respite worker

disability specialist

community support specialist

program assistant

engineering team leader

Alberta AdaptAbilities Association

I started at AdaptAbilities this summer in a contract position funded by Canada Summer jobs. My contract initially ended in September, but the executive team was kind enough to provide a 4 month extension. Since starting this position, I have learned a lot about fund development, business relations, and the intersectionality between non-profit and corporate worlds. I feel that these insights will prepare me for whichever job I choose to take in the future. 

My supervisor is one of the most kind and personable individuals I've ever met, and it's been a huge privilege to work with him. He emphasized that my time at AdaptAbilities would not only consist of employment, but an opportunity to learn and develop my professional competencies. At head office everyone is always extremely friendly, and I know that I will always get the support I need if I am struggling. I feel safe coming to work during COVID because of the safety measures management has implemented to protect staff and families. 

As with any job, there are both positives and negatives. No workplace is perfect, but I do believe that management is doing the best they can with what they have. Our CEO started this organization with a grand vision, and it's been really great to see individuals come alongside her with a desire to make a difference.

Since working at AdaptAbilities, I feel that I have grown tremendously both as a person and as a professional. I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with such a hardworking team promoting an incredible vision!

I started working with Adaptabilities (in the Hearts in Action summer camp program) in the first year of my undergrad. Having no previous experience working with individuals with diverse abilities I was nervous, however that quickly changed. Adaptabilities runs on the basis of core values and strives to build capacity in the people they hire and the people who hire us. The skills I have today helps me succeed in the workforce and I give full credit to the excellent leaders and my proficient colleagues who helped and inspired me along the way. It is the systematic and empowering work culture at this company that has captured me here for five years! Here at adaptabilities, we are change makers and we care! In our day to day program planning we really brainstorm on how days can be made more meaningful for our participants, how we can increase thier inclusiveity into the community and how we can use positive behaviour supports to identify the real need behind behaviours. We use a human rights approach and actively support the people who hire us. Moreover, the company enables the people they hire to grow in their skills by providing many opportunities to learn and compensate us accordingly as well. There is a diverse range of programs you could work in and so many opportunities to grow! Overall working here has been a substantial experience, and I really credit the company for helping me develop my workforce skills.

Great cause and great purpose to individuals or families with disability. 

Workload is very high to a point it's not sustainable for a long term success. 
Lack of recognition to employees who really tries to give all. 
Values and operation decisions does not seem to be aligned. 
Great place to create connection and start, not a place to stay long term to sustain your lifestyle or career. 
Ignorance of employees contributions, dissatisfaction or suggestions. 
If you are included in the party committee, you are expected to work for free at the events and come over the weekend to clean up. 
Open door policy but get penalized (yelled at) for asking questions that are "common sense". 
Gap between the job description and actual work that you are required to do because they don't care who gets the work done as long as the work is completed. 
They ask for your opinion but never consider them into consideration & turn you down for raising up a concern. 
Had my contract keep being extended 3 month since April until November with zero promises on becoming permanent. Had 4 different supervisor in the span of 11 months, came back from a vacation to a different supervisor with no explanation or acknowledgement.  It was difficult to navigate four different management styles. 




The management in head office is terrible. Most are unqualified and have never worked front line, or if they have, it has been a long time. They have no idea what is happening in their programs and how to support front line staff. Pay is bad and it is impossible to move up the pay grid (which they don't show people) and get a raise. 
Coaching is inconsistent and the training does not align with the actual job responsibilities. 
It is so hard to have conversations with anyone in management about issues happening. Nothing really seems to get done in head office. There is a 48 hour response policy but the only people who actually follow it are front line staff. It is great working with the families you are supporting but very challenging and the training doesn't help you in any ways. 
The goals are to support the individuals coming to programming but it is clear that from a head office perspective that takes a back seat to making money. There are never enough staff and it is impossible to advocate for your kids/adults. 
You are overworked and underpaid and no one is appreciative. 
Very toxic. 

