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 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
- Resume Preparation
- Exploring the Hidden Job Market
- Job Readiness Skills Development
- Job Search Coaching
- Internet Job Search
- Interview Techniques
- Marketing “You”
- Networking
At the Crosswinds Employment Services, we also offer the following:
- On-The-Job Supports
- Employment Related Workshops
- Referrals to Community Programs
- Access to Government Funding
- Career Coaching Referrals
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:
- Accessing Funding
- Referrals to Other Services
- Skills Building
- Job Survival/Maintenance Skills
- Accessibility Consultations
- Employer/Staff Presentations
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:
- Connect with post-secondary education opportunities
- Upgrade your skills or develop new ones through training courses
- Find volunteer positions to help build your experience
- Apply for Government funding for workplace accommodations and/or wage subsidies
- Access funding from other relevant government agencies
Our Team Can Also Makes Referrals To:
- Community Initiatives/Programs
- Post-Secondary Education (PETL)
- Literacy and GED Preparation
- Academic Upgrading
- Other Community Services
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