Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society seeks to break down stereotypes during awareness month
Jennifer Allooloo loves her job.
“Oh my gosh, it is like the best job ever,” said the Canadian North employee, whose workaday mission is to enhance the customer experience at Iqaluit’s airport.
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Allooloo, who has a disability, advanced into the role two weeks ago after serving three years as a customer service agent.
“I now work away from the passenger counter and gate,” she said.
“I greet people, help people if they need help, talk to passengers and direct people to the washrooms or the baggage areas. It’s a big job, because I see a lot of people. New faces, new people every day and I greet them. It’s awesome.”
Allooloo, who grew up in Rankin Inlet and Arctic Bay, communicates in Inuktitut during many of these interactions.
“She’s always speaking Inuktitut. She’s always helping passengers,” said Adebola Kolawole, a project manager with Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society.
“Most of the passengers from the communities are elders so they are more comfortable going to Jennifer to ask for anything they need.”
Allooloo sought support from the society before working with a job coach to land her position with Canadian North.
Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society, based in Iqaluit, is the only disability advocacy organization in Nunavut. Among its services to clients are help with resume-writing, job-interview preparation, on-site skills training and temporary or permanent job coaching, depending on clients’ and employers’ needs.
The society employs 20 staff, including five job coaches, who serve more than 100 clients throughout the territory.
“What works for one client doesn’t work for another client, so we have to build a plan around each client,” said Kolawole.
Recently, the disabilities society placed a client with a position at NCC Development Inc. in Baker Lake, and another client is being placed this month in Pond Inlet.
Clients have also found work at the Northern Store and Kissarvik Co-op in Rankin Inlet.
“We have gone through almost every community in Nunavut,” said Isaac Mensah, employment specialist with the society.
In Iqaluit, clients have found jobs at Arctic Ventures, Northmart and the Aqsarniit hotel, as well as several construction companies and daycares.
In addition to building up employable skills with clients, the organization also must tear down stereotypes standing in the way, Mensah said.
“There’s a big stereotype against persons with disabilities in Nunavut,” he said, adding the benefits of a diversified workforce include higher employee morale, goodwill in the community, increased productivity and fewer sick days on average.
“Nunavut employers must embrace inclusive hiring practices. We are there to give them the support they need to succeed,” Mensah said.
Some of the non-profit’s clients have found work with the Government of Nunavut, Kolawole said, but she adds there is potential for more successful job placements.
“It would be great if the GN specifically could make it a priority to offer training for people working for the GN on what disability, inclusion and accessibility mean,” said Kolawole.
“And it would be good to make hiring people with a disability a priority at the GN.”
According to the latest Statistics Canada data, the public service is the largest employer in Nunavut. Approximately 6,600 Nunavummiut work for the GN and roughly 600 are employed by the federal government.
According to a 2011 amendment to the Nunavut Human Rights Act, the term “disability” encompasses any previous or existing or perceived mental or physical disability, and includes disfigurement and previous or existing dependency on alcohol or drugs.
An estimated 5,570 Nunavummiut live with disabilities.
