Career Preparation Programs for PWD at Douglas College

1. “The raccoon wouldn’t let me on the bus.” DOUGLAS COLLEGE ASE Progams Bob Logelin

2. Sometimes it takes a community…

4. Common Program Areas in Post Secondary for PWD • Career Readiness or Career Preparation Programs • Skill Development Programs Leading to Employment or Further Education

5. DOUGLAS COLLEGEProgram Areas Include • Career Preparation: • Consumer and Job Preparation • Career and Employment Preparation • Transitions Program (SD 43) • Skill Training: • Light Warehouse Training • Customer Service and Cashier Training • Food Services • Electronic and General Assembly • Retail and Business Services

6. All Programs • All programs are designed for students who will not be attending UT programs in the near future and who have employment as their primary goal. • All students need to be independent in transportation. • Funding for tuition available for over 90% of students. • All students will participate in an intake interview with the instructor, prior to acceptance.

7. Career Preparation Programs

8. Typical Actor in Hollywood

9. Career and Employment Preparation (CAEP) • New Westminster Campus • One semester (14 week) program; Sept and Jan • Students with disabilities or barriers to employment • Strengths / needs; interests; labour market information to make informed career choices • Able to read newspaper; work in groups / classroom setting     • Funding available for most students • Contact Donna Lowndes (604) 527-5692

10. Consumer and Job Preparation (CJP) • New Westminster Campus • 12 month program • Specific to students with developmental disabilities • Interests > labour market > skills / needs; focus on work readiness / skills, work exploration, future directions • Reside in: Tri-Cities; Burnaby; New Westminster • Must be referred by CLBC • Independent in transportation • Tuition paid by CLBC and Douglas College • Contact Linda Delparte at (604) 527-5171.

11. Transitions Program • David Lam Campus • SD 43 and beyond; Grade 12 or 12+ • One semester • Students with developmental disabilities • Results in development of education / employment goals and plans • Work experience / exploration • Contact Irina Tzoneva (604) 777-6200

12. Skill Training Programs

13. Light Warehouse Training (LWT) • David Lam Campus, Coquitlam • September and January • One semester (14 weeks) • Students with barriers to education & employment   • Opportunity to obtain certificates: • Forklift Operators Certificate • Transportation of Dangerous Goods • Occupational Health and Safety, and more… • Read newspapers / articles • Very strong employment opportunities exist • Funding available for most • Contact Chris Gibson at 604 777-6063

14. BOE: Retail and Business Services When Sun-Man Lui started work at Price Waterhouse in 1996, he wasn’t expecting a company merger that would change the name to PricewaterhouseCoopers and place him in a new location and department. But he took this in stride, demonstrating his willingness to adapt. Sun-Man now works in the Tax Library as a File Clerk. “Sun-Man’s independent work style, willingness to learn, concentration and thoroughness make him a valuable member of the Tax Department,” says Assistant Librarian Eleanor Kendall. “His work is always accurate and he does not shy away from asking questions. In fact, his performance has been rated as commendable on numerous occasions.” “The BOE program provided a good solution for one of our high-turnover positions,” says Human Resources Manager Anna-Maria Parente. “Sun-Man now has a satisfying and challenging job, and we have continuity and low turnover in our Tax Library. The College support was excellent, with proactive trainers who were always available for assistance.” Sun-Man Lui

15. Customer Service and Cashier Training • David Lam Campus, Coquitlam • September and January • One semester (14 weeks)  • Opportunity to obtain certificates: • World Host • POS Cetification • Customer Service Basic Certificate • Read newspapers / articles • Very strong employment opportunities • Funding available for most • Contact Joy Conran at 777-6164

16. BOE: Retail and Business Services (17 years) Enthusiasm, a positive outlook and an independent attitude are just part of what makes Basic Occupational Education (BOE) graduate Nicole Pinel a great Customer Service Clerk at Canada Safeway. “Nicole is an upbeat and pleasant employee,” says Assistant Manager Peter Junker. “She displays good customer relations, and has the ability to take on tasks without supervision.” Nicole is one of over three hundred employees at Safeway’s Sunwood location. “I’m a strong advocate for Douglas College’s programs and the hiring of their graduates,” says Manager Gord McCallum. “The BOE grads have positive attitudes, enjoy their work and are very willing to undertake site-specific training, something that is not always the case with new employees.” Nicole Pinel

