ADM Picarello Talks About Ontario’s Employment Strategy for People w/Disabilies

AccessTALK with Trish

My guest this week will be Susan Picarello, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Ontario Public Service Accessibility and Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities. As such, she is leading the implementation of Access Talent: Ontario Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities as well as accessibility initiatives throughout the Ontario Public Service or OPS. During her over 24 years with the OPS, ADM Picarello has held various key senior level positions in legislative, policy and program development and operations including Cabinet Health and Education Policy. Since 2010 Susan was the Director of the Assistive Device Program (or ADP) at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, where she led a comprehensive transformation of the Program, working with both the business and disability sectors to improve service quality while ensuring value for money for the government. Susan also has experience in the mental health field. From 2012 to 2014, concurrent with her ADP responsibilities, Susan was Director of the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Toronto. Join us and hear ADM Picarello share how Ontario plans to grow a stronger economy, and a diverse culture of acceptance by breaking down barriers to employment for people with disabilities.