Funding employment inclusion for Ontario youth with disabilities: a theoretical cost-benefit model.

Early engagement in employment-related activities is associated with greater lifetime labor force attachment, which correlates with positive health, social, and quality of life outcomes. People with disabilities often require vocational intervention to enter and remain in the workforce and reap the employment-related health and social benefits. Their labor force attachment brings about the added societal-level benefits of increased tax contributions and reduced social assistance funding.

The creation and implementation of an employment participation pathway model for youth with disabilities.

Purpose: Employment participation offers benefits including income, sense of accomplishment, social engagement, and meaningful contribution to society. Rates of competitive employment of youth with disabilities are amongst the lowest in society, despite having capacity and motivation to participate in the workplace. The marginalization of young workers with disability presents a lost opportunity for youth, potential employers, and social care systems.