Quick facts about the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW): 
- Industry: Non-profit
- HQ: Toronto, Canada
- Established: 1976
- Website: www.ccrw.org
Challenge: Supporting 100+ staff across Canada with accessible online training
The Canadian Council on Rehabilitation (CCRW) is a national non-profit organization committed to supporting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Canadian workforce. As the Manager of Digital Operations at CCRW, Jeffrey Normore understands the importance of leveraging technology to empower individuals with disabilities and improve their access to employment opportunities.
Jeffrey faced a significant challenge regarding CCRW’s digital operations. He recognized the need to create an inclusive and accessible online learning platform that would cater to the diverse needs of people with disabilities. The existing digital infrastructure was not optimized to provide a user-friendly experience for the staff and individuals they support. Jeffrey knew that addressing this challenge was crucial to advancing the mission of CCRW and ensuring equal learning and employment opportunities for job seekers.
“Being able to use a software like Learn365 allows us to deliver consistent training to 100+ staff who are located all across Canada as well as the hundreds of job seekers that we serve.”
Jeffrey Normore, Manager of Digital Operations
Solution: An inclusive and accessible learning environment
Jeffrey sought a solution that would transform CCRW’s digital operations and provide an inclusive learning environment for staff members and job-seeking individuals with disabilities. After extensive research and evaluation, he chose to partner with Learn365 due to the platform’s accessibility, Microsoft 365 integration, and track record of empowering organizations with engaging, effective learning solutions. Jeffrey Normore, Manager of Digital Operations, explains:
The fact that Learn365 is built right into Microsoft 365 allowed us to launch this software a lot faster than if we were to go with another solution.
With Learn365, Jeffrey could create an accessible and inclusive online learning platform that catered to the unique needs of individuals with disabilities and the CCRW employees who are trained to handle employment cases effectively. Jeffrey also found that building a diverse content catalog was made easy with the various creation and integration tools available in Learn365, stating:
Learn365 allows you to build in existing content that you already have, whether it be PowerPoints, Microsoft documents, or Stream videos. Being able to do that allows us to turn around training a lot faster.
Learn365 has allowed CCRW to decentralize its knowledge and training. Previously, staff training would depend on the availability of leadership or knowledge experts in the organization. Now, through Learn365, CCRW’s knowledge and training are available to all staff whenever they need it. Learn365’s quizzing feature has also supported the growth and development of staff by giving People Leaders data to make informed decisions on where to spend their efforts.
Learn365 has also allowed CCRW to reach more clients across Canada. Previously CCRW’s workshops and resources were only available in person. However, through Learn365, CCRW now distributes content and can track engagement. Learn365’s built-in notification system has also helped CCRW keep their clients, job seekers with disabilities, engaged in the learning journey.
Results: Inclusive onboarding and training in the flow of work
- 400 course completions in one quarter
- 95% of staff interacting with course content in Learn365
- 3x onboarding satisfaction rates after implementation
Since implementing Learn365, CCRW has witnessed significant positive outcomes. The accessible online learning platform has empowered individuals with disabilities to enhance their skills, knowledge, and employability. Through the comprehensive course catalog offered by CCRW, individuals can access relevant training resources tailored to their unique needs. Additionally, this allows them to acquire in-demand skills and stay competitive in the job market. Jeffrey Normore shares:
Currently as an organization we serve about 500-600 clients a year. Within the past quarter, we’ve seen 400 course completions across our client eLearning library.
The partnership with Learn365 has also streamlined CCRW’s internal operations. The platform’s intuitive interface and user-friendly course creation tools have simplified the process of developing and delivering online courses. This has allowed CCRW to scale its training initiatives and reach a broader audience of individuals with disabilities across Canada. Jeffrey has been pleased with this transformation, saying:
One of our biggest challenges has been change management, especially in the rollout of changes to our CRM. Previously we were doing news posts in SharePoint and only saw about a third of our staff engage with the post updates over a month. We now provide the same content through Learn365 and in the same time period we see 95% of staff have reviewed the content.
Training is delivered in the flow of their work and within their existing Microsoft 365 environment. Because of this, CCRW has seen substantial improvements in employee engagement and learning program satisfaction. Jeffrey Normore shares:
We’ve seen onboarding satisfaction rates triple from using Learn365. That’s been super beneficial to us.
Seeing that employees are more engaged with the training content, and more actively participating in new learning opportunities, has been a much-appreciated improvement for CCRW. Jeffrey expresses that having more dynamic course content available with Learn365, and through their Microsoft 365 digital workspace, has given their whole learning environment a more accessible boost, which he is grateful for:
I would recommend Learn365 to anybody looking to create a great employee experience in the Microsoft 365 environment.
Future: Expanding on the onboarding process
With the success of Learn365 in transforming CCRW’s digital operations and training environment, Jeffrey and his team are enthusiastic about the future. They aim to expand their course offerings and develop strategic partnerships with organizations and employers. This will ultimately foster greater inclusion and improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Jeffrey Normore looks forward to the future with Learn365, expressing:
One of our plans is to leverage the LinkedIn Learning integration with Learn365. The LinkedIn course library is probably the library we receive the most requests from staff and clients for funding to complete training.
The CCRW team is also looking to expand their onboarding process now that they have scalable Learn365 tools in place. Jeffrey shared more about these plans, saying:
We’re also currently working to expand our use of Power Automate from the first week of onboarding to a full three-month plan that brings course access to the inbox of new hires when they need it within their onboarding journey.
CCRW’s journey with Learn365 has demonstrated the transformative power of technology in creating equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities. By leveraging Learn365’s accessible learning platform, CCRW is leading the way in promoting inclusivity, breaking down barriers, and empowering individuals to achieve their full potential.
Watch the video
Hear more from Manager of Digital Operations at CCRW, Jeffrey Normore on how his team created a more accessible online learning solution with Learn365.
About the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW)
CCRW is a national not-for-profit Canadian organization that exists to promote and support meaningful and equitable employment of persons with disabilities. CCRW offers job search assistance, employer incentives, accommodation assessments, consulting services, and a variety of workshops. Additionally, they provide a range of services for employers, from consulting to hiring and retention, and disability confidence training.