October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and the Brightshores Health system joined the Light It Up initiative. Brightshores Health System and their five supporting Foundations were thrilled to shine a light on the campaign as they lit up all six hospital sites the evening of Thursday, October 17.
Vice President Corporate Services and Chief Human Resource Office Rebecca Cummings said all Brightshores sites were lit up.
"The Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) has started an initiative, it's about five years old, to bring awareness to equity and employment, specifically supporting people with disabilities in accessing employment opportunities," explained Cummings. "So they asked different businesses to bring some recognition to equity and employment by lighting up their businesses in purple and blue lights for just one evening a year."
Cummings pointed out the initiative aligns with their work.
"Brightshores Health System has been putting a lot of effort and thought into how we can be an inclusive space for all," she continued. "We've launched a new equity, diversity and inclusion framework. We started an inclusion advisory council with our community so that their voices are at the table, and we're working with the people we serve on how we are in a more inclusive place all around. So this initiative aligns really well with our work to be a great place for everybody and open up opportunities that might not otherwise be there."
This is the first time an entire hospital network anywhere in Canada is participating in the event.
"This is the first time an entire hospital network anywhere in Canada is participating in the event. It’s really exciting to have Brightshores Health System involved in Light It Up! for NDEAM in such a big way,” said Dean Askin, Communications Strategist for the ODEN.
Cummings said Brightshores Health System, Bruce Peninsula Hospitals Foundation, Centre Grey Health Services Foundation, Meaford Hospital Foundation, Brightshores Owen Sound Foundation and Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation are committed to equitable employment.
“Light It Up! For NDEAM™ is much more than a one-night, co-ordinated lighting event to raise awareness about disability inclusion in employment,” explains Jeannette Campbell, CEO of the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN). “It’s a national movement that ignites continuing conversation about why businesses need to make all the connections to disability inclusion, and fully embrace it. Every Light It Up! for NDEAM participating location on the list represents a conversation about disability-inclusive hiring that’s happened. It’s exciting to have, for the first time, an entire hospital network involved. The enthusiastic, all-out, first- time participation by Brightshores Health System clearly demonstrates that they’re making sure disability is part of the DEI conversation. Too often, it’s left out.”
Brightshores Health System, Bruce Peninsula Hospitals Foundation, Centre Grey Health Services Foundation, Meaford Hospital Foundation, Brightshores Owen Sound Foundation and Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation are committed to equitable employment and are excited to continue to participate in initiatives such as Light It Up! For NDEAM.