1210212.us16.myftpupload.com Managed WordPress Site

Category: Community

  • Campus Disability Services

    Campus Disability Services

    If you’re a student with a disability looking at your post-secondary options, we’ve provided a handy link to the NEADS website where you can access information about campus disability services all across Canada.

    NEADS EdLink is the most comprehensive Canadian directory of college and university disability service providers and links to service centre websites, with listings from coast to coast. Each entry provides current contact information for service providers at Canadian post-secondary institutions. The links to disability centre websites allow access to detailed information on accommodations, physical access, services and supports.

    Access the Campus Disability Services search engine via NEADS on their website.

  • NEADS Events April 2018: Mark Your Calendar!

    NEADS Events April 2018: Mark Your Calendar!

    Organizer: University of Toronto – Peer Mentorship Program, Accessibility Services

    Title: University of Toronto’s Transition Day

    Category: Education

    Location: Toronto, Ontario

    Date: April 25, 2018

    Telephone: 416-978-1497

    E-mail: rouya.botlani.esfahani@utoronto.ca

    Web site: http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/as/transition-day

    Description: Dear High School Educators and Community Partners,

    This is a reminder that the University of Toronto’s Transition Day is on Wednesday April 25th, from 10am-3pm. (Morning refreshments & lunch will be provided.)

    The event is an opportunity for students, parents, educators, and community partners to learn more about:

    • Accommodations at the post-secondary level
    • Student services available in university
    • Specific transition support for students with disabilities
    • Professor, Registrarial, and student views on accommodations and navigating disability

    Organizer: University of Toronto Scarborough

    Title: Career and Disability Resources Fair – University of Toronto Scarborough

    Category: Employment

    Location: Toronto, Ontario

    Date: April 30, 2018

    Web site: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc/career-disability-symposium

    Description: Career and Disability Resources Fair – University of Toronto Scarborough

    You are invited to participate in a Career and Disability Resources Fair at the University of Toronto Scarborough on Monday, April 30 from 10:00am-1:00pm. This event is part of a Career and Disability Symposium, our first Job Search Strategies conference for students with a disability which is designed to equip them with the necessary strategies, tools, skills and confidence to find and keep work. This 1-day conference includes interactive workshops, panel discussions, keynote speakers, networking events and a resource fair. We anticipate 40-60 students and recent graduates to attend this event. For more information on the symposium see uoft.me/cdsymposium

    Organizations that provide programs and/or resources to help students with a disability find employment are invited to this event. There is no cost to participate and refreshments and lunch will be provided.

    If you are interested in attending please complete the on-line registration form at https://cln.utoronto.ca/CDSymposium.htm.

  • A Closer Look at a Career as a Baker

    A Closer Look at a Career as a Baker

    A lot of people can’t take their coffee in the morning without a pastry or two on hand—be it a cookie, a croissant, or a muffin. And just as there are as many coffee shops in the country, there will be as many bakers as well. There is no doubt that bakers will remain one of the most in-demand careers in Canada.

    Furthermore, the popularity of shows like the Great Canadian Baking Show is testament to the fact that a career as a baker can ultimately be a promising and exciting one. If you are looking into going this direction, you have to know though that it does take a lot more to succeed in the baking industry than knowing how to spread butter icing on pastries…

    Bakers – What You Need to Know

    The main job of bakers is to prepare the baked goods that the establishment offers to customers. For those who work in regular coffee shops or bakery, they are responsible for the typical fare like doughnuts, muffins, cookies, croissants, and others. For those who work in specialty coffee shops or restaurants, they are responsible for preparing items that are more specialized like artisan baked goods or specialty desserts.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, a baker can earn an average of $22,519 to $44,702 a year.

    Skills

    To become a baker, training in the culinary arts will be an advantage as some establishments do have this as a pre-requisite for hiring. This will allow them to learn not just about baking essentials and techniques but also about nutrition and food safety. They can further their knowledge by joining an apprenticeship program or any on-the-job training.

    Apart from formal training and the baking know-how, bakers are recommended to be in excellent physical form since they should be able to work well in the kitchen, operate the oven efficiently, and withstand fairly warm temperatures. Sometimes, they are also responsible for loading and unloading baking supplies. Apart from good physical condition, mental alertness is a must. They should have quick thinking skills and attention to detail as they have to always be on their feet to check the progress of their baked goods.

