SPHERESupport for People with a Handicap Exploring the Road to Employment

Including people through employment, one person at a time

Annual Report 2015-2016http://sphere-qc.ca

Join us on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter.Funded by the Government of Canada

under the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

Word from the Chairman..........................................................................3

Word from the Executive Director............................................................4

Board of Directors.....................................................................................5

Memberships and Consultation Activities.................................................6Memberships............................................................................................................................................. 6Consultation Activities..........................................................................................................................6

Mission, Vision, Means.............................................................................7Mission......................................................................................................................................................... 7Vision............................................................................................................................................................ 7Means............................................................................................................................................................ 7

Team........................................................................................................ 7

Our Activities............................................................................................8Reaching Professionals.........................................................................................................................8Pilot Project in Post-Secondary Institutions...............................................................................9A Consolidation Year for Entrepreneurship Support...........................................................11Success Story.......................................................................................................................................... 12Group Project Popularity.................................................................................................................. 13A Success Story...................................................................................................................................... 14

SPHERE in the News................................................................................15

Our Clientele...........................................................................................17Clientele according to the age group............................................................................................17Clientele according to the type of disability.............................................................................17Clientele according to the level of education............................................................................17Clientele according to end date of last job.................................................................................17

Results....................................................................................................18Financial Statement for the year ending March 31, 2016..................................................18Assistance to Participants by Budget Items..............................................................................19Related contributions.........................................................................................................................19Results after being supported by SPHERE................................................................................20Results according to type of jobs after being supported by SPHERE............................20

Conclusion..............................................................................................20

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Word from the Chairman

Today, I can look back with great pride at the progress made by SPHERE. Since its inception in 2004, SPHERE has worked constantly to improve its contribution and commitment to people experiencing a situation of professional disability, helping them find meaningful work that matches their choices and abilities.

2015-2016 is a pivotal year for SPHERE services. The Opportunities Fund for persons with disabilities from the Government of Canada allowed the organization to significantly strengthen its presence across the country – a logical step in its development. In addition, this year’s strong demand for entrepreneurial project development indicates a very real and big need for self-employment support, forcing us to take the logical step of developing even more specialized expertise in the area. We will consequently have the opportunity to work with a growing number of diverse partners, greatly benefitting existing services, as well as equal employment opportunities.

Expanding our scope and developing new expertise naturally created new opportunities on the SPHERE team, increasing its growth. Backed by a Board of Directors focused on the mission and sharing professional knowledge to better the organization, our team's continuing solid dedication allowed us to offer new opportunities to nearly 900 job seekers this year. We achieved our goals because of the expertise and involvement of hundreds of partners on the ground, as well as employer contributions, financial or otherwise – the cornerstone of success. To everyone, a huge "Thank you"!

If 2015-2016 was a year of development, might we continue down the road to increasing employment equity. And let's remember, "Fighting for a just cause is already a victory."

Martin Trépanier,Chairman

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Word from the Executive Director

At SPHERE, 2015-2016 was a year of development and growth in all areas, from individual integration to group and entrepreneurship projects. The growing needs of our clients and employers over the last several years have paved the way toward this new direction. A strategic decision that illustrates the desire of SPHERE to continually improve services and access to funding for all partners, employers or future entrepreneurs targeted by its services.

We were able to spread across the country by adding qualified, diverse and skilled staff, as well as relying on existing personnel. Throughout the journey, we voiced among other things, the need for a national dialogue on everything regarding the employability of people experiencing professional difficulties due to a physical, mental or intellectual condition. It motivated us to create WORK & Abilities, a virtual community of practice. Along with its newsletter, WORK & Abilities is already Canada's source for specialized news and editorials on the topic.

In tangent with the strategic direction, we also furthered our mission by reducing or eliminating barriers to employment for people in a situation of professional disability. During the year, we provided employment or entrepreneurship support for the work integration of 897 people, in collaboration with as many employer-partners. On the front line, more than 600 professionals and stakeholders created or were involved at one stage or another of an action plan, contributing to participant success.

