Speaking Notes for Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Towards 2000: Supported Employment Conference
(1999)
Good evening. On behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador it is my pleasure to join you for the official conclusion of the 5th National Supported Employment Conference.
I understand over the past two days there have been a number of presentations, group discussions and informal chats about the future of supported employment. I believe the title of this year’s conference, "Towards 2000 - A Vision for Supported Employment" is a perfect indication of how excited we all are over supported employment and the important role it will take in our future prosperity.
It is hard to believe that we are at the conclusion of the 5th National Conference. Not only did the last two days pass very quickly, but so have the last five years. However, within these five years a great deal has been accomplished.
It’s hard to believe, but it wasn’t that long ago that supported employment was a relatively unheard of idea. There was a time, unfortunately, when it was believed that people with a developmental disability had little to contribute to our communities. That instead they were people who simply needed to be "taken care of".
However, over time we have learned that people with a developmental disability have a great deal to contribute to our communities - on both a professional and personal level.
While this lesson, to most of us, seems like a rather simple one, this isn’t necessarily the case for our entire society. Those who have little experience working with people who have a developmental disability may not be aware of the valuable contributions they can make in our labour force.
That’s why conferences like the one that brings you here to Newfoundland and Labrador is so important. Not only has it helped us share ideas and experiences, it has also helped us increase public awareness about developmental disabilities and supported employment.
There are many things we can do as a government and as a society to ensure the excitement we feel about supported employment is carried into our communities and local businesses.
First and foremost we must work together. We all recognize that a single sector of our community or one particular order of government does not have all the solutions to our economic and social challenges. Instead we need to recognize that all sectors influence one another. Social well-being is directly linked to economic prosperity. Living in a healthy, diverse community has a positive impact on all of our lifestyles.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, I am proud to say, is a leader in this approach to future policy and initiatives. In 1998 we were very excited when we introduced our Strategic Social Plan.
The plan, which has been nationally acknowledged, emphasizes the importance of building on community and regional strengths, integrating social and economic development and investing in people. Based on these related strategies the Strategic Social Plan looks upon insight and expertise from a broad range of sources within our society in approaching our social challenges. With the plan’s introduction the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has taken a leadership role in its approach to social policy. Like supported employment, the Strategic Social Plan relies on shared insight, experience and viewpoints of a variety of people within our social structure including those who live with a disability. It is this shared insight that allows us to identify and address the needs and concerns of ALL Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
It is this type of collaborative effort that has also made Newfoundland and Labrador one of the lead provinces in supported employment. We have a great supported employment program that has to date created over 8,000 weeks of employment for persons with a developmental disability. But this is only the beginning. Our province continues to move forward as we adopt new attitudes and erase outdated ideas and approaches. We are currently redesigning our supports and services for people with a developmental disability in the St. John’s area. This redesign has come from a productive and inventive series of consultations and studies.
Earlier this year, government was presented with a report called "A Meaningful Future with Choices". The report offered guidelines and actions for implementing recommendations on vocational training and employment services for persons with developmental disabilities in the St. John’s area. The great thing about this process was the valuable partnerships that were formed between government and community stakeholders. We knew that one person or a single sector did not have all the answers - instead we worked together to find solutions to improve opportunities and resources for people with a disability.
Through these consultations, supported employment was identified as a better and more productive way to support people who live with a developmental disability. A true testament that we are moving in the right direction is the direct feedback I have gotten from community stakeholders who not only are aware of the endless benefits of supported employment but believe that supported employment is indeed our means to a bright and positive future.
I know throughout this conference you have all discussed other ideas and approaches to promote the positive results of supported employment. One of the most important ways to maintain the productive work that has been accomplished at this conference is to inform your community groups, families, neighbours and municipal and provincial governments. Giving easy access to information will not only strengthen the supported employment initiative but it will also empower the people in our community who live with a developmental disability and have a professional goal they dream of reaching.
I know you have also looked at such initiatives as accessing jobs within government. I can honestly say this is an approach that works. Currently here in Newfoundland and Labrador we have a very successful program called "Opening Doors". The Department of Human Resources and Employment and Human Resources and Development Canada. Have worked together over the past couple of years have committed over $1 M to create new public sector employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in this province.
I mentioned at the beginning of my speech that a great deal can be accomplished when all sectors work together for a common purpose, to increase opportunities for people with a developmental disability. In return we receive a more diverse and productive labour market, a new sense of equality, and a sense of pride in our communities and those who live in them.
