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Employable 2007

O'neil Edwards (Mazemaster staff) is about to give away some computers donated by Direct Energy to the EmployABLE participants

Mazemaster/Youth@bilities(www.mazemaster.on.ca) in close partnership with The Scarborough Centre for Employment Accessibility (SCEA) held an innovative employment awareness event called EmployABLE 2007 for youth with disabilities and employers on Thursday, March 29th 2007 from 9am – 4pm.

The event was held at SCEA (3478 Lawrence Ave. E). In attendance were 120 youth with disability participants, 20+ community agents and teachers and 30 employers from different industries.

The event was the first of its kind in Toronto. The 3-part employment event began with an industry series information session delivered by employers from different industries. Sessions were 20 minutes long and began promptly at 9:30am and ended at 11:00am.

Following the sessions, our special guest speaker – Danish Ahmed (Ordinary Words), Writer and Inspirational speaker, delivered a dynamic speech to employers and participants. At noon, lunch was served to both participants and employers. Employers had a chance to participate in an employer lunch and learn on workplace accommodation and participants had the opportunity to meet with an employment expert. At 1:30pm, special guest speakers, Danish Ahmed, Alan Cantor (Cantor Access Inc.) and Anthony Scopa (Toronto Catholic District School Board), presented to participants and employers about disability, employment, education and accommodation (specifically the use of Assistive Technology). The event ended at 4pm and was very successful.

Mazemaster / Youth@bilities will continue to create new and innovative events for young persons with disabilities. If you have any suggestions on events / workshops you would like to see happen in the community, please contact us at: youthabilities@mazemaster.on.ca

Employment Plus:
A co-op program at Drewry S.S.

Kathy and her students at Drewry S.S.<o:p></o:p>

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n today’s world, education is just as important as getting practical work experience. This is especially true for students in both high-school and post-secondary. Co-op programs and Internship opportunities are provided through schools and the positions offered are often catered to the needs of the students.

The co-op program with Drewry S.S. is no exception. Drewry’s students have many different challenges and abilities. The students have either been identified with MID (mild intellectual disability) or DD (developmental disability). The importance of developing a work placement program for the students is critical in terms of finding employment opportunities after they are done school.

Katherine Beckwith, an Assistant Curriculum Leader at Drewry S.S. for 16 years, knows of this critical issue. Starting in September 2007, Beckwith will be teaching the Grade 12 Co-op Program, facilitating the Grade 11 and 12+ Work Experience Programs, and providing support for the M.E. Co-op Program.

We took sometime to speak to Kathy to learn more about some of the programs she initiated and also to hear about the students at Drewry S.S. This is part one of her interview.

Editor: Kathy, can you tell us a little bit about the students and the curriculum at Drewry S.S.?

Kathy: Yes. The MID students in the school earn high school credits and the curriculum is modified to meet the individual students’ needs. Most of our students will not receive their High School Diploma (O.S.S.D.), because they are not able to pass the Literacy Test (required by the Ministry). What our graduates receive is the ESAC (Employability Skills Achievement Certificate) and/or Ontario Secondary School Certificate (O.S.S.C.). The students in the DD program take non-credit courses which are more life skill based.

Editor: What programs did you start or expand on when you started at Drewry?

Kathy: In 1995, I implemented the Community Integration Program better known as the 12+ Program.

Although there is an extensive need in TDSB for such specialized programs to support MID students, Drewry S.S. is unique in offering the 12+ Program. This 2-semester, 6 credit, program was created in 1995 as a pilot program and has continued to be a success for students. The program provides an extra year for students to build confidence and skills necessary to bridge the gap from high school to post-secondary education (College Vocational Programs) or the world of work. The expansion of 12+ from 1 class to 2 classes in 2005 is a testament to the value of this program on the part of administration, staff, students and families. Drewry is known to have the highest percentage of graduates (within T.D.S.B.) continuing into post-secondary programs since the inception of the 12+ program.

In September 2006, I implemented the co-op program for Developmentally Disabled students.

Below is a Drewry newspaper article:

Year One of the Official S.C.I.P. (Sheltered Core Integrated Program) Co-op Program!

We have had a very successful start to our new SCIP Co-op Program. All nine students in the program are now placed in a wide variety of jobs providing great work experiences. Our employers are dedicated to providing positive work experiences for our students and are commended for the wonderful support they provide. Mr. Rupi Jeji, a very experienced teacher of special education students, has been instrumental in establishing solid relationships with many local businesses. His networking abilities have opened doors for our students to participate in concrete learning experiences. The majority of placements began in January 2007. With impressive support from our Education Assistants, we are witnessing positive growth and maturity of our students in many aspects of their lives. We have observed great improvements in students’ confidence and self-esteem as they develop essential employability skills. This engagement of our students into the work place is very exciting and rewarding adventure.

Editor: When does co-op begin for the students?

Kathy: In the MID level, students begin their career exploration in grade 11 with the Careers Course. In Semester 2, the grade 11 students participate in a 3-week work experience. The majority of placements are in retail stores, fast food, day care, and elementary schools for caretaking or teacher assistant positions.
All grade 12 students are required to take Co-op for 1 semester (a mandatory program in our school). This is a 4-credit program: students are in their work placements for approximately 4 months, attending work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesdays are in-school days for integration: learning about different topics related to work.

The 12+ students have 2 - 4 week placements during the school year to further develop employability skills.

In the DD level, the new S.C.I.P. co-op program (non-credit) looks very different from the other work experience programs. Some students go to work placements for 2 hours twice a week, others may go once a week for 1 hour, and others may work for 4 mornings. This program is very individualized and students need much more support at work compared to the MID students. Some students require an education assistant with them; others can go to the work place on their own.

