABROAD | INVESTMENT IN DISABILITIES
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
RESOURCES 06 Gettin’ outta here
THE FRONT PAGES
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Going abroad is certainly more of a challenge for people with disabilities, but with organization, research, and motivation, anything is possible.
09 INVESTMENT IN DISABILITIES The Canadian government is investing time and money into programs for all people. Find out how you can benefit!
13 Extra funding The National Educational Association of Disabled Students offers all kinds of resources, including a number of scholarships each year. We talk to an award winner to find out how this funding positively impacted her education and career.
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SUPERSTARS 16 Achieving gold Paralympic swimmer Benoît Huot is making a splash—not only winning 19 medals, but also running a foundation to help up-and-coming disabled athletes. Read on for his remarkable story.
20 Starting up with no limits Just because someone has a disability doesn’t mean they lack talent or ambition. Jennifer, Keith, and Maayan are three entrepreneurs that are fighting to make their career dreams come true, despite the odds.
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
FEATURES
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01
FRESH FUTURE FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CAREER CAN TAKE YOU
Be Yourself
We recognize colleague diversity as a source of national pride and strength.
Apply today Loblaw.ca/careers @loblawcareers
facebook.com/loblawcareers
MASTHEAD | AD INDEX
THE FRONT PAGES
publisher | Nathan Laurie nlaurie@jobpostings.ca
associate publisher | MARK LAURIE mlaurie@jobpostings.ca
EDITOR | James Michael McDonald jmcdonald@jobpostings.ca @mcjamdonald
ART DIRECTOR | ANTHONY CAPANO acapano@jobpostings.ca
STAFF WRITER | MEGAN SANTOS msantos@jobpostings.ca @megnifisantos
COMMUNICATIONS AND PROJECT MANAGER | DAVID TAL dtal@jobpostings.ca @davidtalwrites
Communications Coordinator | JAMIE BERTOLINI jbertolini@jobpostings.ca
DEVELOPER | Mishraz Ahmad Bhounr mbhounr@jobpostings.ca
Senior national account manager | Mary Vanderpas mvanderpas@jobpostings.ca
EDUCATION ACCOUNT MANAGER | Shannon Tracey stracey@jobpostings.ca
national account manager | Mirelle Shimonov mshimonov@jobpostings.ca
Contributors: Kate Aenlle, Mehreen shahid
Photos from thinkstock.com are used throughout this issue; individual artists have been credited. Cover Illustration: Marvid, Anthony Capano Jobpostings publishes its (dis)ability issue annually. It is distributed to over 105 universities and colleges in Canada. Contents of this publication are protected by copyright and may not be reprinted in whole or part without permission of the publishers. “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” — Christopher Reeve
SCHOOL INDEX
02 Loblaw
11 FINTRAC
OBC The Home Depot
12 Cambrian College
04 TD Bank
11 SaskPower
whos hiring
GENERAL ADS
08 Farm Credit Canada
11 Futurpreneur
15 NEADS
IFC Target
08 Imperial
19 BDO Canada LLP
IBC Canada’s Luckiest Student
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
CONTACT: 25 Imperial Street, Suite 100 Toronto, ON M5P 1B9 | jobpostings.ca | 416.932.8866 ext. 221 | info@jobpostings.ca
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We’ll give you more ways to make an impact. Discover the possibilities at TD.
Achieve your full potential. At TD, we recognize your ability and provide a work environment that exceeds your expectations. Discover why TD is an extraordinary place to work, with a unique and inclusive culture. Visit TD.com/careers, create your profile, and apply today!
Editor’s note
THE FRONT PAGES
Push your limits We all face challenges. There are plenty of typical obstacles: getting good grades, finding the right job, dealing with difficult coworkers, even making the perfect omelette! Unfortunately, some of us have more challenges than others, daily struggles to overcome. Growing up with a disability isn’t easy. Simple tasks that able-bodied people overlook can be a constant burden for people with disabilities. These troubles, big or small, can give us reason to hesitate and limit ourselves. Because of this, many people with disabilities are only using a small portion of their potential. The reason behind this issue is to motivate you to do more and to show you that nothing is impossible. Struggles, for the able-bodied or for people with disabilities, give each person a unique perspective on the world and the chance to rise above their challenges using their own experience and abilities. In the pages to follow, we speak to a number of incredible individuals with disabilities that have achieved greatness, pushing past their obstacles to compete in the Paralympics and receive incredible opportunities. We speak to three incredible people with disabilities who have started their own successful businesses. We’ve also included information on financial opportunities for people with disabilities to ensure everyone has a fair shot at a stable future. And this issue isn’t just for those with disabilities. There are people everywhere that aren’t challenging themselves, that aren’t pushing for greatness. However, reading these incredible stories should get you off the couch, striving to fulfil your potential, and inspiring you to do more.
