Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN)

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Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) ODEN is a professional body of employment service providers united to increase employment opportunities for people who have a disability.

Light It Up! For NDEAM™ is back for 2026! What started as a one-night lighting event in Ontario has grown into a nationa...
23/06/2026

Light It Up! For NDEAM™ is back for 2026!

What started as a one-night lighting event in Ontario has grown into a national movement that brings communities together to promote disability inclusive employment.

Join us on July 9, 2026, as we launch this year’s campaign, share what's ahead, and explore how organizations across Canada can get involved.

Whether you're returning for another year or participating for the first time, this webinar is an opportunity to connect, learn, and help build momentum leading up to October 15!

Date & Time: July 9, 2026

Location: Online

Register today: https://ontariodisabilityemploymentnetwork15.wildapricot.org/event-6736881



[Image Description]

A promotional graphic for ODEN’s Light It Up! For NDEAM™ 2026: Building Momentum Together webinar. The image features the historic Government House in Newfoundland and Labrador illuminated in purple light against a nighttime sky, symbolizing support for disability inclusion and participation in Light It Up! For NDEAM™. The ODEN logo appears in the upper-right corner, while the webinar title is displayed prominently in large white text. Event details are listed below, including July 9, 2026, 1:00 PM ET, and Online, alongside corresponding icons. A light blue “Register Today” button appears in the lower-right corner, inviting participants to join the national launch event and help build momentum for Light It Up! For NDEAM™ 2026.

Every day, Employment Service Providers across Ontario are helping job seekers who have a disability to find meaningful ...
22/06/2026

Every day, Employment Service Providers across Ontario are helping job seekers who have a disability to find meaningful employment, build confidence, and achieve their goals.

Now it's time to celebrate that impact!

Join us for an information session about ODEN’s Disability Employment Service Awards, now in its third year. The awards recognize outstanding organizations, promising practices, and professionals who are advancing disability inclusive employment across Ontario.

During this session, you'll learn about the award categories, nomination process, key dates, and how your organization, team, or colleagues can be recognized for the work they do.

The achievements of our sector should be celebrated!

Date & Time: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 1:00PM ET

Location: Online

Register today: https://ontariodisabilityemploymentnetwork15.wildapricot.org/event-6734095



[Image Description]


Square graphic promoting the DES Awards information session has a dark blue background. At the top right there’s a white ODEN logo. Flush left white type indicates the title, date, time, format and what the session will cover. Underneath this there’s a dark purple rectangle with white type superimposed that reads, Register today. Underneath this, small white type at the bottom shows the ODEN website URL to learn more about the DES Awards.

Almost two-thirds of all municipalities in Canada are remote and rural. And there aren’t any statistics on how many Cana...
16/06/2026

Almost two-thirds of all municipalities in Canada are remote and rural. And there aren’t any statistics on how many Canadians who have a disability live in them.

For people living with , there are some distinctly different challenges compared to experiencing with .

No statistics. Many challenges. Ƒrom lack of support services, to complete displacement.

Don’t miss Episode 43 of — now live!

Compelling perspectives on in:

–The vastly remote
– , the most rural of Canada’s

Don’t miss this conversation with:

–Denise McKee, Executive Director, Northwest Territories Disabilities Council
–Shelley Petit, Chair, New Brunswick Coalition of Persons With Disabilities

–Download the episode: https://bit.ly/4otzMWF
–Listen on Podbean: https://bit.ly/4xCcySq
—Download, listen and share on our website: https://bit.ly/4vSIJv3
–Episode transcript: https://bit.ly/4uzYtSv

You can also find on podcast apps including:

­–Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-cant-spell-inclusion-without-a-d/id1672625906
­–Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7wCOmyu4Kdt7M3zrAS26Og
–Amazon Music/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6d75df5a-24fd-41d1-8b8c-ab8e1841a3c3