    Bakers can either work under the management of an establishment or work under their own bakery business. Some are referred to as production bakers, and these are those who work in manufacturing facilities that make breads, pastries, and other baked products for distribution in larger establishments like supermarkets or superstores. Whichever the case may be, bakers should have collaborative skills and be able to work harmoniously with others, as well as customer service strengths in order to deal well with customers.

    Pros and Cons

    A career in baking will be rewarding one for those who have a passion for baking or cooking. As bakers, they can also maximize their creative potential as they may be asked to create their own signature pastries.

    However, it’s not all icing on the cake though as being a baker means working mostly in early morning shifts or late evening shifts under quality-monitored environment and strict deadlines. It can also be a physically strenuous job as they are required to stand most of their working hours and have to work with equipment with safety risks such as ovens, mixing machines, and dough cutters. To ensure safety in the workplace, they must always be alert and follow the required safety procedures.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Baker/Hourly_Rate

    https://www.wowjobs.ca/BrowseResults.aspx?q=Baker&s=r&l=&job=KCZnZP4fwr1gfOMNbhDTs-fXg8c0OGw8OXCVkiL8r7d9sdueB22ujA

    https://www.cobsbread.com/careers/

  • Academic Accommodations for Post-Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities: What Are Your Rights and Responsibilities?

    Academic Accommodations for Post-Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities: What Are Your Rights and Responsibilities?

    Each and every Canadian college and university is legally required to provide academic accommodations to students with learning disabilities. That means, you have a right to post-secondary education—and all the career and life advantages it entails—just like any other student. This right is protected in two ways.

    One, discrimination based on disability, including learning disabilities, is strictly prohibited by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as each provincial Human Rights Act. This is an overarching protection that covers all Canadian citizens, not just post-secondary students.

    Two, each post-secondary institution will have set student policies, including one against discrimination. The policy at the University of British Columbia, for example, specifically states, “Examples of discrimination include…Denying appropriate accommodations to persons with a medically certified disability.” International students with learning disabilities may not be protected under the abovementioned laws but they are protected by school-specific policies.

    Schools must ensure all their students are learning in an accessible environment. The keyword there being “accessible.” Some students will require academic accommodations, and these accommodations are not to give them an edge over other students. These accommodations are meant to level the playing field, to give these students equitable access. To deprive a student with a learning disability the accommodations they require is discrimination, plain and simple.

    Now that you know what your rights are, what are your responsibilities? The following list is not meant to be comprehensive, but they are general, fundamental responsibilities you should keep in mind.

    1. The responsibility to work on your education

    Each student is responsible for their own education and their own success. You will be given the appropriate academic accommodations you require, but this does not mean you can slack off. It is still important that you attend your classes, complete the assigned homework, and study for your tests.

    1. The responsibility to inform the school’s student accessibility office or disability service office

    If you have a learning disability that you feel gives your non-disabled peers an unfair advantage, it is your responsibility to inform the appropriate office at your school and request academic accommodations. Depending on your school, the office may be a specific department called student accessibility services or the student disability office, or it may be a part of the general student services department. It is your responsibility to provide documentation of your learning disability to allow the counsellors there to provide you with accommodations specific to your needs.

    1. The responsibility to request accommodations in a timely manner

    The responsibility to request accommodations in a timely manner is an important one. For example, a student may require that they write their exams alone in a separate room. This requires booking the room as well as hiring an invigilator for the student. These arrangements cannot be done the day before, especially during hectic exam weeks. The student accessibility office as well as the professor should be notified well in advance.

    The key takeaway from this article is know that Canadian universities and colleges are legally required to provide academic accommodations for students with learning disabilities. They legally have to! You just have to ask for accommodations and take responsibility for your education.

    References:

    1. http://www.youth2youth.ca/en/be-your-own-advocate/rights-and-responsibilities-for-academic-accommodations
    2. https://students.ubc.ca/campus-life/diversity-campus/discrimination-harassment
    3. https://studentaidbc.ca/sites/all/files/school-officials/disability_services_framework.pdf
  • Your Building’s Daily Hero: A Profile of Janitors and Cleaners

    Your Building’s Daily Hero: A Profile of Janitors and Cleaners

    Buildings are filled with different people doing many things. Some buildings have residents living out busy lives with their families. Others have businesspeople helping to lead to great progress and change in the world. No matter what is happening inside, all of these buildings depend on janitors and cleaners to keep the place tidy, organized, and functioning. It is a very physically demanding career path, and one that so many people around the world greatly depend on.