On behalf of the management, I would like to thank our funders, employees, Board of Directors, partners and employers for their cooperation, support and enthusiasm. Most of all, I would like to congratulate everyone who benefited from our services, for their courage and determination. Every step is a step towards success. SPHERE is proud to have helped you take a step further.

And now, may you enjoy your reading.

Nancy Moreau,Executive Director

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Board of Directors

Chairman: Coordinator, Regroupement des associations de personnes handicapées de la Gaspésie — Îles-de-la-Madeleine (Group of Associations for People with Disabilities) and President, Office des personnes handicapées du Québec (Quebec Bureau for Québec)

Vice-Chairman: Gaétane Lacroix, Executive Director, Regroupement d’organismes de promotion des personnes handicapées de l’Estrie (Group of Promotional Organizations for People with Disabilities)

Secretary and Treasurer: Louis Adam, Executive Director, Quebec Division of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada

Director: Raymond Gouin, Executive Director, Conseil québécois des entreprises adaptées (Quebec Adapted Companies Council)

Director: Luc Labbé, Executive Director, Horizon-travail (Specialized Manpower Services)

Director: Serge Leblanc, Project Manager, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (Quebec Workers Federation)

Director: Nathalie Rodrigue, Executive Director, Regroupement des associations de personnes handicapées de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Group of Associations for People with Disabilities)

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Memberships and Consultation Activities

We believe the best way to work is by combining forces. It's the reason we are eager to take part in local, regional and national dialogue activities. The exchange of ideas allows us to be actively involved in improving services, and keeping our expertise constant, with services adapted to current reality.

Memberships

Coalition des organismes communautaires pour le développement de la main-d’oeuvre/COCDMO (Coalition of Community Organizations for Workforce Development): The COCDMO is a referral center for exchange and dialogue. It helps members think about and develop strategies promoting the integration and job retention of marginalized people. The Coalition consists of more than a dozen national associations’ group members, reaching several hundred organizations with their consultation activities.

Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE): The Canadian Association for Supported Employment is a national association of community--based service providers and stakeholders working towards the Employment Inclusion of people with disabilities. It currently has a hundred member organizations across Canada.

Consultation Activities

SPHERE is also involved in many round tables, including more than fifteen with a focus on people with disabilities and employment in Quebec.

Testimony

When I got injured at work and I was told I could never do my job again, my whole life was totally shattered. In one shot, I could no longer be everything I had worked so hard to become. In my opinion, finding the strength and motivation to move on requires a dream. Organizations like SPHERE means people like me can have the physical and mental tools needed to realize their dream. It allows us to see the light at the end of the tunnel and to continue bringing something positive to our society. Thank you.

Patrick

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Mission, Vision, Means

MissionSPHERE is a non-profit Canadian organization that has grown in expertise since 1997. Its mission is to foster employment for people who experience professional challenges due to a physical, intellectual or mental condition. They are saidto be in a "situation of professional disability".

VisionReduce or eliminate barriers to employment for the greatest number of people in a situation of professional disability, so they have equal opportunities to make gooduse of their skills.

MeansSPHERE has funds and expertise to provide tailored financial support for

individual employment integration, customized group trainings with internships in the workplace, business startup, or other, according to the needs.

Team

SPHERE built and developed a skilled team of employability and disability professionals to realize its mission of giving more and more Canadians access to high quality services. Today, more than twenty people work daily to enrich and offer their different areas of expertise, contributing to services improvement through their feedback, their initiative and their creativity, while giving consistent attention to effective management; an experienced team that places the client first.

(Pictures of all team members)

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Our Activities

Reaching Professionals

SPHERE intensified its presence in 2015-2016.

Two objectives:

1. To reach as many collaborators as possible, with the objective of listening and being present to respond to needs from all backgrounds, in partnership with existing players, and

2. To open the door to new collaborations to help an increasing number of clients over the coming years.

SPHERE profited from meeting hundreds of professionals at a dozen forums across Canada through presentations, media events, sponsorships and participation in different conferences. The organization notably had a booth at Cannexus16, Canada's largest national career development conference which hosts nearly 850 professionals. Following this event and the booth’s popularity, SPHERE submitted a call for proposals for the 2017 edition and the answer was positive. SPHERE will be there to present the results of its experience with its subsidy measure and to exchange about this important and current topic in Canada with delegates on site.