Happy reading!
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
Although the people interviewed have gone on to do amazing things and live fulfilling lives, we believe everyone has the ability for greatness; sometimes we just need the inspiration to bring it out. Hopefully this issue provides you with the needed boost to push your limits and leap into your own adventure.
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GOING ABROAD | TIPS & TRICKS
Gettin’ outta here Get in touch with the school to see whether they offer disability services and what kind of accommodations they offer. If possible, try to get a hold of a former disabled student who can share their experiences with you.
Words Kate Aenlle // Illustrations Anthony Capano Making the decision to study abroad isn’t always easy. There are lots of things to consider, like finances and how prepared you are to live in a foreign country. The decision can be made even more difficult when you have to take your disability into consideration.
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
One way to ease your transition into a foreign country is to try and learn the language of the country you’ll be going to. Although this is not a specific disability-related tip, knowing the official language is extremely helpful. You don’t have to be fluent, but learning some basic phrases can go a long way if you should ever need assistance.
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Before you start packing away language books, there are some other things you should make sure you’ve covered— for instance, finding out what studying is like in the country you’ll be living. Uwe Hahnewald, a business administration student, is visually impaired. When he decided to go to a different country to study, he made sure to do his research upfront. “I like to know a little bit about where I am going,” he says. “I familiarized myself with the subway and bus system, or which shops are in the area I am living in.” Getting to know the neighbourhood and city you’ll be living in can be a great help in making a smooth transition
into your new surroundings. Doing research can also give you an idea of how accessible certain areas are, as well as what the public transportation system is like, should you require something like Toronto’s Wheel-Trans service. According to Melissa Nisbett, communications manager with the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), students can find out in advance what kind of environment they’ll be in by speaking directly with the schools that they plan on attending. “Institutions can provide assessment tests for students to identify issues and follow up with students to identify the best locations for each student,” she says. “Students can do their own research for institutions by contacting the accessibility office, or the international student offices of the places they are interested in.” Hahnewald agrees. “Get in touch with the school to see whether they offer disability services and what kind of accommodations they offer. If possible, try to get a hold on a former disabled student who can share their experiences with you.” Speaking with students like Hahnewald and getting a feel for what life in a foreign country will be like for someone who has a disability is a great way to get the next best thing to a first-hand experience. Knowing what you’re in
RESOURCES
for before you get on a plane might also make the decision to stay or go much easier. Hahnewald also recommends taking a trip to the city where your school is, as studying abroad is a long-term decision and, sometimes, you just need to experience things for yourself. He was fortunate enough to have vacationed in the country where he studied so he had an idea of what life would be like for him if he lived there.
“We also provide sessions for our members on the best practices for student placements at our annual conference,” says Nisbett. “Our members prepare their students through assessments with either the international student office or accessibilities office.” There are many other organizations out there that assist students with disabilities to achieve their post-secondary education goals, like the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS). They encourage “the self-empowerment of post-secondary students with dis-
When making the decision to study abroad, students may overlook travel accommodations. Queen’s University, for example, collected a pre-departure resources fact sheet for students with disabilities hoping to study abroad that outlines everything you need to know before you pack your bags. It includes links to disability travel planning and information on accessibility in places you may be studying. Uprooting yourself to study abroad is arguably one of the most exciting and challenging experiences for a student. Hahnewald, who had a great experience studying abroad, recommends that other students who want to do the same should give it a shot and not let their disability determine whether or not they should go. “I recommend studying abroad because it expands your horizons,” he says. “I think confidence, organization, and research is everything [if you want to study abroad]. The more I know upfront, the easier it was.”
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
Get assistance from organizations well before you get to your new location. Organizations like CBIE, for example, encourage over 150 members of theirs, (which include colleges, universities, and partner organizations), to serve vulnerable groups including individuals with visible and non-visible disabilities.
abilities,” and are “advocates for increased accessibility at all levels so that disabled students may gain equal access to college or university education, which is their right.” Organizations like NEADS may also be beneficial to students with disabilities, since NEADS’ board members are all “consumers with disabilities, with the exception of the ‘open’ rep.”
