With Cintia Lutz, founder of Able & Available Job Board
Imagine a job board that identifies a list of inclusive employers. Even better than that – imagine a job posting that outlines accessibility options and reassures job seekers of a safe space. Or a posting that lists specific qualifications without the need to read in between the lines. Founder Cintia Lutz of Able & Available Job Board has spent the last year contacting employers, recruiters specific to an organization, employment support agencies and post secondary institutions to compile a safe and accessible list of meaningful employment. No need for imagination!
Having come from working in the inclusive employment sector , specifically involving a job board directed to identifying roles for Indigenous communities, Lutz decided to create an inclusive resource for people with disabilities that stands out from job board competitors such as LinkedIn or Indeed. With a dream to start local in Calgary and grow provincially, she has found herself already including Canada wide job postings on her website – indicating a high demand. When Lutz meets with employers, they are quick to jump on board with sharing their open roles to a community of people looking to make sure that accessibility options are available to them, or looking to make sure that employers have a basic understanding of disability and accessibility. The high interest in this resource means Lutz reaches out to hundreds of contacts a week to ensure that the constant roll out of jobs is available. The roles identified across Canada are either remote, hybrid or in person. She has managed to connect with a wide range of industries, the tech industry standing out for being EDIA focused while some trades industries requesting further explanation on accessibility in a very physically demanding space.
Lutz uses her connection to employers to explain the spectrum of disability and accessibility. Employers often understand the benefits of her resource but may not see how they fit in, for example, the confusion on accessibility options in a physically demanding role. When providing further explanation on the wide range of accessibility options that the employer can offer, employers are also encouraged to be honest and clear about accommodations that they can provide. With this method the job seeker has all the information that they need to determine alignment.
The job board is accessible to job seekers with no login necessary and with free access to all open roles. If a job seeker clicks on a post they will find a detailed job description that includes a statement of assurance on inclusive workplaces, and an outlined commitment to equal employment opportunities. Job seekers should know that employers who have consented to a post on the job board have invested financially to ensure that people with disabilities have access to their post without having to sift through hundreds of pages on competitor boards that do not always consider inclusivity.
Since its inception, Able & Available Job Board has received exceptionally positive feedback and has expanded to accommodate the high demand. The appeal for employers is easy to explain and the chance to highlight the importance of being inclusive is communicated even if the employer has a limited understanding of how EDIA can be or has been implemented in their workplace. Lutz focuses on organic and genuine conversation to explain the benefits of her business to employers ; there is no need for a traditional process that has to align with every single employer. At this point, she is noticing employers reaching out to her without prior invitation which has confirmed the importance of her resource.
Cintia Lutz imagines a large team, the ability to connect with employers on multiple levels or offer training, and even branching out internationally in the future expansion of Able & Available Job Board. Nonprofits and employment support agencies are encouraged to use this tool within their search for meaningful job placement.
Author : Mariebelle Sawma
