David C. Onley Initiative for Employment and Enterprise Development Launches in partnership with Algonquin College
Posted on Monday, August 27th, 2018
David C. Onley Initiative for Employment and Enterprise Development Launches
in partnership with Algonquin College
OTTAWA — Algonquin College is proud to take part in the David C. Onley Initiative for Employment and Enterprise Development – an innovative partnership between Ottawa’s post-secondary institutions to develop knowledge, resources, and tools to support students with disabilities in advancing their careers.
Hosted by Carleton University, the launch of the initiative included a keynote address by the Honourable David C. Onley, former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario and the initiative’s namesake.
“Lack of employment continues to be one of the greatest barriers to full equality faced by persons with disabilities,” said Onley. “I am honoured to be associated with and lend my name to Carleton’s inspiring new initiative.”
Ontario’s Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities is funding the two-year, $5-million project. It was envisioned by Carleton’s Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities (PMC) and the Research, Education, Accessibility and Design Initiative (READ). Its mandate is to conduct applied research, and develop supports for post-secondary students with disabilities to advance their employability.
The project is part of Education City, an effort to facilitate collaboration among four post-secondary institutions in Ottawa. Algonquin College President Cheryl Jensen signed an agreement to support the initiative alongside Jacques Frémont, President of the University of Ottawa, Lise Bourgeois, President of La Cité, and Benoit-Antoine Bacon, President of Carleton University.
Accessibility is fundamental to Algonquin College’s core values of caring, learning, integrity, and respect. Our Center for Accessible Learning serves more than 10 per cent of our student population and is committed to ensuring our students who have permanent and/or temporary disabilities have equal opportunity and access to academic accommodations.
The Onley Initiative will engage industry, build awareness, foster entrepreneurial endeavours, and develop employment supports in post-secondary institutions.
For more information about the Onley Initiative, please visit: https://carleton.ca/read/current-projects/david-c-onley-initiative/.
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Media Contact
Ruth Dunley
Communications Manager
Algonquin College
Office: 613-727-4723 ext. 6452
Mobile: 613-406-0970
dunleyr@algonquincollege.com
or
Chris Lackner
Communications Officer
Algonquin College
Office: 613-727-4723 ext. 2091
Mobile: 613-220-3479
lacknec@algonquincollege.com
About Algonquin College:
The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in more than 185 programs. Based in the Ottawa Valley, Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario.
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