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“FCC really walks the talk when it comes to respecting differences.” – Julie, Accounts Payable File Clerk
Be comfortable with diversity At FCC, we’ve built a culture where you can be yourself. You’re an individual and it takes strong individuals to make a strong team. So, be who you are and feel at home when you come to work. fcc.ca/diversity
Discover what’s possible for your career. There’s more than one way to make a difference. That’s why at Imperial we offer multiple career paths that align with your ambitions. From developing new innovations in the oil sands to delivering high quality petroleum products, whatever your career, you’ll always have a place on a team that ’s working towards creating a better future.
Hiring students and graduates from engineering, science, business and trades & technology.
imperialoil.ca/careers
GOVERNMENT FUNDING | ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN
RESOURCES
Investment in disabilities Words Kate Aenlle // Images Mirek
Supporting the futures of Canadians comes top-of-mind when talking investments. Through the Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada recently invested millions of dollars in
with disabilities.
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
funding for Canadians
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GOVERNMENT FUNDING | ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN
upporting people with disabilities is an essential part of ensuring that they have bright and promising futures, especially when it comes time for them to find employment. The Government of Canada is taking steps to ensure that people with disabilities meet their career goals, through the Canadian Economic Action Plan.
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
Last year, they invested an additional $30 million over three years in an opportunities fund. According to the Canadian Economic Action Plan, this investment will “enable more Canadians with disabilities to obtain work experience with small- and medium-sized businesses,” as well as raise awareness among employers of the contribution people with disabilities can make to their business, and encourage them to hire people with disabilities.
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In a news release from the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, describes why it is important to invest money in programs to help people with disabilities find employment. “Canada needs all of our available talent at work,” says Minister Finley. “That is why Economic Action Plan 2013 is increasing opportunities for people with disabilities, helping them gain the skills and training they need to better participate in Canada’s labour market.” Another way the Canadian Economic Action Plan is increasing opportunities for employment among people with disabilities is by trying to propel the increase in their employment through the Canadian Employers Disability Forum. The program will be “managed by employers, for employers, to support education, training and sharing of resources and best practices concerning the hiring and retention of people with disabilities.” This will ensure that the skills of people with disabilities will be promoted, in order to show employers that they’re valuable to the workforce.
These plans and programs will hopefully increase employment among people with disabilities. Analytical reports show that employment rates for people with disabilities are on the rise and, hopefully, the continued progress of the Canadian Economic Action Plan and the Canadian Employers Disability Form will keep this trend going.
In the 2013 government budget plan, people can expect the continuing support for these programs. It outlines specifically: The introduction to a new generation of Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities by 2014, which will better meet employment needs of businesses and the employment prospects of people with disabilities. Reforming and extending the Opportunities Fund with $40 million per year starting in 2015–2016, in order to provide more training solutions for people with disabilities. Extending the Enabling Accessibility Fund, a fund that supports capital costs of construction and renovations to improve physical accessibility for people with disabilities by $15 million a year.
The budget plan also stated, “Since 2006, the government’s top priority has been the economy and job creation.” With all of these plans, the hope is just that. In years to come, these programs should help create more opportunities for employment for people with disabilities, as well as increase their accessibility which, in turn, will promote a more diverse workforce.
Get plugged into a great career.
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To learn more about FINTRAC and its employment opportunities, visit http://www.fintrac-canafe.gc.ca
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We also offer some of the best career opportunities in the province. Visit saskpower.com/careers to learn more and find the latest job listings.
Pour en savoir plus sur CANAFE et ses possibilités d’emploi, veuillez consulter le http://www.canafe-fintrac.gc.ca
jobpostingadd_update.pdf
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Build Your Success
Disability and Counselling Services to Help you Realize your Potential The world-renowned Glenn Crombie Centre for Student Support is a multi-service complex that promotes accessibility and success for students within the Cambrian Community. FREE services include: • Academic advising • Personal counselling
• Career advising • And more
If you have ever been diagnosed with a disability or experienced significant difficulties in your education, our team is trained to provide a wide range of advisory, assistive technology, and counselling services to help you. Learn more about why over 1,000 students with disabilities choose Cambrian each year.
