Sign of the times is the first Practice firm in North America dedicated to assisting persons with disabilities. It is funded by Employment Ontario and is operated by the Coalition for Persons with Disabilities, a not-for-profit employment agency.

A practice Firm is a virtual company that provides real life employment experience to unemployed, yet qualified individuals who are looking to enter or re-enter the job market.

Participants conduct business with other Practice Firms. Catalogues of products and services are marketed amongst other Practice firms who buy and sell from one another with the aim of earning a virtual profit. All business is conducted on a virtual basis with no exchange of real money.

Practice Firms provide a realistic simulation of a business with all its administrative functions. They include the following departments: accounting, sales and marketing, purchasing, graphic design, web design and support, I.T. support and network administration, communications and customer service.

Every Practice Firm is connected to an existing business that shares its expertise by providing a business model and advice. Sign of the Times is mentored by Fast Signs located at 5130 Dixie Road in Mississauga.

The newly renovated Mississauga office is designed for people with disabilities. It features wheelchair accessible furniture; plenty of manoeuvring space in the office and board room; Zoom text and voice synthesizer software on computers; widened doorways with electronic doors; lever-style hardware on doors; colour-contrasted doors and walls and many other features.

Eligibility criteria for a position within Sign of the Times:

• To be unemployed
  
  
• To have some experience or training for the position which is available
  
  
• To be actively looking for work
  
  
• To have a disability
  
  
• To be at least 16 years of age
  
  
• To be eligible to work in Canada

Participants are selected through a hiring process to work a 37.5 hour week for a maximum of 12 weeks. Participants are free to leave the program at any time– particularly when employment is obtained. They are required to devote 20 per cent of their time to actively search for employment. Sign of the Times hires a maximum of 16 participants and is continually accepting new applications.