“We started the summer hoping we might help a few students find meaningful work while they were off from school. We never imagined that we would help 13 students from across Chatham-Kent find work! The program started out with us preparing the eligible students for the workplace-we ran a workshop for all the participants that taught them proper behavior, nutrition, hygiene, work attire and we trained them in WHIMIS. We spent the first week with each student at their job, helping them transition to a new role and learn the position. It was amazing how quickly some individuals picked up on the job. We had to learn the jobs too, and some of the roles were a struggle for us while the students had no issues.
Hearing the feedback from the employers when we would check in was heart-warming. It feels so good to know we’ve helped students who might not normally have a paying job get employment. These are students with autism, developmental delays and learning disabilities who may have been told in the past they didn’t have the skills to work. Everyone has the ability to work, some just have to do it a bit differently than what others are used to. One our students only had to be shown how to do the job once before he caught on and could do it himself.
We are positive that some of these summer positions are going to become an after-school job for the students. The employers are thrilled with the program, the students are excited to be making money and to be working at regular jobs like their friends and classmates, and the parents are pleased that their kids were given a chance to prove their skills.
We’ve learned so much about Community Living Wallaceburg too. There are so many layers to the organization. We both knew a bit about developmental services before starting here, but we’ve learned that the Agency really is about helping people to participate proudly by providing individuals with equal opportunities that anyone else would receive. The students we helped this summer are proof of that. ”
–Hanna Thompson and Kailyn Cowan, Summer Employment Transition students through jobmatch