Make an appointment to speak to one of our advisors at any time by calling (705) 566-8101, extension 7420 or 7311.
cambriancollege.ca
NEADS | AWARDS & FUNDING
RESOURCES
Extra funding Words James Michael McDonald // Illustration Narok Saad
That said, we all know education costs a pretty penny; books, courses, and living expenses quickly add up. For people with disabilities, extra expenses are often a factor, meaning more money with more barriers. Luckily, there are several financial resources available for students with disabilities.
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
Post-secondary institutions nationwide have made great strides in accommodating people with disabilities, understanding that a college or university education is extremely important to all people. From wheelchair ramps to special services in and out of classes to entire departments dedicated to people with disabilities, a post-secondary education is more available than ever.
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NEADS | AWARDS & FUNDING
The NEADS National Student Awards Program offers financial opportunities for disabled superstars.
An organization dedicated to this pursuit is the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS), which has the mandate to support full access to education and employment for post-secondary students and graduates with disabilities across Canada. They offer a database of resources, employment workshops, conferences, and special projects, all focused on access to education. “We address all aspects of post-secondary access and services, and we’re a cross-disability organization,” says Frank Smith, national coordinator. “It covers the gamut from physical disabilities to students who are deaf and hard of hearing to those with learning disabilities.” They also represent students with mental health issues and blind or visually impaired, and everyone in between. NEADS partners with a number of organizations to strengthen its reach, such as the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, the Canadian Federation of Students, and the Canadian Alliance of Students Association, among others.
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
In the last decade, the organization has developed two financial awards programs: The NEADS National Student Awards Program, worth $3,000, and the Holly Barlett Memorial Award, worth $1,000. “The NEADS student program started first and is moving into its eighth year,” says Smith, “and the Holly Bartlett award began four years ago, honouring a former NEADS board member who passed.” Through partnerships with various companies, private sector funding, and individual donors, NEADS has given out 67 tuition scholarships. “We consider them to be tuition scholarships, as they are primarily set up to support the cost of feed that students would have to incur, so the scholarships are not paid to the students directly; they’re paid to the university of the college awards office.” To be eligible, NEADS looks at a variety of factors to 14
select recipients. “We look at the balanced student who is both good in their studies and also an outstanding, well-rounded person,” says Smith. Chelsea Mohler was the recipient of the NEADS National Student Award in 2010 and 2011, partially funding her master’s degree in rehabilitation science. Mohler has congenital glaucoma and was born with no vision, although through corrective surgeries, she now has partial vision. She went on to complete two degrees and has been employed in roles doing important work for people with disabilities. “I completed an eight-month contract where I worked on a project looking at how to make science laboratories and practical spaces within courses that are comfortable for students with disabilities,” she says. She spent her time conducting interviews with professionals in the community, looking at methods and best practices for practical learning environments outside the science lab context. “A lab in a physical therapy school or an occupational therapy school and, of course, we were responsible for retrieving and synthesizing literature as well.” Her funding helped her develop the skills and research in her master’s necessary to excel in these roles. “I had a research assistant so it helped me cover some of the costs for her and, in my last year as a graduate, I didn’t live in London, Ontario where I did my master’s—I commuted when I had to be on campus from Toronto—so it helped with that.” Mohler was chosen because of her reference letters, her answers in her personal essay, and her extensive involvement in the community. In the future, she hopes to continue to help others and find solutions. “My interests are inclusion and higher education,” she says. “I also have a vested interest in the area of employment of people with vision loss.” To find out more about NEADS and their funding initiatives, check out neads.ca.
DisabilityAwards.ca Canada’s portal to awards and scholarships for students with disabilities
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
PARALYMPIAN | BenoĂŽt Huot
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SUPERSTARS
With 19 paralympic medals, swimmer Benoît Huot hopes to earn his 20th in 2016 in Rio. We need to stop thinking that people with a disability are different. We’re no different than any other and we can do everything that we want. Words Jamie Bertolini // Images Cdn. Paralympic Cmte.
Canadian Paralympic swimmer Benoît Huot wants to play a part in helping that movement grow by increasing awareness and showing Canadians the differences between the two events. “There’s still a lot of work to be done,” he says. “It’s better than it used to be but we need to work in the right direction to try and make that Paralympic gold medal worth the same in the eyes of the general public as the Olympic gold medal.”
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
From the Greek preposition “para” meaning beside or parallel, the Paralympics are meant to signify the parallel games to the Olympics. It’s the idea that the two movements exist side-by-side, according to the International Paralympic Committee.