Throughout the year, SPHERE intensified its presence, allowing us to spread the organization's services and expertise which we are developing to ensure efficiency, thanks to a new enthusiastic and motivated development team. The year also brought lots of positive feedback, allowing us to learn and open up to new project possibilities. In particular, an Ottawa office will officially open in the Fall 2016, enabling an easier access to our services for every partner and future partner in Ontario. Encouraged by the positive impact of all these actions and eager to include our partners in each province under one umbrella, we consequently measured the importance for SPHERE-Québec, which has existed outside this province for many years, to carry the unique name SPHERE (Support for People with a Handicap Exploring the Road to Employment). Beginning in the Fall 2016, we will then operate under the name SPHERE.

Our growth has also given us the opportunity to push the experience further by inviting all newly met (and actual) collaborators to stay in touch within a virtual community. Throughout the year, in conjunction with our positioning work, our development and communications teams worked together to transfer person-to-person meetings into virtual, long-lasting relationships, which could benefit everybody. This leading SPHERE to set up the WORK & Abilities initiative in the Winter 2016 to compensate for the lack of a national consultation forum dedicated to the employment of people experiencing situations of professional disability. With WORK & Abilities, SPHERE wanted to create a virtual community of practice, bringing together professionals from across Canada

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concerned with the issue. Users can be informed, exchange and share content via three interactive platforms: a newsletter, a blog and a LinkedIn group. In just three months, more than 800 professionals have visited the initiative's website (www.workandabilities.ca).

This natural and virtual extension to our physical network of partners allows stakeholders not only to connect, but also to broadcast news, expertise and events. SPHERE wishes to use this new platform to consolidate its presence and provide more tools to partners, significantly impacting everyone. Great opportunities for the coming year!

WORK & Abilities is…

A newsletter where every related organizations can broadcast interesting links or events. It contains the following: press reviews of more than 400 Facebook pages, nearly 300 contacts, 75 organizations, 10 LinkedIn groups, almost 400 Twitter accounts and 14 newsletters – all related to the employment of people with disabilities.

A blog by employment professionals and dealing with current topics or needs observed in the field.

A LinkedIn group where professionals can share live content, ask questions, react, learn and share with a community of practice.

All free!

Pilot Project in Post-Secondary Institutions

Employment integration of post-secondary graduates with disabilities is not always a simple issue. For example, in Quebec, institutions and their internal services (support for students with a disability, placement services and others) usually do not have the mandate to assist in the entire employment integration process.

Following a Quebec survey of several post-secondary institutions in 2014-2015, SPHERE developed in 2015-2016, pilot partnerships with three institutions, to learn more about their needs, identify the gaps and eventually be able to offer better support. We also met collaborators at events such as the annual AQICESH forum (Association québécoise interuniversitaire des conseillers aux étudiants en situation de handicap – Association of Quebec Intercollegiate Counselors for Students with a Disability) and the AQISEP symposium (Association québécoise d’information scolaire et professionnelle – Quebec Association for Educational and Vocational Information), amounting to nearly 500 professionals.

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"We don’t have time, but we're aware of a gap and we're really interested in working to change things” is what we heard many times. Based on our discussions, we discovered needs in the following areas: resources organization, proximity to services, referral opportunities and knowledge transfer – for partner institutions, as well as for several others surveyed.