In the next edition of the Youth@bilities newsletter, Kathy talks about the process of hiring students at her school for co-op.

For more information, contact Ashima – youthabilities@mazemaster.on.ca

The Search for Independence

Hey Everyone!!

This has been one of the most difficult newsletters for me to write.
Since December 1st, I have been living independently in my brand new apartment, for the first time in my life.

I was brought up in a traditional Pakistani culture where my mother and my five sisters did all the cleaning, cooking, dishes, laundry and other housework for the men. These tasks would be difficult for me to learn due to my lack of sight. (For example, I cannot notice where/when dust gathers and I can easily get accidentally burnt/cut in the kitchen.) So over the years, I took advantage of my family's lifestyle, until I moved out last December.

Here are some fun moments I had in December:
I memorize where I put everything (since I can't easily look for anything). In a new apartment, the first month is always the trickiest. I woke up one morning and started brushing my teeth. It tasted disgusting! I realized it was actually my shaving cream bottle instead of my same-shaped toothpaste tube that I had picked up. I washed my mouth profusely. Yuck!
To read, I have to hold things right against my face. On many packages, the print is super-fine, and I really have to squint like crazy to figure out what is printed. Reading the instructions to my laundry detergent, a few pellets inadvertently get rubbed into my eyes. Then I realized what the package said: "DANGER: Do not get close to eyes, and wash thoroughly for 10 minutes if in contact." I actually started laughing hysterically, and then went to wash out my eyes.

A spill was bound to happen right? Well prepared with the latest paper technologies, I did a thorough cleaning. Five minutes later I realized that I must have missed a spot, because my feet were getting all wet. Now they need paper towel technology with cameras so that it can follow the mess for me.

This newsletter was difficult for me to write because I couldn't see what I was learning from these experiences -- What could I talk about where I could share something meaningful?

This transition has been very challenging for me. I have moments of deep loneliness, of despair, and triggers to my history of depression and life adversities.

As difficult as my journey is right now, I have absolutely no regrets. I know that this is the life I was meant to live, and that this is exactly where I am supposed to be in my life right now

As difficult as my journey is for me
It is the right journey for me.
As difficult as your journey is for you,
It is the right journey for you.

Love,
[)anish /|hmed
Have fun creating your life.

Inspirational Entertainment
+01 (416) 368-1510

Movies:
The LOVE Movie, http://www.TheLoveMovie.com
Journey of Attraction, http://www.JourneyOfAttraction.com
Coming Soon... http://www.ForgivenessMovie.com
Who is Danish Ahmed? http://www.DanishAhmed.com

By Danish Ahmed

Being on ODSP and Working
It is worth it!

Rena

For those us of receiving financial assistance from the Ontario Disability Supports Program, (ODSP) we may be hesitant to accept a job offer, fearing that we could lose most of, if not all, of our assistance.

I know, from personal experience that it can be worth it to work and be on ODSP, for many reasons. For one, you can develop new skills and experience new opportunities. At one of my jobs, I had the chance to organize and go on trips to places I have not been to before. For instance, staying overnight in Niagara Falls and visiting Marine Land.

Working or even volunteering can increase your self esteem because you are out there being productive. It also can give you an opportunity to meet new people and possibly develop friendships.

Another benefit to being on ODSP and having a job is, a person could wind up making a little more money each month. For example, if by working you make, $400.00 a month, ODSP could possibly gives you $450 which works out to be $850 a month which could be a little more than what one could be receiving just being on ODSP.

However, as with most things, there is a catch and it called, “an overpayment”.

An overpayment, by my understanding is, when a person’s monthly income from work is over the amount you are allowed to receive without any deductions. So, if a person on ODSP gets paid more then $160.00 a month, a certain amount of money is taken off your ODSP cheque each month.
For more information, go to their website.

For me, being on ODSP is like having a “save net”. Working full time, 5 days a week would be a lot for me, because of many reasons, using Wheel Trans as a means of transportation being one of them. Receiving assistance from ODSP, I feel secure knowing that repairs to my scooter will be covered, that I have coverage for my dental/medication and that I have coverage for my shelter/rent.

Don’t get me wrong, it is hard living on the money we get from ODSP but for people who only want to work part- time, it can balance itself.

Like with anything in life, there are pros and cons, you need to decide if the pros out weight the cons. Personally, I think people who want to work should give it a shot and see if, for them, it is worth it!

By: Rena Nikou
http://www.justbelieve.ca/

A Good News Item:
Free Job Search program for Youth

As we slowly drift into summer, often we consider this to be the time for us to have fun in the sun, but for Youth (15-30) with a focus, it could be fun in free job search workshops, preparing for a bright and fulfilling working future.

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB), through its Contracted Services and Partnership Development’s Youth Boost, is providing high school graduates and drop-outs an opportunity to polish up on job search skills and get employed.

Youth Boost is inviting youths between the ages of 15 and 30 to attend free pre-employment workshop programs for those looking for fulltime employment while those seeking part-time and summer jobs will be sent to the assessment centers for help.

Youth Boost will be providing them with job search techniques, interview skills among other topics to be covered over 3 weeks. This will be followed by sessions with job developers assisting in finding jobs, generating job leads and setting up interviews. This is a free program funded in part by Service Canada and Employment Ontario.

For more information please visit us at www.tdsb.on.ca under Programs –Training, Development and Employment - youth services. Youth Boost is located at 3443 Finch Ave East, Toronto, and Phone 416 396 8030.nu