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paralympian | Benoît Huot
THE HUMAN
THE ATHLETE
The foundation
Huot, from Montreal, was born with a clubfoot, which is why he’s eligible to compete in the Paralympics. The severity of a clubfoot differs among people. For Huot, he says everything below the knee on his right leg is smaller. The leg and foot are also less flexible in comparison.
Huot was first able to represent Canada back in 2000 during the Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Since then, he’s qualified for every summer games and has received 19 Paralympic medals overall, nine of which are gold.
When he isn’t training, Huot not only works hard to shed more light on the Paralympic movement but also works to help kids with disabilities achieve their dreams of someday competing at an international level.
“As a kid, I had to learn how to do the proper [kick] and even today it’s still very hard for me to kick normally,” he says. “It pretty much just doesn’t look normal because of the mobility in the ankle and flexibility and so on.”
There’s no difference in achievement being disabled or being able-bodied. If you believe in yourself, you’ll accomplish everything.
Huot recently graduated from the University of Quebec in Montreal with a major in communications marketing and minor in management. Due to his full-time training schedule, it took him eight years to complete the degree.
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
The athlete hopes to remain connected with physical activity, physical literacy, and sports in his future. “This is something that I’d really love to do after I’m done swimming because it’s something that I’ve got from my sport and I want to try to give back as much as possible,” he says.
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“Something that was very, very special for me was being the main flag bearer at the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Paralympic Games,” says Huot. “[They] select one athlete and I was the lucky one. After a great career, it was a real honour to carry that flag. Happens once in a lifetime!” Huot has also broken more than 50 world records since joining the Canadian National Team in 1998.
SOME SIDE NOTES AND FUN FACTS ABOUT THE MAN BEHIND THE medals
Favourite healthy food / Peaches
Favourite junk food / Chocolate
Favourite MOVIE / Forrest Gump
Favourite HOBBY / GOLFING
In 2009, Huot started the Benoît Huot Foundation after talking to American Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. The well-known athlete came to Montreal that year and helped raise $25,000 on the Foundation’s first night, says Huot. “The objective of the foundation is really to help athletes with disabilities that have the dream to compete at the Paralympics,” he says. “So they aren’t Paralympians yet.” Rather than supporting high-performance athletes, the Foundation aims to assist those who are still working towards making the national team. According to Huot, they lose a lot of talented young athletes in their teenage years because of a lack of resources. “The objective is to support that little window of athletes.” For young people coping with a disability in the workforce and elsewhere, Huot offers this advice: “We need to stop thinking that people with a disability are different. We’re no different than any other and we can do everything that we want.” “If you want to become a lawyer or you want to become an accountant, you can do it. It’s the same. There’s no difference in achievement being disabled or being able-bodied. If you believe in yourself, you’ll accomplish everything.”
“I figured it’d be a couple years before I got this kind of responsibility.” Career Opportunities at BDO.
BDO. Because relationships matter. There are many world-class accounting firms. Far fewer that offer a culture so rich in professional opportunity, personal fulfillment, and long-term growth. At BDO, we understand that exceptional service to our clients begins – and ends – with exceptional regard for our people. Because at its core, our business is not about numbers or spreadsheets, dollars or pence, but about people working with, for, and in service of others. In short, because relationships matter.
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STARTUPS | OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
“It’s just funny that you can take something that was a disability and turn it into a major positive.”
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FEATURE
Starting up with no limits Words Megan Santos // Ilustrations Anthony Capano, Marvid
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
Starting your own business from the ground up for the first time isn’t simple. Dealing with financials, gaining entrepreneurial experience, and having to flesh out a detailed business plan are just some of the challenges you may encounter as a rookie business owner. But that shouldn’t stop you. You’ll eventually get past the hurdles, build a strong network and, most importantly, gain the business experience you dreamed of when you first started. The three entrepreneurs we profile learned the ropes the same way you will, but with one special trait: their disabilities. And that didn’t stop them.
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STARTUPS | MAAYAN & KEITH
Maayan Ziv Photographer
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
Maayan Ziv Photography
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It took a broken wheelchair, a pointand-shoot camera, and the streets of New York City for Maayan Ziv to discover her passion for photography. Maayan lives with type two, spinal muscular atrophy—a disability that causes muscle weakness throughout her body. A type of muscular dystrophy, she travels, shoots, and performs everyday tasks from her wheelchair.
and started reaching out to people. I think a lot of it had to do with me being something different than what most people were expecting.”
