Oshawa conference connects job seekers with disabilities to employers

Durham Region, Ontario Tech University and community partners hosted Durham's Disability Employment Conference at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa on Friday, October 16, bringing job seekers with disabilities together with employers. Oshawa resident Uwais Mirza, who graduated from Ontario Tech in 2024 and is seeking work in communications or marketing, spoke with representatives from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. and Sobeys, both of whom encouraged him to apply through their websites.

Mirza told the conference that people with disabilities still face barriers entering the workforce, saying employers judge people on their disability instead of their skills, and that some postings require a driver's licence even when applicants have reliable transportation. Regional Chair John Henry said everyone should have a fair chance to use their skills and abilities at work, and the Region's 2026-2030 accessibility plan estimates 216,000 Durham residents live with at least one disability.

Keynote speaker Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai, a geneticist who was born blind and leads IDEA-STEM, told employers that accessibility costs less than many assume and urged them to drop non-essential job requirements. A panel featuring advocates including Wynnikka Matthews of the Ase Community Foundation for Black Canadians with Disabilities and Specialisterne Canada CEO Radha MacCulloch discussed alternatives to standard resume-and-interview hiring. October is Disability Employment Awareness Month in Canada.

— Published from Wesal TV's original reporting by Local Journalism Initiative reporter Mahmood Haqdost, read in full.