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FREE WEBINAR

Unlocking Potential: Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace

June 15, 2023
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Are you an employer seeking new talent, a caregiver who supports young adult preparing to enter the workforce or a neurodiverse job candidate searching for inclusive opportunities? Discover the power of neurodiverse hiring practices and workplace supports at our upcoming webinar.

In this dynamic online event, you will have the opportunity to explore the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) space and gain practical strategies for implementing inclusive hiring processes. Experts in neurodiverse hiring and management practices from Specialisterne will share valuable insights and resources for creating an inclusive environment where diverse minds thrive. Don’t miss this transformative opportunity to shape the future of work.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Speakers

Gillian Forth, Specialisterne Workplace Support Program Manager

Gillian is the Workplace Support Program Manager with Specialisterne Canada, a non-profit organization that partners with businesses to recruit, hire, and onboard neurodivergent job seekers. In her role, she oversees Specialisterne’s Workplace Support Program. As a Workplace Support Coach, she takes a holistic approach and works in partnership with both employees and employers to create productive and inclusive work environments. She supports neurodivergent employees and also provides education and support to managers to help them develop and grow in the ways they support their teams. 

Bianca G., Specialisterne Project Manager Practitioner (PMP)

Bianca is a certified Project Manager Practitioner (PMP) with previous experience in the insurance and fintech industries. She’s recently pivoted her learning and focus towards inclusion, diversity and accessibility with a particular passion for the inclusion and employment for the neurodiverse community. In addition to being Co-Lead on the Employment Community of Practice, Bianca is also an active member of the Business Advisory Council for Project SEARCH Toronto, a school-to-work transition program from youth who have developmental or intellectual disabilities. 

Laura Addison, Specialisterne Talent Acquisition Specialist

Laura Addison is the Talent Acquisition Specialist for Specialisterne Canada. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master’s Degree in Industrial Relations and Human Resources. In her role, she creates inclusive job descriptions, markets job opportunities, screens candidates for assessment, and assists with job offers and onboarding. She has a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion and hopes to make the workplace accessible for all individuals.  

Dario Fusciardi, Specialisterne Talent Acquisition Coordinator

Dario Fusciardi is the Talent Acquisition Coordinator for Specialisterne Canada. He has been with the organization for nearly 2 years after graduating from Seneca College with a Bachelors of Human Resources Management. He had the pleasure of working with Specialisterne as a student in his final year of schooling and was inspired to seek them out once he graduated in order to continue the amazing work they do by helping to change the culture and practices of hiring to be inclusive for all candidates. 

Contact Information

For general inquiries, contact kajany.gunarajan@surreyplace.ca.

By 2 months

Has your baby had their hearing screened? YES NO

By 6 months

Does the child?

Startle in response to loud noises? YES NO
Turn to where a sound is coming from? YES NO
Make different cries for different needs (hungry, tired)? YES NO
Watch your face as you talk? YES NO
Smile/laugh in response to your smiles and laughs? YES NO
Imitate coughs or other sounds such as ah, eh, buh YES NO

By 9 months

Does the child?

Respond to their name? YES NO
Respond to the telephone ringing or a knock at the door? YES NO
Understand being told no? YES NO
Get what they want through using gestures (reaching to be picked up)? YES NO
Play social games with you (Peek-a-Boo)? YES NO
Enjoy being around people? YES NO
Babble and repeat sounds such as babababa or duhduhduh? YES NO

By 12 months

Does the child?

Follow simple one-step directions (sit down)? YES NO
Look across the room to a toy when adult points at it? YES NO
Consistently use three to five words? YES NO
Use gestures to communicate (waves hi/bye, shakes head for no)? YES NO
Get your attention using sounds, gestures and pointing while looking at your eyes? YES NO
Bring you toys to show you? YES NO
Perform for social attention and praise? YES NO
Combine lots of sounds together as though talking (abada baduh abee)? YES NO
Show an interest in simple picture books? YES NO

By 18 months

Does the child?

Understand the meaning of in and out, off and on? YES NO
Point to more than 2 body parts when asked? YES NO
Use at least 20 words consistently? YES NO
Respond with words or gestures to simple questions (Where's teddy? What's that?)? YES NO
Demonstrate some pretend play with toys (gives teddy bear a drink, pretends a bowl is a hat)? YES NO
Make at least four different consonant sounds (p ,b, m, n, d, g, w, h)? YES NO
Enjoy being read to and sharing simple books with you? YES NO
Point to pictures using one finger? YES NO

By 2 years

Does the child?

Follow two-step directions (Go find your teddy bear and show it to Grandma.)? YES NO
Use 100 to 150 words? YES NO
Use at least two pronouns (you, me, mine)? YES NO
Consistently combine two to four words in short phrases (Daddy hat. Truck go down.)? YES NO
Enjoy being around other children? YES NO
Begin to offer toys to other children and imitate other children's actions and words? YES NO
Use words that are understood by others 50 to 60 per cent of the time? YES NO
Form words or sounds easily and without effort? YES NO
Hold books the right way up and turn the pages? YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys? YES NO
Scribble with crayons? YES NO

By 30 months

Does the child?

Understand the concepts of size (big/little) and quantity (a little/a lot, more)? YES NO
Use some adult grammar (two cookies, bird flying, I jumped)? YES NO
Use over 350 words? YES NO
Use action words such as run, spill, fall? YES NO
Participate in some turn-taking activities with peers, using both words and toys? YES NO
Demonstrate concern when another child is hurt or sad? YES NO
Combine several actions in play (puts blocks in the train and drives the train, drops the blocks off.)? YES NO
Put sounds at the beginning of most words? YES NO
Use words with two or more syllables or beats (ba-na-na, com-pu-ter, a-pple)? YES NO
Recognize familiar logos and signs involving print (Stop sign)? YES NO
Remember and understand familiar stories? YES NO

By 3 years

Does the child?

Understand who, what, where and why questions? YES NO
Create long sentences using five to eight words? YES NO
Talk about past events (trip to grandparents house, day at child care)? YES NO
Tell simple stories? YES NO
Show affection for favourite playmates? YES NO
Engage in multi-step pretend play (pretending to cook a meal, repair a car)? YES NO
Talk in a way that most people outside of the family understand what she/he is saying most of the time? YES NO
Have an understanding of the function of print (menus, lists, signs)? YES NO
Show interest in, and awareness of, rhyming words? YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys? YES NO
Scribble with crayons? YES NO

By 4 years

Does the child?

Follow directions involving three or more steps (First get some paper, then draw a picture and give it to Mommy)? YES NO
Use adult type grammar? YES NO
Tell stories with a beginning, middle and end? YES NO
Talk to try and solve problems with adults and with other children? YES NO
Show increasingly complex imaginary play? YES NO
Talk in a way that is understood by strangers almost all the time? YES NO
Generate simple rhymes (cat-bat)? YES NO
Match some letters with their sounds (letter b says buh, letter t says tuh)? YES NO