I invite all of you to take the valuable work you have done here and put it in motion. I can’t think of a better or more productive way to "move towards 2000".
I understand over the past two days there have been a number of presentations, group discussions and informal chats about the future of supported employment. I believe the title of this year’s conference, "Towards 2000 - A Vision for Supported Employment" is a perfect indication of how excited we all are over supported employment and the important role it will take in our future prosperity.
It is hard to believe that we are at the conclusion of the 5th National Conference. Not only did the last two days pass very quickly, but so have the last five years. However, within these five years a great deal has been accomplished.
It’s hard to believe, but it wasn’t that long ago that supported employment was a relatively unheard of idea. There was a time, unfortunately, when it was believed that people with a developmental disability had little to contribute to our communities. That instead they were people who simply needed to be "taken care of".
However, over time we have learned that people with a developmental disability have a great deal to contribute to our communities - on both a professional and personal level.
While this lesson, to most of us, seems like a rather simple one, this isn’t necessarily the case for our entire society. Those who have little experience working with people who have a developmental disability may not be aware of the valuable contributions they can make in our labour force.
That’s why conferences like the one that brings you here to Newfoundland and Labrador is so important. Not only has it helped us share ideas and experiences, it has also helped us increase public awareness about developmental disabilities and supported employment.
There are many things we can do as a government and as a society to ensure the excitement we feel about supported employment is carried into our communities and local businesses.
First and foremost we must work together. We all recognize that a single sector of our community or one particular order of government does not have all the solutions to our economic and social challenges. Instead we need to recognize that all sectors influence one another. Social well-being is directly linked to economic prosperity. Living in a healthy, diverse community has a positive impact on all of our lifestyles.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, I am proud to say, is a leader in this approach to future policy and initiatives. In 1998 we were very excited when we introduced our Strategic Social Plan.
The plan, which has been nationally acknowledged, emphasizes the importance of building on community and regional strengths, integrating social and economic development and investing in people. Based on these related strategies the Strategic Social Plan looks upon insight and expertise from a broad range of sources within our society in approaching our social challenges. With the plan’s introduction the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has taken a leadership role in its approach to social policy. Like supported employment, the Strategic Social Plan relies on shared insight, experience and viewpoints of a variety of people within our social structure including those who live with a disability. It is this shared insight that allows us to identify and address the needs and concerns of ALL Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
It is this type of collaborative effort that has also made Newfoundland and Labrador one of the lead provinces in supported employment. We have a great supported employment program that has to date created over 8,000 weeks of employment for persons with a developmental disability. But this is only the beginning. Our province continues to move forward as we adopt new attitudes and erase outdated ideas and approaches. We are currently redesigning our supports and services for people with a developmental disability in the St. John’s area. This redesign has come from a productive and inventive series of consultations and studies.
Earlier this year, government was presented with a report called "A Meaningful Future with Choices". The report offered guidelines and actions for implementing recommendations on vocational training and employment services for persons with developmental disabilities in the St. John’s area. The great thing about this process was the valuable partnerships that were formed between government and community stakeholders. We knew that one person or a single sector did not have all the answers - instead we worked together to find solutions to improve opportunities and resources for people with a disability.
Through these consultations, supported employment was identified as a better and more productive way to support people who live with a developmental disability. A true testament that we are moving in the right direction is the direct feedback I have gotten from community stakeholders who not only are aware of the endless benefits of supported employment but believe that supported employment is indeed our means to a bright and positive future.
I know throughout this conference you have all discussed other ideas and approaches to promote the positive results of supported employment. One of the most important ways to maintain the productive work that has been accomplished at this conference is to inform your community groups, families, neighbours and municipal and provincial governments. Giving easy access to information will not only strengthen the supported employment initiative but it will also empower the people in our community who live with a developmental disability and have a professional goal they dream of reaching.
I know you have also looked at such initiatives as accessing jobs within government. I can honestly say this is an approach that works. Currently here in Newfoundland and Labrador we have a very successful program called "Opening Doors". The Department of Human Resources and Employment and Human Resources and Development Canada. Have worked together over the past couple of years have committed over $1 M to create new public sector employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in this province.
I mentioned at the beginning of my speech that a great deal can be accomplished when all sectors work together for a common purpose, to increase opportunities for people with a developmental disability. In return we receive a more diverse and productive labour market, a new sense of equality, and a sense of pride in our communities and those who live in them.
I invite all of you to take the valuable work you have done here and put it in motion. I can’t think of a better or more productive way to "move towards 2000".