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On March 15, 2023, the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) and Mohawk College announced that they’ve partnered to launch the Accessible Navigation to Employment Program, a program dedicated to improving the foundational and transferable skills of Hard of Hearing and Deaf Canadians, while addressing gaps in the labour market. The Accessible Navigation to Employment project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Skills for Success.
National statistics indicate there are currently 357,000 profoundly Deaf and 3.21 million Hard of Hearing (HOH) Canadians and only 20.6% are employed full-time. 42% are under-employed and/or working in a part-time capacity and only 21% of Hard of Hearing and Deaf adults earn more than $50,000 a year. The unemployment rate for this demographic is approximately 32% higher than the national unemployment average, which is approximately 7%.
“Mohawk College is extremely pleased to be partnering with the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association on the ANTE project, focused on improving the employment opportunities for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals through focused skill-building training. Mohawk has a long-standing history of providing academic and employment related training. Through our partnership with CHHA, we are confident that ANTE will complement and enhance our programs to address the significant gaps in employment opportunities for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Canadians.”
-Emily Ecker, Associate Dean, Community Partnerships and Learning, Mohawk College
This $1.98M labour market inclusion initiative will not only practically combat the barriers that the HOH and Deaf communities face when seeking employment, but also provide a sense of hope to a group of individuals who are motivated to learn, connect, and contribute to their local communities.
The program will provide skills upgrading through a no-cost online micro-credential certification with an accessible designed format. The program will also provide employers with resources and training on accessible communication practices and tools to facilitate accessible hiring and work experiences in preparation for paid placements.
“The power of partnerships is truly at the heart of this new initiative and demonstrates the ideal way forward for tackling some of our large-scale socio-economic issues.”
-Richard Plummer, National Executive Director, Canadian Hard of Hearing Association
The ANTE Program began December 2022 and will conclude March 2024. For more information, click here.