Who we are?
Formed in 1978 and incorporated in 1984, the Association was run as a volunteer driven association until 2019 when we hired our first Executive Director. We provide representation to government for our 38 ESSP member agencies province-wide.
NBASSE is a member of the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) and the New Brunswick Human Service Counselor Association.
Our primary objective is to advocate for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
We do this by providing a collective voice and venue for our ESSP member agencies to strategize, develop and implement the highest standards of service for people we support.
Our 38 member agencies are all part of the Disability Support Program – Employment & Support Services Program (ESSP), formerly known as the ADAPT program. The ESSP program currently serves approximately 1200 people throughout the province of New Brunswick.
We gratefully acknowledge funding support from the Province of New Brunswick.
Mission
To provide strategic and operational support to the member agencies, so they may improve the well-being of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities in New-Brunswick
Vision
To be recognized as the gold standard in Canada for “employment and support service providers” representation and support.
Values
Respect for others, pioneering spirit, solidarity and the desire to break down barriers.
ESSB and the Employment First Model
He employment First philosophy is focused on normative experience, inclusion, and capacity building. It recognizes that everyone has skills and abilities that can be developed and used to contribute to the workplace and to their community. Employment First is considered a best practice in disability services. It is an approach to service delivery that supports working-age adults, regardless of any perceived level of disability, to have choice and opportunities to earn a living through paid employment in the open labour market.
All working age people with a disability can make a valuable contribution to the New Brunswick labour market through integrated, equitably compensated employment within the general workforce, entrepreneurship or self-employment. From an employment first philosophy, if an individual is perceived to have a degree of a disability that appears to prevent their employment participation, this is due to an inability on the part of support services to communicate on the required level with the person or an inability to design a system of effective supports which allow the person to succeed.
Opportunity and support to participate in the open labour market significantly improves independence and quality of life of people with a disability, while at the same time providing the opportunity to become more involved with their community.
Program Vision
Interested individuals will be supported to work, learn, volunteer and participate in their communities in ways that recognize and respect their individual strengths, interests and abilities.
Program Objectives
- Work for real wages in typical workplaces
- Find and mantain paid work that matches skills and interests
- Gain skills and competencies that enable greater independence
- Participate in other aspects of community life, participating in inclusive volunteer, social and recreation opportunities
Program Outcomes
- Enhance capacity within communities to welcome and include individuals with disabilities
- Ensure compliance with the principles and rigths outlined in the UN's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Strengthen Families
- Offer and provide opportunities