Starting out as a camera-loving high school student, Maayan went on to study radio and television at Ryerson University, and worked on the side as a freelance photographer before starting her business, Maayan Ziv Photography. “It is kind of my brand that I launched a couple of years ago,” she explains. “It was something that I was really passionate about, so I took that leap and started putting myself out there and seeing if I could build a company.”
Since then, she has been able to travel back to her photography roots in New York City where she met with Grace Coddington, creative director of the American Vogue Magazine. “It was my first ever portfolio viewing,” says Maayan. “I had these really cool highlights in the beginning that set me off and got me started; it’s been really great and I’ve been really lucky.”
A fashion enthusiast with a forté in portrait photography, Maayan has had the opportunity to work with Toronto-based talent, in addition to familiar names like Edward Norton, Keri Russell, and Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor David Onley. The chance to photograph these famous faces came through hard work, in a self-branding experience Maayan simply describes as “interesting.” She focused her energy on networking and getting her name out to the public, she explains. “I put together a website,
And her models were drawn to her. “Being a photographer in a wheelchair was something that was actually exciting for people,” says Maayan, “so they wanted to see how I worked and how I could do it.”
The curiosity from others sparked Maayan’s creativity and motivated her to constantly try something new whenever the opportunity presented itself, but with a disability that affects her muscles and mobility, she’s often asked how she does it all. “Sometimes people have questions about technical stuff,” she says, referring to managing cameras and lighting, for instance. “I found that whenever there was any kind of obstacle and because I have to be creative, I’ll have to find a way to make it work for me,” adding that her artistic approach has become a signature part of the way she operates her business.
“I just use my own camera and I use lighter lenses so I’m not working with a heavy camera because weight for me can be an issue,” says Maayan. “Those lenses give off a certain look so that’s now what I’m known for. It’s an interesting mix between what my abilities are and being creative with what I can do.” In her years of photographing on the side to her current role at Maayan Ziv Photography, Maayan confidently says nothing has stopped her from pursuing what she wanted to do. She offers a piece of “corny” advice, as she calls it, to young entrepreneurs with disabilities: “I think the first thing is to believe in yourself and have the strength and confidence to say ‘this is what I love’ and then just go for it.” As she aspires to continue growing as a photographer, Maayan has goals of adding editorial portraiture to her portfolio, in addition to creating awareness of disabilities in the arts. What’s her next stop? She’ll be taking part in the Fashion Follows Form: Designs for Sitting Exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum that runs until the end of January 2015. “It’s really important for me to continue my work and create more of a message about that,” she says. “I’ll be part of that exhibition and there’s a write up about me, and I just talk about being a photographer with a disability.”
FEATURE
Keith Gelhorn Owner ADDvocacy ADHD Life Skills & Coaching
A career that started in skilled trades quickly changed when the British Columbia-based company that Keith Gelhorn was working for cut its staff from 77 to four in six months. To make matters more complicated, he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) shortly after. “I had a lot of problems with organization, getting orders right, and following things in a linear path,” says Keith, explaining the symptoms he had before he was diagnosed. “I was good at little pockets of things but couldn’t link everything together,” adding that easy tasks sometimes took him twice as long to complete.
But prior to his entrepreneurial debut, Keith knew he had to do his research. Seeing the thousands of ADHD coaches south of the border, he noticed Canada was lacking in the field. “I thought this would be a good opportunity to go back to school, so the school that I went to is called the ADD Coach Academy in New York,” he says. “The timing wouldn’t work out for it if I stayed in BC, so I relocated [to Nova Scotia] and went to school for disability supports and services, and then did coaching school at night.” Soon after, he started ADDvocacy ADHD & Life Skills Coaching. Focusing on lessons in organization, time management, relationship building, and educating in ADHD, Keith now coaches 30 students from the Nova Scotia Community College in Eastern Canada, in addition to a contract with non-profit groups throughout the province. And his experience running a business with ADHD himself has been life changing. “I’m always cooking up new ideas and I’m finding it really helpful in terms of being creative,” he says. “A lot of things come to me quickly so the amount that I’ve been able to accomplish in two and a half years of doing this is pretty phenomenal.” In 2013, Keith took his accomplishments further after he received the
2013 Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Nova Scotia-based Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network (EDN). “That was pretty significant given the fact that I had all these challenges,” he says. “I had such a rocky career over the years so winning that was pretty substantial. The spinoffs from it have been huge.” Now with a seat on the EDN board of directors, Keith was able to land additional contracts, further helping the growth of his two-yearold company. “It’s just funny that you can take something that was a disability and turn it into a major positive,” he says. “This year, I just got back from a high school tour with a business coordinator from EDN. We talked to high school kids about entrepreneurship and just different alternatives.” In addition to his full-time coaching career for people with ADHD, Keith continues to encourage entrepreneurship for young people despite their disabilities. “Find out as much as you can about the disability and reach out for mentors and the resources around you. Working for yourself could be extremely rewarding.” Looking ahead, Keith hopes to fill the support needs for ADHD sufferers throughout Nova Scotia, help other entrepreneurs kick-start their businesses, while also collaborating with other ADHD experts to write a book.
