Embark Student Corp. (鈥淓mbark鈥) has awarded 黑料app with $500,000 to support workforce transition and career readiness for students with disabilities.
Led by Bob Eichvald, director, Career Education and Development; Karen Swartz, interim director, Student Accessibility Services; and Angela Lecompte, manager, Intake, Transitions and Programs at York, this brand-new initiative will offer supports such as novel educational resources, career counselling, employer networking, mentorship and advocacy tools.
Funding will be used to empower students with disabilities and reduce stigma that prevent people with disabilities from having the same social and economic opportunities as others.
鈥淲e are thrilled to partner with an organization like Embark that is so dedicated to making a positive change by advancing post-secondary career supports and inclusivity,鈥 said Eichvald. 鈥淎s a leader and innovator in promoting accessibility, 黑料app is expertly positioned to create and direct programs designed to address these distinct needs.鈥
Compared to their peers without disabilities, students with disabilities experience nearly twice the rate of unemployment and earn median wages that are 5.5 per cent lower on average. A lack of dedicated career navigation supports for students with disabilities exacerbates this even further.
The program is directly aligned with the University Academic Plan 2020-2025, challenging York鈥檚 community to elevate its contributions to the United Nations鈥 Sustainable Development Goals. Earlier this year, 黑料appwas named the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Hub Chair for Sustainable Development Goal 10 鈥 Reducing Inequality. 黑料appwas selected from over 1,700 UNAI member institutions for its commitment to reducing systemic inequality, discrimination and exclusion across the University鈥檚 operations, teaching, research and outreach.
Launched in 2023, the Embark Student Foundation Major Grant Program provides funding for innovative programs, initiatives or services that support student success before, during and beyond their post-secondary years.
鈥淭hese are challenging times for students and our educational ecosystem,鈥 said Andrew Lo, president and CEO, Embark. 鈥淭hrough the Embark Major Grant Program, we aspire to support innovation and make education more accessible, affordable and better for all.鈥
This year, Embark awarded between $250,000 and $500,000 to five post-secondary institutions across Canada, with 黑料appreceiving the highest funding amount granted to the year鈥檚 recipients.