17. Basic Occupational Education (BOE) • New Westminster Campus • Averages 10 months in length • Lab (hands-on), classroom, practicum • Continuous intake and exit • Students trained to enter employment in • Food Services • Electronic and General Assembly • Retail and Business Services • Contact Bob Logelin at (604) 527-5126

18. BOE: Electronic and General Assembly As a graduate of Douglas College’s Basic Occupational Education (BOE) Electronic and General Assembly program, Denis was the ideal employee for Silent Witness Enterprises Ltd., a company that designs and manufactures video camera systems. “Denis’s thoroughness, attention for detail and ability to remain focused so impressed us during his practicum that he was asked to apply for a regular position,” says Production Manager Darren Jarvis. The nature of the job at Silent Witness requires employees who are flexible and prepared to learn new skills at a moments notice. Management at Silent Witness are motivated to hire graduates from the College’s BOE program because they have hands-on experience and background knowledge required to handle the complexities involved in their line of work

19. BOE: Food Services (19 years) Working as a dishwasher for Beaver Foods in the Douglas College cafeteria, Nicole Winiaszewski does much more than keep the dishes clean. Due to the company’s policy of cross-training, Nicole is constantly expanding her skills in other areas such as the salad bar, steam table, cash, catering and customer service. “Nicole is a very committed, conscientious, and goal-oriented individual who works well with management and staff,” says Director of Food Services Lisa Crosbie. “She promotes the value of the company’s products and ensures good customer relations through her enthusiasm, willingness to learn and good listening skills.” “Our partnership with the BOE program has a lot of benefits for us,” Lisa continues. “We have access to highly trained practicum students who are familiar with the duties involved in the food services area. It also allows us to train and evaluate potential employees in our own facility.” Nicole Winiaszewski

20. Employment Specialist527-JOBS • Employment supports upon completion • Data base of over 1,000 employers • Established relationships with programs • Match student potential to employer needs • Support during training phase • Workplace information sessions • Future re-training • One year of support at no charge

21. Interested? Contact 527-JOBS • Employing a graduate? • Hosting a practicum student? • More information?

22. CharacteristicsSkill Training Programs • Hands-on • Min. criteria (entry) • Individualized • Self-paced • Continuous intake / exit • Industry based criteria • Business partnerships

23. Generic Areas to Address • The # 1 skill training issue among students with cognitive disabilities: • learning to work fast or developing a sense of urgency • Undoing bad habits (late, sick, behaviours) • Setting direction with students through planning processes

24. K-12 students would benefit from: • Help to motivate students by: • Engaging in regular activities, and taking responsibility for: volunteering, fitness, part-time work, etc.) • Becoming Active, Active, Active (fitness, indiv. & team sports, etc.)

25. Be Active!

26. Why Post Secondary,? Continued • “PWD with less than 4 years post secondary education are employed at more than double the rate of those with high school completion.” (Getzel, Stodden & Briel, 1999)

27. Thank you.

28. Help to develop good work skills • Punctuality (not too early) • Attendance (sniffles) • Phone in sick (not Mom or Dad) • Independence in Transportation • Develop Independence in General • Age Appropriate or Work Clothing • Grooming / Hygiene • Group or Team Activities • Work Appropriate Knowledge / Procedures • Eg. Cell phones at work, camera use, etc.

29. While Still in School Develop Generic Skills . Enhance student knowledge of the world of work . Help students to learn to follow directions (task oriented) . Help establish on-task behaviours . Support mature students to leave, less mature students to stay

30. Douglas College ASE ProgramsTypical Learner • May have… • a disability or barrier • poor self esteem • poor academic skills • limited experience • limited skills • wants to work!

31. Disability Rarely Travels Alone! • Often compounded by: • Poverty • Communications • 2nd disability • Abuse • Lack of supports • Transportation • Few options available

32. Employment Lessons • Can’t predict success • Readiness model not effective • Work settings will often accommodate a wide variety of skills & behaviours • People (often) don’t generalize skills • Problems can’t improve in some settings (classroom; take home curric) • Can only simulate to a limited extent (Institute for Community Inclusion, Training Manual)