[Image Description]
A gradient dark purple and dark blue square graphic promoting Episode 43 of You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without a D. There’s an orange band across the top. Heavy black text in the band reads, Episode 43. Below the band at the left is the show artwork for the You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without a D podcast in a square box outlined white. To the right, large white text against the gradient purple and blue background reads, The Intersection of Disability and Rural & Remote Communities. Below the podcast artwork and tagline text there are two head-and-shoulders photos in splash frames. The left photo is a woman with blonde hair smiling at the camera. She’s wearing glasses. Text under the photo identifies her as Denise McKee. The right photo is of a brown-haired woman wearing glasses. Text under the photo identifies her as Shelley Petit. At the left below the photos, large white text reads, New episode live! Smaller white text at the right reads, Tune in on Podbean or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. In white space along the bottom of the graphic there’s a Government of Ontario logo and small black text that reads, You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without a D is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

10/06/2026

How we think about work shapes who has the opportunity to participate in it.

Today at the , ODEN CEO Amy Widdows reflected on the importance of building workplaces that recognize the contributions, skills, and potential of people who have a disability.

Looking forward to another day of learning, connection, and conversation!



CASE - Canadian Association for Supported Employment CCRW

Stay tuned for this insights-packed conversation coming next Tuesday, June 16!There aren’t any statistics on exactly how...
09/06/2026

Stay tuned for this insights-packed conversation coming next Tuesday, June 16!

There aren’t any statistics on exactly how many Canadians who have a disability live in rural and remote parts of the country.

And almost two-thirds of all the municipalities in Canada, are remote.

There are some distinctly different challenges for people who have a disability in remote and rural comunities compared to urban cities.

Tune in to Episode 43 of our podcast and learn about them.

We’ve got the perspective from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and from Fredricton, New Brunswick in Eastern Canada. Both areas are remote, in fact almost 50% of New Brunswickers live in rural areas.

Don’t miss this conversation with:

–Denise McKee, Executive Director of The Northwest Territories Council on Disability
–Shelley Petit, Chair of The New Brunswick Coalition of Persons With Disabilities





[Image Description]

A gradient dark purple and dark blue square graphic promoting Episode 43 of You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without a D. There’s an orange band across the top. Heavy black text in the band reads, Episode 43. Below the band at the left is the show artwork for the You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without a D podcast in a square box outlined white. To the right, large white text against the gradient purple and blue background reads, The Intersection of Disability and Rural & Remote Communities. Below the podcast artwork and tagline text there are two head-and-shoulders photos in splash frames. The left photo is a woman with blonde hair smiling at the camera. She’s wearing glasses. Text under the photo identifies her as Denise McKee. The right photo is of a brown-haired woman wearing glasses. Text under the photo identifies her as Shelley Petit. At the left below the photos, there’s an orange band with black text that reads, Coming June 16 on Podbean. In white space along the bottom of the graphic there’s a Government of Ontario logo and small black text that reads, You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without a D is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

Day 1 at the CASE - Canadian Association for Supported Employment Conference is underway!The ODEN team is excited to con...
09/06/2026

Day 1 at the CASE - Canadian Association for Supported Employment Conference is underway!

The ODEN team is excited to connect with employment service professionals, community partners, and disability employment leaders from across Canada. Conferences like this create opportunities to share ideas, learn from one another, and strengthen our collective efforts to support disability inclusive employment.

If you’re attending, stop by our booth and say hello. We look forward to connecting with you throughout the week!

A new job is posted. Applications start coming in. But before interviews even begin, barriers may already be shaping who...
05/06/2026

A new job is posted. Applications start coming in.

But before interviews even begin, barriers may already be shaping who moves forward and who gets left out of the recruiting process.

Maybe the application platform is difficult to navigate.

Maybe the job posting includes requirements that are not actually necessary.

Maybe accommodations are only discussed if someone asks.

Maybe hiring managers are unsure how to support different communication styles or needs.

Inclusive hiring is not only about who gets hired. It is about how people are invited into the process in the first place.

As National AccessAbility Week comes to an end, this is an opportunity to reflect the small decisions that shape accessibility across recruitment, hiring, and workplace culture all year round.

If you are not sure where to start, ODEN is here to support your next step. To learn how, e-mail [email protected].