    In general, janitors and cleaners have to maintain a clean appearance for the building they are in and make sure things are working properly. This can mean very different tasks depending on the building you are in. Usually, you will have to collect garbage and remove it. You must also clean washrooms, make sure there is enough soap, toilet paper, and so on. Cleaners must also sweep, mop, and vacuum all of the floors of the building. Janitors get to be physically active, making it ideal for those who do not want to sit at a desk all day. They get to talk to the residents and workers of the site they work at, making it the perfect job for someone who loves chatting with many different people. However, the job can also be very tough on the body and force you to deal with angry people who are upset about the condition of the building. There can be long hours, and you may have to work overnight to get everything done.

    Janitors and caretakers in Canada can expect to earn minimum wage when they first start working. The median income is $17 per hour, and it can go up to around $25 hourly. There were over 202,000 people working in the field in 2014. Even as the world becomes more and more digital, there will always be buildings that need cleaning and maintenance, and so there are expected to be enough job opportunities to meet demand. From 2015 to 2024, there will be around 59,400 people looking for janitorial and cleaning jobs, with about 68,000 opportunities. Despite this, you can expect some competition because there are not many requirements for the job compared to other careers.

    Some employers may require that you have completed high school and have previous experience. However, because buildings are very unique from one another, a lot of places will train you at the site. Depending on where you work, you may have to use equipment such as buffers for flooring, lawn machinery, and steam cleaners. As you gain experience, you can become promoted to a senior janitorial position and oversee other employees at the site. About 38% of employees in the field are in unions, which is higher than the average rate for all careers. This can help lead to greater job security and fair pay even if you are less experienced than a senior staff member.

    Without janitors and cleaners, office buildings and condominiums would be far less organized. People would be getting sick more often from germs, equipment would break down, the site’s environment would be less pleasant, and everyone would be far less productive. This career path keeps you physically active and gives you the chance to directly affect the lives of many different people at the place you maintain. Resident communities and office buildings can only function if everyone works together, and cleaners and janitors play a very important role in that teamwork.

    Sources:

    Job Bank. “Janitors, Caretakers and Building Superintendents.” https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/report-eng.do?action=final&noc=6733&region=9219&s=0&source=6

    PayScale. “Janitor Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Janitor/Hourly_Rate

    SnagAJob.com. “Janitor Job Description.” https://www.snagajob.com/job-descriptions/janitor/

  • Career Profile: Bicycle Maintenance and Repair

    Career Profile: Bicycle Maintenance and Repair

    Cycling is extremely popular in Canada as a hobby, a sport and a mode of transportation.  Whether you live in a small town, or a large city, chances are good that there are lots of cyclists riding around. But what happens when a bike gets a flat tire, pops a chain, needs new brakes, or just could use a good cleaning? While some people are able to do repairs and maintenance on their bicycle themselves, others will prefer to take their bikes to a professional.

    Bicycle maintenance and repair persons are skilled tradespeople who fix, assemble and maintain bicycles.  To work in this field, you will need to know how to work on many different bicycle types and brands, from children’s bikes to adult leisure and competitive sport cycles. These workers regularly inspect, assemble and disassemble, install replacement parts and clean the components of bicycles. They will also often demonstrate assembly or repair actions for bicycle owners who wish to learn how to do these tasks themselves.

    Most bicycle maintenance and repair persons will work for either an independent cycle shop, or the bicycle department of a larger chain store that sells bikes. In these positions, they will also be responsible for tasks such as tracking and ordering inventory for parts and supplies, maintaining service logs and providing troubleshooting and customer support to bike owners. In particular, the customer service aspect requires workers who have good interpersonal communication skills in order to demonstrate bike repair tasks, answer customer questions and perform sales.

    To work in this trade, you will need at minimum a Grade 12 high school diploma, but it is increasingly common to complete a college diploma or training program in Bicycle Assembly and Maintenance, as well as completing an apprenticeship of between 2,000 to 2,500 hours in order to attain a Certificate of Apprenticeship.

