Employment & Wellness Support Group (Ewsg) First

**POSITION TITLE: EMPLOYMENT & WELLNESS SUPPORT GROUP (EWSG) FIRST VOICE LEADER (Autistic adults with lived experience)
**UNDERSTANDING - ACCEPTANCE - INCLUSION**

**About Autism Nova Scotia **

Autism Nova Scotia is a national leader in providing social, educational, and employment supports for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), their families, caregivers, and professionals. Our vision is a society where people with ASD can live their lives to the fullest. This vision informs our day-to-day operations and provides a philosophy that revolves around person-focused supports, strength-based approaches, and community-oriented learning opportunities.

Autism Nova Scotia delivers programming in Halifax and in nine communities across Nova Scotia through our Regional Autism Centres. Our three program divisions are: Social & Community Inclusion; Employment Support; and Family and Caregiver Support.

**POSITION DETAILS**:Part-time, contract, up to 3 hours per week (Tuesdays 7-8pm, Fridays 9:30-11:30am)

**POSITION LOCATION**:Remote (Online via Zoom) **POSITION START DATE**:February 2025

**DEADLINE TO APPLY**:4:30 pm Friday December 13th, 2024

**Program Summary**:
The Employment & Wellness Support Group (EWSG) is a weekly virtual meeting held over Zoom for adults on the autism spectrum seeking a safe space to share their employment experiences, learn from one another and connect through a shared topic: employment & wellness.

Autism Nova Scotia is seeking **an autistic facilitator **who will be provided support from Employment Support Staff at Autism Nova Scotia. During each weekly meeting, the EWSG Facilitator will be responsible for leading a digital presentation, guiding conversation, sharing their own employment experiences where appropriate and providing equal opportunities for all to speak.

The EWSG Facilitator (Leader) also attends a weekly 1:1 meeting with Autism Nova Scotia staff to work on goals and skills within their position and develop and plan weekly presentations for the EWSG meetings.

This position is an opportunity for personal and professional growth. Examples of past Leaders’ goals included, building confidence speaking in front of a group of people, facilitating discussions on topics, time management, etc.

This is an educational position, and we are looking for someone with definite skills they would like to develop and goals they would like to achieve during the 8-week term.

**Responsibilities Include**:

- Lead conversations and support attendees within the Employment & Wellness Support Group over Zoom, with the support of an Autism Nova Scotia staff member
- Redirect conversations if they go off topic
- Follow the agenda as laid out and reviewed in the 1:1 Facilitator meetings
- Attend weekly 1:1 goal and skill building meetings with an Autism Nova Scotia staff where you will develop skills you have identified you would like to improve on and work towards goals set.
- Provide an autistic first-voice aspect to the further development of the Employment Support Group
- Present weekly topic via digital presentation

**Qualifications**:

- A valid criminal record check and a child abuse registry search is required
- Access to a computer, laptop or tablet with webcam function is required
- Access to a stable internet connection is required
- Access to a quiet and private workspace is required

**Minimum Knowledge and Experience**:

- Experience in building relationships with diverse groups and interests
- Demonstrated knowledge of issues and barriers faced by autistic people in accessing

the labor markets
- Strong knowledge of local employment-related services and supports for people with autism

**Minimum Skills and Ability**:

- Strong communication skills or eagerness to develop them
- Attention to detail
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Openness to receiving feedback and implementing strategies as suggested
- Ability to identify multiple skills to be developed and goals to be achieved over the 8-week period

**Salary**:$21.50 per hour

**Accommodations**:Please state any interview accommodation (required) in your cover letter.**Employment Requirement**
- A clear criminal record check including the vulnerable sector check.
- A Clear, current Child Abuse Registry Check.**What to expect at Autism Nova Scotia...**

**_You’ll celebrate the uniqueness of all individuals. _**

**_You’ll make a difference. _**

You’ll be surrounded by passionate and committed individuals who work together to improve quality of life through our services

**_You’ll find a place to grow and develop. _**

We support professional development through training courses and support to help our professionals working with autistic people gain the knowledge they need to succeed and thrive. With a lot of opportunity for professional development and collaborative projects, you’ll continue to grow and learn throughout your career.