Image Description:

An orange graphic titled “Inclusive Hiring: A Quick Reflection.” The graphic includes four connected question boxes asking: “Is your online application portal accessible?”, “Is your interview process flexible?”, “Are your hiring managers disability aware and confident?”, and “Are you connected to local Employment Service Providers?” Black arrows connect each section, and the ODEN logo appears in the top right corner.

Accessibility in the workplace is often discussed as if it is complicated, expensive, or difficult to implement. But man...
04/06/2026

Accessibility in the workplace is often discussed as if it is complicated, expensive, or difficult to implement.

But many employers are finding the opposite.

According to the Job Accommodation Network, 61% of employers surveyed said workplace accommodations did not cost them any money.

Accessibility is not always about major changes or added costs. Often, it looks like flexibility in how meetings are run, how information is shared, how work is organized, or how employees are supported to do their best work.

And more importantly, accessibility is bigger than accommodations alone.

It is reflected in workplace culture, communication, hiring practices, technology, leadership, and whether employees feel they can fully participate and contribute.

As we recognize National AccessAbility Week, this is an opportunity to move beyond assumptions and rethink what accessibility can look like in practice.



Image Description:

An image of two construction workers wearing hard hats and reflective safety vests at a worksite. One worker points into the distance while the other looks on. Top right corner has black text that reads: “61% of employers surveyed said workplace accommodations cost them $0.” The ODEN logo appears in the top left corner.

For many employees who have a disability, hybrid and remote work have improved access. In Deloitte’s 2024 global survey,...
03/06/2026

For many employees who have a disability, hybrid and remote work have improved access. In Deloitte’s 2024 global survey, 48% of respondents who work remotely at least some of the time said their home is more accessible than their employer’s workplace.

That shift matters.

But accessibility is not automatic just because work moved online.

A meeting may now happen virtually, but can everyone fully participate? Are captions available? Are materials shared in advance in accessible formats? Is there space for different communication styles, processing needs, or ways of contributing?

For many people who have a disability, barriers did not disappear. They changed shape. They became digital, virtual, and often less visible.

As we recognize National AccessAbility Week, this is an opportunity to reflect on how accessibility shows up in everyday workplace practices and how hybrid work can be designed to support everyone’s participation, connection, and success.



Image Description:

A dark blue-green graphic showing a laptop screen with a large virtual meeting grid of diverse professionals participating in a video call. At the bottom left, there is white text reads: “8% of respondents who work remotely at least some of the time said their home is more accessible than their employer’s workplace” The ODEN logo appears in the top right corner, and the hashtag appears at the bottom.

Only two weeks left to register for the , in partnership with CCRW | CCRT and Ontario Disability Employment Network (OD...
29/05/2026

Only two weeks left to register for the , in partnership with CCRW | CCRT and Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN)!

Join us in in Ottawa, Ontario, from June 9-11, 2026, to learn innovative solutions to common challenges, explore best practices, trends, and research findings, and engage in opportunities for networking and community building.

To register and learn more about the conference, including the full conference schedule, visit: https://lnkd.in/emrnDQ2U

Already registered? Download the conference app! Build your profile, select your sessions, network, and more. Download the conference app today: https://lnkd.in/eVNMN45M

___

Il ne reste plus que deux semaines pour vous inscrire au , en partenariat avec le CCRT et l’ODEN!

Joignez-vous à nous à Ottawa (Ontario) du 9 au 11 juin 2026, pour découvrir des solutions innovantes à des défis courants, explorer les meilleures pratiques, les tendances et les résultats de la recherche, et participer à des opportunités de réseautage et de renforcement de la communauté.

Pour s’inscrire et en savoir plus sur le congrès, y compris le programme complet, visitez le site : https://lnkd.in/eCU3b6FN

Votre inscription est déjà faite? Téléchargez l’application du congrès! Créez votre profil, sélectionnez vos séances, créez votre réseau, et bien plus encore. Téléchargez l’application du congrès dès aujourd’hui : https://lnkd.in/eVNMN45M

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