Richards noted that the two positions filled by Meagan are supported by the federal Immigration and Career Training ministry, and said her position is to engage people with disabilities in meaningful jobs in the workforce. “The goal of the supportive employment program is that everybody who wants employment can attain a job if they have proper supports in place,” she said, going on to dispel misconceptions people have about who can or can’t be employed. McLeod pointed out there are outdated beliefs that people with disabilities can’t be employed meaningfully, or that workplaces would require expensive upgrades to adapt to someone with disabilities.
In the two years since he last spoke to the club, Weyburn Group Homes had a new group home built for them in The Creeks, and the turn-over of the home to the organization will be on April 1. Folk said they are very grateful for this home, as it was built brand new for their needs, rather than having the ministry buy an existing home and renovating it. This will be the seventh group home for the organization, which is now taking care of 77 clients with around 115 employees on the payroll, Folk explained, making them one of Weyburn’s largest employers.