Employment Services
Opening Doors to Inclusive Workplaces
Giant Steps is a recognized leader in creating meaningful, long-term employment opportunities for autistic adults. Through strategic industry partnerships, customized training, and a commitment to promote inclusive hiring practices, Giant Steps actively removes barriers to employment and fosters success for both job seekers and employers.
With every initiative, Giant Steps is redefining what workplace inclusion looks like and demonstrating the immense value of neurodivergent talent across all sectors.
Provincial Delivery Partner for Ready, Willing & Able (RWA)
As a provincial delivery partner for Ready, Willing & Able (RWA) in Quebec since 2019, Giant Steps plays a pivotal role in helping autistic job seekers connect with inclusive employers. RWA is a national initiative that supports businesses in hiring and retaining neurodivergent talent, offering guidance, resources, and best practices to foster an inclusive work environment. Through this partnership, Giant Steps provides direct support to employers and job seekers, ensuring a successful transition into meaningful employment.
Since the program was launched in 2014, more than 5,000 jobs have been filled in all areas of activity, including over 500 in Quebec.
Industry Partnerships Driving Inclusion
Giant Steps partners with leading employers to create neuroinclusive workplaces and meaningful employment opportunities. Key collaborations include:
Fairmont Hotels
Expanding a successful Quebec pilot into the national Xenia initiative, now across 8 properties, supporting over 50 autistic youth and young adults through structured training and paid placements.
Loblaw Grocery Stores
Developed the Polaris initiative, advancing inclusive hiring through stakeholder training across Canada, the creation of a retail-focused Adult Education Program, and a pilot project with Maxi stores in Quebec
St-Hubert Restaurants
Supporting the rollout of an autism-inclusive hiring initiative with tailored roles, training, and adapted work environments.
These partnerships provide hands-on experience and pathways to sustainable employment, while helping businesses build more inclusive and effective teams.
Internal Initiatives:
Building Skills from Within
To further enhance employment readiness, Giant Steps has developed a range of internal initiatives within its Adult Education Program. These serve as hands-on training environments where participants build essential workplace skills in a structured and supportive setting before transitioning to external employment. Designed to align with participants’ interests while contributing to the broader community, this approach offers a dynamic and impactful pathway to workforce integration.
Angus Destination Neuroinclusive:
A Bold Step Towards Workplace Inclusion
In 2024, Giant Steps launched the Angus Destination Neuroinclusive initiative, a groundbreaking project aimed at transforming the employment landscape for autistic adults. Located in the Angus district, this initiative is designed to create a neuroinclusive employment hub where businesses, educators, and employment specialists collaborate to develop and implement best practices for hiring and supporting neurodivergent employees. The project establishes a model for inclusive employment, demonstrating the benefits of neurodiverse hiring for both individuals and businesses.
Thought Leadership and Sector Engagement
Giant Steps is not only a service provider but also a thought leader in the field of inclusive employment. Staff members actively contribute their expertise to national and regional advisory committees focused on advancing neuroinclusive workforce strategies.
This includes participation in initiatives such as Tourism HR Canada’s BELONG project and the Cuisine Collective Hochelaga-Maisonneuve’s training program for autistic and neurodivergent participants, among others. By engaging at the policy, research, and program development levels, Giant Steps helps shape best practices, inform inclusive hiring models, and advocate for systemic change across industries.
Giant Steps also plays a key convening role by organizing conferences and sector events that bring together employers, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders. These gatherings create space to share knowledge, highlight innovative practices, and accelerate collective action toward more inclusive hiring across Canada.
Transforming the Future of Work
Through its integrated approach, combining strategic partnerships, internal training initiatives, and national collaborations, Giant Steps is expanding employment opportunities for autistic adults. By advocating for inclusive hiring and working closely with employers across industries, the organization continues to build a future where neurodivergent individuals have access to meaningful and sustainable careers.
Partner With Giant Steps
Businesses interested in creating more inclusive workplaces are encouraged to connect with Giant Steps. From hands-on training to workplace consultation and job-matching services, Giant Steps offers a comprehensive model for success in neuroinclusive employment.