AdaptAbilities is a good opportunity if you want to go into Social Services or Education. Those of you going into Social Work at MacEwan or UofC should work here at least for a few months. However, BE WARNED: many of the participants that I worked with were very toxic and physically abusive, and there was NOTHING that I could do about it but to tough it out. 

That said, I don't believe AdaptAbilities has the resources to provide the support that a lot of their participants require. I've seen a couple participants develop behaviours based on trauma they endured in their time there. 

If anything, work their summer camps. Do not stick around after that. You're better off washing dishes.

Very high staff turnover. 
Lots of assumptions and gossip from management that trickles down to everyone else, which creates a very toxic work culture. 
The lines between personal and business relationships are so blurred for management, that decisions are made based on their friendships with each other, and not the work itself. 
The good staff quit and leave for better opportunities.
Management does not know the role of their own job and how to support front line staff and participants. This in turn creates a lot of unnecessary stress for front line staff. 
There is no proper training for anyone there.  
Management is very disconnected from the participants and front line staff. There is simply no two way communication. 
The hardest part of the job is dealing with management. The management does not collaborate with front line staff. They do not care what front line staff think or have to say, or what participants want or need. The setup is very superficial. 


I worked with the HIA program and finished my term in September. 
Working with AdaptAbilities from an recreation and planning side was extremely rewarding. It could also be hard work, at some point the job became overwhelming with the amount of increasing responsibilities as the participant registrations were higher than previous years, my supervisor saw this and moved around the load to make sure I was able to handle everything appropriately and also asked for my input on how responsibilities were laid out. This was extremely helpful and made me feel heard. Truly amazing leadership displayed! 
 Not only it was fun, the staff was chill and very helpful, supporting each other at times, and I also gained LOTS of experience. 
The resources from the organization, help from my supervisor, and interactions with parents looking for services , turned out to be a very memorable experience!
I've come to gain a new direction in my life from working here and gained valuable experience, and I would definitely love to work with them again!

Adaptabilities offers a very low working wage, expect to get the least amount an hour possible, but expect to work beyond what you are trained for. 
 There is a huge lack of transparency, especially at the Orange Hub. I have been here over a year and it is sad, but I need a job and I love the participants and their families. The current supervisor will make assumptions based on very little information about her own team and then base decisions off of that. Not based on facts. There is rarely discussion with the front line staff. If you want to move up the latter just  agree with everything management tells you to do, and do not question if it is ethical, or morally right. If you do not agree with everything they say, expect things to go very badly for you. If you value honesty and transparency please do not work here. 

Adaptabilities has been apart of my life for many years now, & as of Nov.2020 I recently got an amazing job with them being one of their Delivery Staff every Friday, and I absolutely LOVE my job, it’s awesome, & I really really enjoy doing it, I couldn’t thank them enough for letting me do the job that I’m doing, and it’s amazing to be apart of their team now! I love it!

I hope this lasts forever, and once again, CANNOT THANK THEM ENOUGH FOR THIS JOB OPPORTUNITY!
It means SO much to me!
I hope I get offered/would love to get offered future positions in the future! 
I truly am grateful to be apart of such an amazing organization and be apart of your awesome team now!!!
It truly is an amazing company, & I am hoping/would love to be considered for future positions, in the future! :) 



The programs are good and supporting people who have disabilities is great, but the company is bogged down by poor organization and communication.  

Scheduling for staff is all over the place and the ratio sheet often conflicts with the scheduled hours. It’s difficult to know when you are working or who you are working with. You also need to calculate your hours and cross check very carefully!

Communication from top down is lacking and confusing. New expectations and the communication of changes and other news is often missed or told in broken pieces. 

Finally, training is hit or miss. Most times someone is thrown in without much orientation.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Respite worker 44 salaries reported	$22.35 per hour
Disability specialist 1 salary reported	$20.78 per hour
Community support specialist 6 salaries reported	$20.90 per hour
Program assistant 1 salary reported	$22.88 per hour
Engineering team leader 1 salary reported	$26.55 per hour

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