In regards to SPHERE’s three pilot partnerships, the support that could be offered by a coordination team was the first need requiring an action, for all institutions. Based on our observations, we also noted the importance of having a referring professional on site (either an adviser for graduates with disabilities or other employment professional), as the student's employment portal. It's an important facet of the process, because the higher the level of education, the fewer graduates with disabilities tended to consider themselves as disabled, or look for support, especially outside the institution. Not to mention, undiagnosed students who are even less likely to believe they need support, but who do require services. Following this experience, we came to the conclusion that the best place for a student with job integration needs should be the institution's placement service. Unlike a service designed only for disabled students, the placement service is best suited to help a broader clientele, with a broader variety of needs. The proximity aspect was also one of SPHERE's most important concern in its approach with the institutions: we wanted an initial consultation to consider ways of providing tools to serve clients who may not have the chance (or do not give themselves the chance) to access the available services.

For SPHERE, it's a step forward in assessing Quebec’s post-secondary institutions needs. SPHERE continues to study the issue with the institutions and remains open to discovering possible solutions with the concerned partners.

Increasing Awareness for an Optimal Use of our Measures

In 2015-2016, SPHERE ensured the organization and its partners would, from now on, have the chance to make the best possible use of its measures: we created demystifing tools and introduced an internal knowledge-sharing initiative.

Over the years, we noticed that, because of the diversity of our partners, of each person's different knowledge base and the extent of our support opportunities, the professionals we worked with weren't always aware of the flexibility SPHERE could offer for each action plan.

For example, the most popular employment integration program for people in a situation of professional disability is currently the wage subsidy. Following it, are the "traditional" adaptation requests, such as transportation support, customized equipment or support aids and their assessment by occupational therapists. But SPHERE can set up or finance many other forms of support.

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A client does not have enough money to buy proper clothes for the job hunt or safety equipment? Yes, these are barriers to employment for which we have a responsibility to raise even more awareness, always in a client's best interest. Moreover, SPHERE can sometimes support clients that are not served by existing Provincial or Federal support, a plus for a clientele whose needs may change and evolve rapidly through time.

It's now possible with the WORK & Abilities platform (blog, LinkedIn group and newsletter) for SPHERE to handle this situation by disseminating information constantly, allowing professionals to increase the odds in the client's favor so they can overcome employment barriers. We began the practice in January 2016. The goal is to produce regular blog posts, addressing both the opportunities and details to consider when the time comes to assess a client for an action plan. In 2015-2016, two posts about this topic were published (see the WORK & Abilities blog "And if Your Job Applicant Didn’t Make the Right Choice?" - November 2015 and "Wage Subsidy for Employment Integration across Canada: Multiple Strategies!"- March 2016).

To support this initiative, an in-house editorial committee was formed. This committee will determine what topics will be addressed and what information to communicate, based on the ground’s needs and the field’s news. In order to further discuss the topics, we created an internal monthly forum, enabling staff to share and discuss specific customizing examples that were made or solutions to particular problems. Finally, in addition to being WORK & Abilities newsletter subscribers, our Project Officers now have an internal bimonthly newsletter, created to keep an update on the expertise of all team members in real time.

A Consolidation Year for Entrepreneurship Support

At SPHERE, momentum is building for business startup! A strong and steadily increasing demand for entrepreneurship grants for people experiencing a situation of professional disability revealed a current gap in service due to clients’ specific conditions. For example, there's no training for starting a business in alternative formats, because the client pool is too small for a given region.

In 2014-2015, we used a questionnaire to assess our practices and needs, concerning the self-employed we have supported in recent years. Besides difficulty getting access to training, the greatest anxiety faced by entrepreneurs with disabilities is networking, advertising, and support following the post start-up. After the survey, we switched to a support system that meets the challenges and developed an approach that will help us improve services.

We began by implementing a project selection committee which gave us the opportunity for project feasibility joint assessments, according to the person's abilities and resources, and the business' viability.

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In tandem with establishing a committee, we began offering occasional training to employment professionals, informing them about the program and teaching them how to use it wisely with clients.

Regarding the creation of new tools to support entrepreneurs, in addition to a customized business plan, SPHERE has worked this year to develop two other start-up tools that will be available in the Fall 2016 at mycustomizedbusiness.ca : a brochure that outlines the entrepreneurial profile, and whether entrepreneurship suits the client's particular needs, coupled with video testimonies by self-employed people living with disabilities. Other tools will also be developed over the coming months.

