Resources to support clients and students on the autism spectrum
Originally published in 2023. Updated in March 2026 by Samar Ismali. The employment rate for adults with autism in Canada was last reported to be 33% compared to 79% for...
Creativity, confidence and career development in action
Six pens. That’s what I had left when I packed up my booth at the end of Cannexus this year. Cannexus has become a yearly tradition for me; this year...
Why good intentions aren’t enough for real youth partnership
We thought we were doing refugee youth partnership right. We were using the best available trauma-informed frameworks, strength-based approaches and co-design principles. But when our pilot ended, our young partners...
Moving away from ‘barriers’: A trauma-sensitive approach to career intake
It’s time to look at how we invite service participants into career conversations from a trauma-sensitive, systems-based approach. Right now, most career conversations, particularly at intake, are about what’s wrong...
Bundles unlocked: Reimagining career pathways through Indigenous youth voices
Indigenous youth rarely describe the future in straight lines. They speak in stories, in relationships, in responsibility to family, community, and Land. They speak about wanting work that supports their...
Career counselling with dyslexia in mind
Career practitioners are increasingly aware of neurodiversity and strategies to support neurodiverse clients, but is dyslexia sufficiently part of this conversation? While statistics vary, Dyslexia Canada estimates that up to...
Mid-life career change: Steps to successfully navigate a new path after 40
Making a career change in your 40s (or beyond) can feel daunting, overwhelming and, at times, impossible. I know this firsthand – back in 2015, I found myself in the middle of a career crisis...
The vital role of peer support in advancing the careers of homeless youth
Staying in a homeless shelter was challenging for many reasons. But the main problem that Alicia had to contend with was lack of money. Without an income, and dependent...
Doubly invisible: Neurodivergent professionals working with the neurodivergent community
Every career and employment professional has met them – the jobseeker dismissed as “unplaceable.” Someone with the ability to participate in the workforce but missing a credential or relevant work experience, has the right skills but can’t explain them, was refused a...
Soft landings, strong foundations: Evolving supports for newcomers at North Island Employment
At NIEFS, our journey in supporting newcomers to Canada has always been about more than employment; it's about connection, community and collaboration. Over the past two years, as we...