York students and recent graduates with disabilities will have an opportunity to connect with employers and community agencies, attend a Scotiabank recruitment session and learn about employment supports in the workplace on April 25 during the Career Success Symposium 2017 for Students with Disabilities.
The symposium features guest speaker Steven Page, a mental health advocate and singer-songwriter who co-founded Barenaked Ladies.
Registration is open to all York students and recent graduates with physical, learning and/or mental health disabilities. The event is a partnership between the York University Career Centre and Counselling & Disability Services.
The annual symposium, founded by York’s Disability & Career Committee, was launched in 2011 and has continued to grow in both breadth and depth of programming with the goal of creating a lasting positive impact on York students and recent graduates with disabilities and on the University.
Over the past several years, the event has evolved into a symposium with the central goal of providing York students and recent graduates with disabilities the opportunity to: hear from distinguished guest speakers dedicated to the topic of mental health; circulate through exhibitor booths featuring community partners and employers from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) that provide employment supports to persons with disabilities; and gain information regarding workplace disclosure and accommodations for persons with physical, learning and mental health disabilities.
The event will feature a presentation by Page, who enjoyed two decades of success as the lead singer of Barenaked Ladies, the popular band from Scarborough, Ont., that toured the globe, dominated MuchMusic and MTV, sold upwards of 14 million albums and went platinum many times over. Page guest hosted an episode of the CBC Radio show “The Current,” about ending the stigma surrounding mental health. Since then, he has been an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness.
The 2017 symposium, partly funded by Canada 150 @ York University, will also feature a mini-fair of exhibitors and simultaneous breakout sessions in which attendees can choose from topics such as: tips for standing out at interviews, entrepreneurship, dressing for success (facilitated by Brands for Canada), resumé writing and creating your online brand.
Scotiabank will conduct an onsite recruitment session during the symposium, and a complimentary Canada 150 lunch and celebratory cake will be included for all attendees.
The conference will conclude with a “Dialogue on Disability Disclosure in the Workplace” discussion panel featuring panellists from Career Edge Organization, Rangle.io, RBC Royal Bank of Canada, Canadian Council on Rehabilitation & Work, and the Ministry of Community & Social Services.
York students and recent graduates (up to two years after graduation) with disabilities are invited to view the schedule and register for the Career Success Symposium 2017 for Students with Disabilities at careers.yorku.ca/success.
York faculty and staff are welcome to register for the guest speaker presentation by emailing spogue@yorku.ca.