Success Story

Entrepreneur not Paralyzed by Obstacles

Marie-Eve Vigneault Skelling has hemiplegia, a condition that leaves her body partially paralyzed on one side. “Finding work was difficult, because of my limited mobility. So, self-employment is the best solution for me!” she says. She has a Bachelors in Literature and graduated in Contemporary Education. The young entrepreneur decided to start her school tutoring, writing and proofreading business in Rimouski: Un mot à la fois (One Word at a Time).

Rimouski Resident SupportThe mission of her business is to provide support to students committed to succeed in school and to help those wishing to improve the quality of their French. “I tutor at the Elementary, High School and the post- Secondary levels,” she says with love for the French language. At the same time, she says she wants to show how fun it is to learn how to read and write.

Timely HelpTo start her business, the young entrepreneur received help from several organizations. “Their support gave me more self-esteem, since I was guided by professionals when I needed it. I felt encouraged. I now knew I could go all out, despite the difficulties experienced because of my disability,” she says. The Service spécialisé de main-d’œuvre pour personnes handicapées (SSMO) l’Élan (Specialized manpower services), SPHERE (Support for People with a Handicap Exploring the Road to Employment) and the Réseau Accès Crédit (access to microcredit and personalized support) all offered technical and financial support when she needed it. Regular meetings were held with the partners at Marie-Eve's workplace, enabling her to develop her business easier.

“As a new entrepreneur, Marie-Ève was extremely involved in her project. Her perseverance really impressed me, and it was surely one the key to her success” says Jimmy Poirier, employment counselor at SSMO l’Élan. Word-of-mouth and a website launch also helped spread the word around the area about the business which faces an elementary school. That's how the business gained momentum!

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Positive FeedbackIn Rimouski, parents are more than happy to have a reference and school tutoring services, very reassuring for Marie-Eve. Marie Boulanger, project officer at SPHERE, noticed throughout Marie-Eve's journey, she was a woman “in full control of her skills”. “Clients are satisfied with their children's progress and say they would like to see the company expand,” says the entrepreneur with joy.

The business opened a year and a half ago and Marie-Eve is pleased with her progress. “I feel that my business is well-established in the minds of Rimouski residents and I look forward to the years to come with happiness,” she says.

Group Project Popularity

Most of the employment integrations subsidized by SPHERE are individual employment integration projects. However, like entrepreneurial projects, group projects are an alternative increasingly used by partner groups or by SPHERE to reach a variety of clients, meeting labor shortages in certain areas at the same time. In 2015-2016, SPHERE has supported ten group projects, for a total of more than one hundred employment candidates.

Therefore, SPHERE chose to improve its services to ensure an effective response to this growing trend. A development team dedicated to group projects has now received the mandate to listen closely to partners, employers and employer groups, and build together solutions that are best suited to their needs.

Group trainings are more and more popular because they are an interesting alternative. They offer the possibility to extend further an employment candidate's support, giving them a more complete and structured approach. They help develop training in collaboration with specific employer groups who ensure that job candidates meet fully their requirements. Jobs are often guaranteed at the end of term or if relevant, the plan ensures skills are transferable to high demand business sectors. Group trainings, as well as individual integration action plans, include more and more an essential skills development component, except for the fact that because we can presume of the workplace, it's possible to adapt the skills to the workplace and to the intended tasks. Group projects also allow SPHERE to maximize the use of financial support, be it to hire a trainer, a coach, or other.

With the year 2015-2016, SPHERE foresees important years in terms of partnership development for these types of project and innovation in the drafting of action plans, through the pooling of our referring and sponsor partners’ insight and expertise, whom we cannot thank enough.