    Most bicycle repair persons will be paid at an hourly wage, starting around $11 per hour or minimum wage in your province. As you accumulate experience, wages will increase up to around $20 per hour, with the average wage being around $15 per hour. This makes for an annual salary of around $23,000 to $42,000.  If you work in a more specialized field, such as doing repair and maintenance for a high-level sport cycling team or high-end cycle shop, wages can be higher.

    Hours you will work as a bike repair person will be quite regular if you work for a chain sporting goods or department store, as your work hours will likely line up with the open and close hours of the store or mall complex.  If you work for a smaller independent cycle shop, hours can vary a little more depending on the hours of the store.  Both small and large store employment is likely to include evening and weekend hours, in order to accommodate cyclists who are not able to pick up or drop off their bike during what are considered regular office hours.

    Sources:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Bicycle_Mechanic/Hourly_Rate

    http://lefca.org/training/bike.shtml

    https://www.apprenticesearch.com/AboutTrades/GetTradeDetails?tradeId=303&TradeName=bicycle-mechanic-297c-

  • NEADS Events: March 2018- Mark Your Calendar!

    NEADS Events: March 2018- Mark Your Calendar!

    Organizer: National Foundation for Fighting Blindness

    Title: 2018 National Young Leaders Summit – Toronto

    Category: Education

    Location: Toronto, Ontario

    Date: March 8, 2018 – March 9, 2018

    Description: Media

    2018 National Young Leaders Summit: Register Now

    November 28th, 2017 by Dr. Chad Andrews

    The Foundation Fighting Blindness is thrilled to announce details for next year’s National Young Leaders Summit.

    The event will take place in Toronto on the evening of Friday, March 9 and during the day on Saturday, March 10, 2018. We are partnering with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind to hold the Summit at their Community Hub at Yonge and St. Clair. The event will be co-chaired by two incredible Young Leaders, Shaini Saravanamuthu and Jack McCormick.

    https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MGHHXJV?id=[id_value]

     

    Organizer: Sarasvati Productions

    Title: IWW Cabaret of Monologues: I Am Unstoppable

    Category: Accessibility

    Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

    Date: March 10, 2018

    Telephone: 2045862236

    E-mail: associate@sarasvati.ca

    Web site: http://sarasvati.ca

    Description: Sarasvàti Productions will again be producing and taking to the community our cabaret of monologues to celebrate International Women’s Week. This year’s theme is I Am Unstoppable, as we tackle obstacles, conquering challenges and living life to the fullest. The evening will offer a diverse line-up of monologues by Canadian playwrights as well as performance pieces. Our goal is to honour women by telling their stories and to explore multiple perspectives to represent the scope of women’s experiences.

  • Show Your Strengths: Jobs for Students with Developmental Disabilities

    Show Your Strengths: Jobs for Students with Developmental Disabilities

    Developmental disabilities, both physical and mental, can be difficult to discuss when it comes to jobs. Parents and medical professionals provide plenty of aid, and schools are very accommodating. Yet the workforce is brimming with competition from highly-qualified candidates. A developmental disability may be viewed as a major disadvantage in this realm. However, there are many jobs to consider when pursuing one’s studies, including many in which a student’s condition plays an integral and positive role.

    In Toronto, the Coffee Sheds are cafes part of the Common Ground Co-operative, with all three locations run by people with developmental disabilities. Their barista training program was created by job coach Gerald Patrick Fantone. He noted their skills to be “far superior to those of other people … who are ‘mainstream.’” Canadian Business SenseAbility has conducted research that finds 90% of people with development disabilities score average or better for job performance, and can often be more productive. Hard work and a friendly demeanour go a very long way as a barista, which is a very ideal role for a student.

    The University of California at Los Angeles initiated a pilot program that employed two thousand workers with developmental disabilities in roles at hospital cafeterias and assisted living centres. These are jobs that require compassion, friendliness, and determination to help others, and having a developmental disability is in no way a negative for these skills. In fact, one’s experiences in receiving medical aid and managing a disability is an advantage, and one to be proud of.

