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Disabled Nova Scotians finding fewer jobs with the province

Disabled Nova Scotians finding fewer jobs with the province

The Nova Scotia government will update the public this morning on its efforts to make the province more barrier-free for those with a disability.

The plan is to introduce legislation in the fall.

But a woman who heads a group that supports disabled Nova Scotians who want a job, says it's tough to find public sector work for disabled people.

Janice Ainsworth says 70 per cent of those who find work, with help from her group, get jobs with private companies.

Only 30 per cent are getting work in the public sector.

Ainsworth is the executive director of TEAM Work Cooperative and also chairs the organization that represents eight other similar groups across the province.

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She's not sure what specific barriers make it hard for someone with a disability to get a government job, but she says those barriers need to come down.

When it comes to politicians hiring people who have trained with or are getting support from her group, Ainsworth can only remember two in her almost 15 years working in the field.

1 in 5 in N.S. have a disability

Mike Savage, "many years ago" when he was a Member of Parliament and former MLA Graham Steele.

Ainsworth said, "and that was very successful" but not since then.

Asked if that's part of the problem when it comes to opening the doors to people with a disability, Ainsworth is diplomatic.

"Well we would like to encourage it and probably encourage more hiring in the Public Service Commission," she said.

Although as many as one in five Nova Scotians has a disability, disabled people make up fewer than three per cent of the provincial government's workforce.

"We're kind of on a bit of campaign with the Public Service Commission to see if we can perhaps, over time make an increase of up to 10 to 15 per cent."