Less than Five Years

The year 2010 is just around the corner. We have less than five years to realize our vision:

By the year 2010, the Province of Alberta will have a well-trained and stable community rehabilitation workforce recognized as professionals providing valued service.

To make this vision a reality, much is yet to be accomplished. The information provided in this web site has identified several challenges we face. These include the following:

• Attracting more people to the workforce
  Working in the community rehabilitation profession needs to be seen as a promising career by young people entering the workforce and for those changing careers.
  
• Promoting education and training
  The declining numbers of students in community rehabilitation programs needs to be reversed. To have a trained and skilled workforce, more students need to graduate from college and university in rehabilitation-specific programs.
  
  Training and educational opportunities are also required for those currently in the workforce to ensure they are adequately prepared for the work they do.
  
• Overcoming turnover and increasing retention
  To retain community rehabilitation workers currently in the workforce, barriers such as low wages, few or no benefits, and lack of opportunities for advancement need to be overcome.
  
  Facilitating factors (things that workers find attractive in their jobs) need to be built upon as well. These include having pride and finding satisfaction in their work with individuals, being a member of a team, flexible scheduling and the availability of part-time work, and having opportunities for training and professional development.
  
• Increasing public awareness
  The general public is still quite uninformed about individuals with developmental disabilities and the work of the community rehabilitation profession. We need to communicate clearly what these terms mean. More opportunities for getting to know individuals with developmental disabilities and community rehabilitation workers will translate into better public awareness and support.