ODSP Employment Supports: Help Finding and Keeping a Job

When an autistic young person moves into adulthood and starts thinking about work, one of the most useful — and most overlooked — programs in Ontario is ODSP Employment Supports. It's separate from ODSP income support, it's free, and you don't have to be receiving ODSP payments to use it. Here's what it does and how to access it.

## What ODSP Employment Supports is

ODSP Employment Supports helps people with disabilities prepare for, find, keep, and advance in a job. It's run by the Ontario Ministry responsible for social services and delivered across the province through a network of community-based service providers.

It works on a brokerage model: the government funds third-party service providers who work directly with you to remove barriers to employment and help you reach a competitive job. Providers are paid based on results — helping people get placed and stay employed — and they cannot charge you for these services.

## Who is eligible

You may be eligible if you:

- Are 16 or older

- Live in Ontario, be legally entitled to work in Canada, and have a continuous or recurrent physical or mental impairment expected to last more than one year that substantially limits competitive employment. An autism diagnosis by itself does not establish eligibility.

- Want to work and are ready to work — even if you've never worked before

One point that surprises many families:

- You do not need to be receiving ODSP income support to use Employment Supports. If you're not on income support, an approved health professional simply completes a short Verification of Disability/Impairment form describing how your disability affects your ability to work.

## What it provides

Services are tailored to each person, and can include:

- Job readiness and planning — identifying goals and building an employment plan

- Help finding a job — placement support and connections to local employers

- Job coaching — support learning the role, on the job

- Retention and advancement support — help keeping the job and moving forward in your career

- Self-employment support — including help preparing a business plan

- Assistive devices and adaptive technology needed for work, and communication supports (such as interpreter services)