Matt's Journey

Matt Freeman has been employed at McMaster University since 2007, where he has held various roles, most recently Assistant Clinical Professor (Adjunct) in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences. One of the things that attracted Freeman to Rehabilitation Sciences at McMaster was that there were accessible washrooms on every floor—making it easier to attend in person meetings when necessary. Furthermore, accessible bus routes to and from campus were a bonus of finding employment at the university.

Pictured Above, Freeman attended and presented at the launch of IDEA in his seven-year-old wheelchair. As he began his presentation, he pointed to the ripped cushion on the back right corner of his chair. He had arrived in his old chair while awaiting repairs to his new one, which had already needed to be sent to the shop several times over the last few years. Freeman’s wheelchair is a constant consideration in his life, so systemic factors like workplace location and the physical environment—not the work itself—can be a major barrier, or facilitator, to employment.

“One of the most attractive things was there were accessible washrooms on every floor. Which made it easier for me to get to work and be at work to attend meetings. So that I could use the washroom. While ‑that seems like a really insignificant issue, but for a lot of people with disabilities, access to an accessible washroom is one of the decisions we have to make.”

"In another example of, ‘not the work itself,’ Freeman stresses the need for wrap around supports to make employment feasible for someone like him. Sharing his personal experience with navigating essential services, Freeman explains that attendant care support and employment requirements must be aligned."

“My attendant care provider in Hamilton became frustrated that I needed to frequently change my schedule so that I could attend work meetings. I was told by the agency your job should understand you can't attend early morning meetings.  I explained to them, I’m only an employee. I can't set the schedule for the entire work team.”

After navigating difficulties with attendant care in Hamilton, Freeman ended up moving to Toronto, which was an hour away from Hamilton, and his workplace, because the attendant care agency in Toronto was willing to meet his need for a flexible schedule.

In addition to the important influence of environmental and wrap around supports in his Journey, Freeman noted the importance of early interventions. Early experiences in co-ops or part-time employment allow youth to learn about ‘grown-up’ experiences away from parents. During these early experiences, youth get to figure out what interests them and gain workplace skills at the same time as their non-disabled peers. Having those first experiences in the mid-late 20’s is developmentally more difficult.