About Us

Sponsored by Crosswinds Occupational Activity Center, the Employment Assistance Services Program has been serving people with disabilities in the communities of Kings County NB since 1995.
Our staff specialize in offering employment assistance in a supportive, professional and dedicated manner. You can find us working in the community with local businesses, sitting one-on-one with someone seeking employment, creating jobs and ensuring access to resources for both employers and employees.

Our Mandate

To provide employment related initiatives for people with disabilities, including intellectual or developmental; psychological or emotional; deaf or hard of hearing and blind or visually impaired.
Our goal is to work with the strengths inherent to every person, business, and community. We work to match those strengths in such a way that a person with a disability can obtain employment, a business can successfully fill a position, and a community as a whole is better off through its inclusion and full participation.

Our Commitment

We are committed to breaking down barriers to employment for people with disabilities by taking a holistic and multi-faceted approach.
We are committed to building a future where people with disabilities have equal opportunities for employment in Kings County, NB.
We are committed to offering assistance and services at the highest standard of quality and professionalism.

Our Community Work

Individuals who have disabilities in the Sussex and Kings County area have a greater challenge finding employment than people without disabilities. This is due to 3 main reasons:
  1. Attitudinal beliefs and discrimination
  2. The requirement for workplace accommodations
  3. The disability itself
The fact of the matter is, with an accessible and appropriate workplace environment and an aware, accepting and open community, a person’s disability would not have to be a barrier to employment for the majority of people.
Since 1995, the Crosswinds Employment Assistance Services Program has been approaching businesses and employers to talk about these very issues. We want to share what we’ve learned over the years.
For example, did you know most workplace accommodations involve little to no expense? Are you aware there are resources available to assist where costs may be higher? Would it surprise you that employers willing to modify their workplace got back more than they put in? Would you believe increasing workplace diversity improves overall staff morale, and in turn, leads to a more inclusive and accepting community as a whole?
Some of the ways our program works in the community: At the Crosswinds Employment Assistance Services Program, we relish every opportunity to get out in the community. We believe progress begins with open, safe and non-judgemental dialogue.
Please don’t hesitate to Contact Us and become a part of the important work we do!

Our Pre-Employment Support Services

The Employment Assistance Services Program supports all people with a disability who are seeking employment in the Sussex and Kings County area. Whether you have an intellectual/developmental, physical, psychological/emotional, deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired disability, we’re here to help.
Transitioning to employment can be a stressful time for anyone. Our vocational facilitators will support you through the process at a pace you set for yourself. From people who are just beginning to consider their employment options, to people who are ready to start writing their resume, we’re here to help you reach your goals.
Here is an Overview of Some of the Services We Offer
Job Search Assistance Services At the Crosswinds Employment Services, we also offer the following:
Please don’t hesitate to Contact Us if you have any questions or want to set up an appointment with one of our vocational facilitators.
If you are an employer with a vacancy to fill, the Employment Assistance Program encourages you to Contact Us to find out what supports and resources we can provide for you.

Our On-The-Job Supports

While our work in the community, pre-employment services and partnerships are vital pieces of the puzzle towards employment equality for people with disabilities, our on-the-job support services is another important piece of that puzzle.
Assisting both employees and employers to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship is another way we work towards sustainable and rewarding employment for both parties.
Some of our on-the-job support services include: Of course, we always offer ongoing support for people throughout their employment arrangement. Whether you have a question or two, want to debrief about your day, want to know how to make your workplace more accessible, or want to expand your skills, we’re here to help.

Our Partnerships

Underemployment for people with disabilities is not just a community problem, it also exists on a provincial and national level. That is why we utilize the existing resources on a local, provincial and federal level. In addition to our provincially and federally funded service, many more programs exist to help level the playing field. From post-secondary education, to funding for workplace accommodations, we can help you navigate and access the resources currently in place.
Our Team Can Help You: Our Team Can Also Makes Referrals To: Accessing, maintaining and developing partnerships is a key piece of the puzzle to help reduce employment barriers for people with disabilities.
Here are some more helpful resources:
Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour (PETL)
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)
Association of Visual Interpreters of Canada
Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority
Canadian Mental Health Association
Canadian National Institute of the Blind
Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Cerebral Palsy Foundation
Department of Social Development
Human Development Council
Key Industries
New Brunswick Community College
New Brunswick Association for Supported Services and Employment
Premier’s Council on the Status of Disabled Persons
Saint John Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Horizon Health Network
University of New Brunswick
Work Safe NB

Contact

100 Leonard Drive
Sussex, NB
E4E 2R2
Phone: (506) 432-7500
Fax: (506) 432-7510
Email: crosswin@nbnet.nb.ca


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