IMPACT 2.0

About the Project:

IMPACT 2.0 was a three-year provincial initiative focused on strengthening employment pathways for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The project recognized that the years leading up to school completion are a critical window for building skills, confidence, and connections that support future employment success.

Between 2023 and 2025, IMPACT 2.0 supported youth ages 15 to 19 through youth-centred vocational training delivered by community organizations across British Columbia. Building on earlier IMPACT work, the project was delivered by member agencies of the BC Employment Network (BCEN), in partnership with the Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship (CIIC) at the University of British Columbia.

Why IMPACT 2.0 Matters:

Many youth with developmental disabilities do not consistently receive the early supports and opportunities needed to move confidently toward employment. While individual communities may have established good programs, access has often been uneven and limited.

IMPACT 2.0 was designed to address this gap by bringing organizations together and investing early in employment pathways. By centring on youth strengths, interests and aspirations, the project helped shift expectations toward employment as an attainable and meaningful part of adulthood.

What We Did:

Across three summer cohorts, IMPACT 2.0 engaged hundreds of youth and their families in vocational training programs delivered by ten community-based agencies throughout the province.
Youth participated in activities that included:

• Job discovery and career exploration
• Employment-related skill development and workplace readiness
• Supported work experiences, job sampling, and coaching

The project also created space for collaboration among agencies, families, community partners, and researchers. This shared approach strengthened practice, supported learning across regions, and built a common understanding of the effectiveness of early employment support.

Impact and Meaning:

The success of IMPACT 2.0 extends beyond program participation. Youth were introduced to real workplaces, developed new relationships, and built confidence in their abilities. Many gained practical experience and a clearer sense of themselves as workers.

Families described positive changes in motivation, independence, and self-belief. Employers and community partners gained new perspectives on inclusive hiring and the contributions youth with developmental disabilities bring to the workplace.

At its core, IMPACT 2.0 was about people. Real youth, real families, and real communities whose lives were positively shaped through early, supported experiences of work.

Key Findings:

Over the course of IMPACT 2.0, several consistent findings emerged across participating communities.

• Early exposure to real work environments supported youth to build confidence, self-awareness, and worker identity.
• Individualized and strengths-based approaches opened up a wider range of employment possibilities.
• Supported work experiences and job sampling played a key role in helping youth and families make informed decisions about future employment pathways.
• Collaboration among community agencies, schools, families, and employers strengthened transitions from school to work.
• Starting employment conversations earlier contributed to smoother transitions into adulthood.

Together, these findings highlight the importance of early, flexible, and person-centred employment supports grounded in real community participation.

Legacy of IMPACT 2.0:

IMPACT 2.0 leaves a lasting legacy for youth employment in British Columbia. The project strengthened partnerships among community agencies, researchers, and funders and reinforced a shared commitment to investing early in employment pathways.

The approaches developed through IMPACT 2.0 continue to inform how agencies deliver youth-focused employment supports, collaborate with schools and families, and embed employment into transition planning. The project also reinforced that early employment support is life-changing and sustainable.

Partners:

The participating agencies are all members of the British Columbia Employment Network (BCEN), and include Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion, Chilliwack Society for Community Living, Community Living Victoria, Kyndred Community Living Society, Inclusion Langley Society, posAbilities, Aspire Richmond, Inclusion Powell River, Community Living Society and UNITI.

Ackledgements:

IMPACT 2.0 was made possible with funding from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. We thank the youth, families, vocational specialists, community partners, employers, and supporters who contributed their time, insight, and commitment to advancing inclusive employment

Contact us:

For more information about the IMPACT Project, email impact@kyndredsociety.ca.