CDSS, LinkedIn create Inployable

by Randy Pinsky

According to the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS), people with Down syndrome (DS) tend to be either unemployed, unpaid or under paid in work, a situation the organization is determined to address. Working with LinkedIn, it launched Inployable, a dedicated space where job seekers with DS and inclusive employers can connect, recruit and job hunt. The space, launched in October 2022, enables candidates to showcase their unique abilities, making it easier for inclusive companies to connect with them.

“The Canadian Down Syndrome Society is committed to ensuring that the Down syndrome community in Canada is valued, supported and that individuals with Down syndrome are given equitable opportunities to contribute to society as fully participating citizens,” the organization noted in a 2020 position statement on employment. The team offers an Employment Planning Hub packed with resources for both employees and employers.

In a recently released promotional video, Inployable reported that North America is currently experiencing an unprecedented labour shortage. As one participant with DS shared, “There are 1 million open jobs in Canada, yet over 50 percent of people with Down syndrome can’t get a job.” Another one retorted, “What’s up with that?”

A long-overlooked potential solution is the DS community. Employers might hesitate to hire people with special needs due to assumed additional investment in accommodations or training. The Presidents Group, a network of business leaders in British Columbia pushing for more inclusive workplaces, however, has found that 58 percent of needed accommodations are free, with 37 percent requiring a one-time expense, as noted on their site accessibleemployers.ca.

“Accessibility and hiring people with disabilities has always been good for business,” it reported, stating that diverse workplaces are six times more likely to be innovative and effectively anticipate change, and twice as likely to meet or exceed financial targets.

Yet, “employers aren't looking for people like me,” an Inployable participant said. Those who are employed tend to work in what the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability refers to as the five “F” job categories: Food (kitchen work), factories (assembling), filth (janitorial services), flowers (florists and landscaping) and filing (mail delivery).

The Canadian Down Syndrome Society expressed the desire for people with DS to earn equal benefits and be given the opportunity to work alongside individuals of all abilities.

“People with Down syndrome want to be part of the world,” stated CDSS executive director Laura LaChance in an interview. According to the CDSS, inclusive workplaces contribute to enhanced team morale, collective productivity and greater retention, making it a beneficial business strategy for all.

Inployable was thus created to bridge potential employees with inclusive companies. As one participant reflected, “[employers] didn’t even know where to find me – until now.”

Upon creating a LinkedIn profile, coaches are available to help individuals showcase marketable skill sets such as customer service or team morale. They also help determine whether or not the job seeker prefers repetitive tasks and if they are routine-oriented. Employers can then browse through the profiles and contact potential new hires.

With greater moves towards equity, diversity and inclusion, Inployable is helping challenge assumptions about ability. “There's a lot of myth-busting that still needs to hap- pen,” noted LaChance, “but these are small steps of change in the right direction.