Persons with disabilities have the opportunity to develop a range of employment skills through supported employment at one of three local businesses. Affirmative Industries owns and operates two businesses in Halifax that act as employment training platforms:

• Pet Stuff On the Go
• The Neighbourhood Dollar Store  

Partnering with New Beginnings Dartmouth, clients also have the opportunity to gain work experience at a third local business:

• Mort’s Convenience

Clients working at each of these businesses develop a range of job skills including customer service, handling and counting cash, merchandising product, and filling and receiving orders.  It provides them with the opportunity to apply job specific and general workplace skills and knowledge and to develop an understanding of their employment goals.

Over the past three years, 115 clients have been employed at Affirmative Industries businesses. Some clients graduated to job coaches and 97% were successful in gaining competitive employment.

People who have been employed in Affirmative Industries businesses are referred to other agencies for job development in a targeted position of their choice. These supported employment experiences help persons with disabilities successfully reenter the workplace and become self-reliant members of the community.