Windsor's new talent ambassador to help employers hire people with disabilities

Hiring a person with disabilities is not as onerous as many employers might expect.

That's according to Windsor's Kevin McShan, who was appointed by the province and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to be the "Ambassador for Access Talent: Ontario's Employment Strategy for People With Disabilities" in this region.

He'll be helping people with disabilities match up with employers. 

"People are telling us around the province that they want to hire people with disabilities, but they just don't know how," said McShan. 

He said a big part of his new position will be educating potential employers about hiring someone with a disability.

"The biggest question that we receive is: 'How much is this going to cost me?" he said.

"Accommodations for people with disabilities often cost less than 500 bucks. Often times, it's just adjusting a desk or getting specialized equipment, and often all employers have to do is work with the person and ask them what they need."

Hear more from McShan on CBC's Windsor Morning:

A website will allow for job-seekers to make a profile for themselves. Then they'll start to receive alerts about potential jobs that match their credentials. McShan, who has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, said it's something that could have helped him after he graduated college. ​

"It's a one-stop shop for both employers and job seekers," he said. 

The new tool and McShan's role is part of Ontario's Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, said McShan. Businesses have to be working toward having their operations accessible under the new legislation. 

Employers and job seekers who would like to learn more can access the website at https://discoverability.network.