Thanks to our referring and sponsor partners – group projectsAccès Compétences CSRS (QC)

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Centre d’éducation aux adultes Christ-Roi (QC)Centre de formation continue des Patriotes (QC)Centre de formation de l’alimentation et du commerce du Québec (QC)Commission scolaire au Cœur-des-Vallées (QC)Commission scolaire de la Seigneurie-des-Mille-Îles (QC)Community Employment Agency (NB)Eastman Employment Services (MB)École secondaire Ste-Famille/Trois-Chemins (QC)Gateway Association (AB)Intégration-travail Laurentides (QC)Inter Action Travail (QC)La Relance Outaouais (QC)MCWF Education & Training Trust Fund (MB)Moncton Employment & Training Services (NB)Option for Success (MB)Orientation Travail (QC)Partners in Employment (ON)Premier Personnel (MB)Service Spécialisé de Main-d’œuvre ESSOR II (QC)Westman Employment Services (MB)

Quebec : Regions Socio-Economic Activity Overview

SPHERE’s staff is always concerned they manage the funds entrusted to them in an effective and responsible way. To continue on this path and to maximize its efforts, the organization has carried out an overview of the socio-economic activities in different regions of Quebec, where it currently holds the majority of its activities. This approach aims at matching in the best possible way “available job hunters with disabilities with employers in-real-demand economic sectors." This way SPHERE can adequately target open-minded employers who would likely accept a custom designed training plan for candidates who will then be qualified and reliable employees, and finally meet their labor needs.

A Success Story

Winning at the Casino… customized skills for hire

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In April 2016 in Moncton, New Brunswick, a project was implemented to ease the employment integration of people living with challenges due to intellectual difficulties, as well as to meet employers' real labour needs. "The project aims at improving these future workers' skills, both personally and professionally so they can get sustainable jobs in the labour market" explains Sonia Deraîche, Development Officer at SPHERE (Support for People with a Handicap Exploring the Road to Employment), one of the project’s funding organizations. Debbie Vaughan, Manager of the Community Employment Agency/CEA (A Division of Moncton Employment and Training Services Inc.) and her staff developed the unique project. She has over 30 years' experience working with individuals with disabilities in supported employment.

Through to March 24, 2017, three groups of five people will participate in a 15-week journey with integration activities, a project lasting a total of 45 weeks. The journey includes classroom training to develop essential and adapted employment skills: self-assessment, time management, teamwork, communication, etc. Next, comes targeted employment activities: preparing for the job hunt, interviewing process, etc. Throughout the 15-week journey, there is also real work through an internship partnership where the candidates practise the skills they've learned. The proud community partner of the project, Casino New/Nouveau Brunswick offers the internship. "Casino New/Nouveau Brunswick is passionate about being an inclusive employer and has had a partnership with CEA for the past six years. Since opening in 2010, Casino New/Nouveau Brunswick has hired 21 individuals through our agency to fill various positions at their location" says Ms. Vaughan.

The project lasts until March 24. From now on and until then, many candidates will be available to work in available positions in Moncton, as well as throughout the Southeast region of New Brunswick. Good news: during the first 15 weeks of the project, two individuals participating in the training were already hired! Wishing the best of luck to all participants and their future employers!

SPHERE in the News

May 29, 2015 A press release “My employer, a visionary for recruitment!” also published in Le Réveil de Chicoutimi.

June 8, 2015 Participation in an Emploi-Québec collective interview resulting in the writing of two articles in La Nouvelle Union, “Employment Assistance Services for People with Limitations” and “John Junior Brisson: A Living Example of Successful Work Integration”.

October 9, 2015

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“Music for the Eyes”, an article in L’Express de Drummondville on Drummondville native François Bolduc’s business. He gives new life to old musical instruments in an original and environmentally responsible manner.

November 12, 2015 Blog post “And if Your Job Applicant Didn’t Make the Right Choice?”November 13, 2015 Blog post “Me, Handicapped?”

February, 2016Article published in the newsletter of l’Association québécoise interuniversitaire des conseillers aux étudiants en situation de handicap (AQICESH) – “Transition to employment: the chance to provide opportunities!”

March 3, 2016 Blog post “Wage Subsidy for Employment Integration across Canada: Multiple Strategies!”

