New program aims to help those with autism, disabilities find work
- EFN Staff | December 26, 2016
Disability does not mean inability when it comes to finding employment, and a program that is aimed at Indigenous youth aged 17-24, who have an autism diagnosis or any intellectual/cognitive disability, is focused on helping them find employment in Regina—the first of its kind in Canada. The new initiative stems from the Autism Resource Centre called the Building Blocks Program, in partnership with Street Culture Project.
Dan Innes, Building Block Program facilitator, says the program is not entirely focused on those with autism but if they have any characteristics that are found on the spectrum of autism, such as ADHD or FASD.
“Aboriginal youth that have any type of disability, I feel, has been such a huge gap in that service for so long,” he says. “To have that feeling of recognition and value and that they are important people.”
The program started in October and has run two groups of three individuals that they meet twice a week. They offer three weeks of volunteer experience within their time and so everyone has had great experiences as volunteers and the involved agencies have been impressed that the program is going so well.
“We have a few people who have been hired already which is great,” he adds. “What we do in program is assess where people are at…and figure what where their skill level is at, where they are at in their ability and match that up in their own interests.”
Many individuals with autism or any intellectual disabilities have challenges, which slightly prevents them from reaching their full potential. But the Building Blocks Program identifies those challenges and helps the individuals overcome it.
Innes job coached one of the participants last week to prepare him for his first day work. The individual, who suffers from social anxiety, went over different techniques with the facilitator to help him feel at ease.
“He was really nervous going to his first day and meeting people and that was a challenge for him…we practiced proper handshake techniques, workplace etiquettes, and things to talk about in the workplace,” Innes says. “I asked him how he’s feeling now [after his first day] and he said, ‘I’m fine now. The hard part is over for me.’ He was really pleased and he has a real good employer as well.”
June Draude, Central Regional Autism Coordinator for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, works with a project called; ‘Ready, Willing, and Able’ (RWA) which is a federal government program. Their job is to work with agencies that have clients with autism or intellectual disabilities and their goal is to ensure to get into the workplace. Draude intertwined the RWA with the Building Blocks Program and applied the same techniques in this project. She said there is a need to focus on Indigenous peoples with disabilities to help them prepare and find employment.
“ people with autism and intellectual disabilities aren’t seen in the workplace. We don’t see them equally represented,” she says.
Draude says they will collect the data from the participants in the program and prove to the government that they are making a difference for Indigenous peoples with autism and intellectual disabilities.
“It’s just in Regina but my dream is to expand into other parts of Saskatchewan and transferable to other places in Canada,” she adds.
The Building Blocks Program will be starting their second session in February and they still have spots available. They welcome all applicants to this one of a kind program. There’s no charge to apply.
“If there’s any reserves willing to transport anybody and bring them to the city for this program, they absolutely welcome that,” says Innes.
If anyone is interested in this program, you can reach Dan at (306) 569-0858.