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
Unsure where his career was going to take him next, Keith decided he’d pursue his first passion in social work—a path he was told not to take years before. “I wanted to get into social work when I was coming out of high school and going into university but it took me about four years to do two years worth of school,” he explains. “When I came out of two years of college, I tried getting into the University of Victoria but I only had about a 70 per cent average and they wouldn’t let me in.” This led Keith to a ten-year career in skilled trades as a plumber before he started his own business ADDvocacy ADHD & Life Skills Coaching, a service designed to offer support and guidance to people
diagnosed with ADHD.
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STARTUPS | JENNIFER
Jennifer van Amerom Founding partner
Jobpostings.ca | (dis) ability | September 2014
Sources: chrc-ccdp.ca, vanierinstitute.ca
Culture & Company Inc.
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A successful recruiting career came to a brief halt when Jennifer van Amerom was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). “Our autoimmune system chooses to attack certain cells that protect the nerve fibres in our bodies and can leave temporary or permanent paralysis,” says Jennifer, explaining NMO. “The protecting layers of the cells that get attacked are primarily in the eyes, which causes optic neuritis and causes people to go blind.” NMO is a rare disease with symptoms similar to that of multiple sclerosis, like pins and needles and burning sensations throughout the body. For Jennifer, it was a trip to Europe that made her realize something wasn’t right. “I thought I just had a bad sunburn; it was just an average day and my leg basically went numb,” she says. “Within a couple of hours I had lost feeling and was paralyzed from the waist down.” A later attack affecting Jennifer’s vision confirmed her diagnosis of NMO, but has been fortunate enough to recover from both instances, and has now gone back to her recruiting roots. Before her diagnosis in 2009, Jennifer worked with clients across North America and Europe, specializing in recruitment for web design, frontend development, print publications, and any other position within the creative realm. In her comeback, she opted to part ways with the company
she had previously been working for, and took on a new chapter in her life. Jennifer started Culture & Company Inc. in 2013 with long-time, on and off colleague Shadi Ghani, after both women believed it was the perfect time to make an impact on the recruitment industry. Both having an entrepreneurial edge, they set out to fill the gap in company culture within the creative recruitment industry. 80% 70%
EMPLOYMENT RATE WITH A DISABILITY WITHOUT A DISABILITY
60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% SELF-EMPLOYED
EMPLOYED
“We do a really deep dive around understanding the types of people that work best in certain teams,” she says. “Everyone’s always talking about extroverts for example, and how they’re great sales folks, but introverts need to be championed as well; they’ve got a real driving force behind them.”
Mentorship, work experience, and an existing networking is what Jennifer says was needed prior to opening their own firm. And with all three essentials checked off, Jennifer and Shadi are now able to help large organizations with recruitment, and are continuing to grow as a company and as business owners. “Our long-term goal is to be bigger than just digital marketing recruitment,” says Jennifer. “We’re not sure which markets we’ll predominantly focus on or where they’ll be based, but we know it’ll be bigger.” Despite having NMO, Jennifer says it hasn’t stopped her from building on her experience as a business owner. “I don’t think I’ve worked any harder in my career than I have as an entrepreneur.” She advises that to be an entrepreneur—with or without a disability—requires a lot of soul searching and an understanding of what motivates you. “You’ve really got to be comfortable with that and comfortable with knowing that you have to stay passionate about it.” As for the individuals living with a disability: “[Entrepreneurship] is always a possibility,” says Jennifer. “You can certainly find a way but you have to be a really good planner and make yourself physically number one.”
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