March 3, 2016 Blog post “A Traditionally Inclusive Society to a Contemporary One”

March 7, 2016 An article addressing employment integration for people with hearing impairment in the magazine of l’Association du Québec pour enfants avec problèmes auditifs (AQEPA) (Quebec Association for children with hearing impairments.)

SPHERE on the Web is…

Facebook: 76 publications, 14,233 views, 55 new subscribers (310 subscribers as of March 31, 2016)LinkedIn (business page): 40 publications, 6 628 views (142 subscribers as of March 31, 2016)LinkedIn (WORK & Abilities group): (From January 1st to March 31, 2016) 100 members, 9 shares, 45 LikesTwitter: 63 publications, 8 777 views, 634 visits, 11 mentions, 59 new subscribers (277 subscribers as of March 31, 2016)

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Our Clientele

In the year 2015-2016, in collaboration with hundreds of partners, SPHERE has provided support to 897 job applicants experiencing a situation of professional disability because of a physical, mental or intellectual condition.

Clientele according to the age group16-25 years: 44%26-35 years: 24%36-45 years: 15%46-55 years: 13%56-65 years: 4%66 years and over: 0%

Clientele according to the type of disabilityAuditory: 3%Autism PDD: 8%Psychic: 25%Intellectual: 23%Motor: 15%Organic: 4%Visual: 3%Speech and language: 8%ADD/ADHD: 7%Other: 4%

Some participants have more than one disability.

Clientele according to the level of educationElementary: 13%High school: 61%College: 15%University: 11%

Clientele according to end date of last jobLess than 5 years: 52%Over 5 years: 13%Over 10 years: 7%Never had a job: 28%

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Results

Financial Statement for the year ending March 31, 2016 (Estimate for presentation)

The complete Financial Statements are available upon request. To ensure that the activities of SPHERE conform to the conditions related to its financing, the accounting firm Laberge Lafleur Brown has prepared and issued a review engagement report.

Amount

Income

Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disablities

Regional projects $ 3,032,567

National projects 1 $ 669,276

National projects 2 $ 1,019,099

Total $ 4,720,942

Expenses

Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disablities

Regional projects $ 3,032,567

• Assistance to participants* $ 1,943,604

• Project costs* $ 871,170

• Operating costs* $ 217,793

National projects 1 $ 669,276

• Assistance to participants* $ 359,433

• Project costs* $ 247,874

• Operating costs* $ 61,969

National projects 2 $ 1,019,099

• Assistance to participants* $ 625,147

• Project costs* $ 315,162

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• Operating costs* $ 78,790

Total $ 4,720,942

Operation profit (deficiency) - $

*Estimate for presentation

Assistance to Participants by Budget Items

Costs Amount %

Participant wages and payroll contributions $ 1,831,280 62,6%

Income support benefit $ 413,333 14,1%

Coaching $ 321,682 11%

Adapted equipment $ 62,887 2,1%

Adaptation fees $ 76,379 2,6%

Professional fees $ 141,809 4,8%

Transportation $ 29,451 1%

Other $ 51,363 1,8%

Total $ 2,928,184

100%

Related contributions (For information)Contributors Amount

Employers $ 1,302,458

Other financial partners $ 22,151

Self-employed workers $ 288,527

Total $ 1,613,136

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Results after being supported by SPHEREAt school: 9%Self-employed: 3%Employed: 40%Unemployed: 48%

Results according to type of jobs after being supported by SPHERE Executive personnel: 1%Support personnel: 19%Day labourers: 60%Professional personnel: 8%Technical personnel: 7%Specialized personnel: 5%

Conclusion

In 2015-2016, 52% of participants remained active (employed, self-employed or in school) after benefiting from our support.

Each year brings new challenges as regards to employment integration, because we assist a young clientele (67% of the clientele is 35 years old and younger), poorly educated (73% have a high school education or less) and far from the labor market (35% of the customers have been absent from the labor market for more than 10 years or have never worked).

Because the essence of our mission revolves around the elimination of barriers, we will continue to work with partners in the field, ensuring together we find the best ways to overcome these challenges: for sustainable integrations that bring fulfillment and happiness into the lives of people we are proud to serve.

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