    Do those jobs not sound appealing? If the outdoors is preferable to indoors, working on gardens or plants is worth looking into. Lettuce Works in the state of Ohio hires teenagers who identify with disability to attend to weeds, water plants, and rake leaves. These tasks are not overly demanding while at the same time extremely important for the well-being of any farm or garden. Being outside all day long can be difficult, and in that case assembly line work is ideal for high school, college and university students. Once again, the task is a very important step in the process of production while at the same time simple and repetitive. Companies are required to make the environment ergonomically safe. Another indoor career path includes working in an office environment. Data entry, administrative work, and cleaning are the many tasks that may appear small, but are necessary for the office as a whole to function. Any of these jobs, combined with some training and support, are perfect on a part-time basis for a student making their way through their secondary or post-secondary education.

    There are varied pathways to successful and fulfilling jobs or careers. As is the case for any student, it is important to assess one’s strengths and weaknesses honestly and objectively. A developmental disability comes with limitations, but it is of utmost importance to not only overestimate those limitations, but to also fully dive into the opportunities and strengths that are also present. Coping with a disability, seeking treatment, staying strong, and maintaining compassion for others are all amazing strengths that should never be underestimated. They come from a unique life experience that stands out in the competitive job market to build a path to success.

    Sources:

    Broverman, Aaron. “Brewing up quality jobs for people with developmental disabilities.” Now. https://nowtoronto.com/news/brewing-up-jobs-for-people-with-developmental-disabiltiies/

    Ray, Linda. “What Jobs Are Appropriate for Individuals With Developmental Disabilities?” Chron. http://work.chron.com/jobs-appropriate-individuals-developmental-disabilities-21306.html

  • Ontario Jobs: Employers and Resources for You and Everyone

    Ontario Jobs: Employers and Resources for You and Everyone

    It is always tough looking for a job that suits you. Most of the time you don’t really know what suits you until you try it for yourself.  You have to do your research carefully to make sure you are getting the most out of your choices.

    We have compiled some up to date links and resources for students with disabilities and without. They offer direction and resources for those looking for jobs or a career path- even if you just want to try something out first!

    Government of Canada

    https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/report_note.do?cid=12203&lang=eng

    Abilities Canada

    http://abilities.ca/

    Canadian Association of Professionals with Disabilities

    http://www.canadianprofessionals.org/

    Community Living in Ontario

    https://communitylivingontario.ca/en/memberorg/

    Government of Ontario

    https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/topics/values-ethics/diversity-equity.html

    Disability Weblinks

    http://www.disabilityweblinks.ca/

    Spinal Chord Injury- Employment

    http://www.sciontario.org/service/employment

    LinkUp Employment

    http://www.linkup.ca/

    Path Employment

    http://www.pathemployment.com/

    WorkInk

    https://www.workink.com/

    YMCA Employment Services

    https://ymcagta.org/employment-and-immigrant-services/employment-services

  • Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service- UPDATED!

    Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service- UPDATED!

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    There are so many ways you can get your 40 hours of community service completed. Besides volunteer centres, you may be able to find other alternative ways to get your mandatory service hours.

    If you are living in Ontario, check out these guidelines listed on the Ministry of Education website:

    http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/124a.html

    These guidelines will let you know what is considered acceptable and not acceptable volunteer activities. If you don’t live in Ontario, visit your provincial government website’s high-school volunteer guidelines.

    An excellent search resource for students looking to complete their hours is charityvillage.com . This website allows you to search for volunteer listings all over Canada. It is easy to access and will give you a choice of many different volunteering opportunities.

    Another great, easy, searchable resource for finding volunteer opportunities is volunteermatch.org . This website will let you search opportunities all over Canada, as well. It is easy to navigate and allows you to search by category or what you are passionate about.

    What Volunteering Can Do for You

    Volunteering can turn into a life-long habit. If you are passionate about helping others or a specific cause, it may follow you throughout your life. You can learn a lot about yourself, your community, and others. Even though it is a requirement in high-school, it doesn’t have to stop there. Your interests might change over time, but you can always go back to how you felt while volunteering in high-school. Do not see volunteering as a chore- see it as a chance for you to walk in someone else’s shoes.

    Tip: Whatever you do, don’t leave volunteering to the last minute. If you do, you may not be able to get your diploma-you don’t want that to happen!

    Tip: You don’t want to be grunting and groaning through your volunteer experience- you want to enjoy it. Remember to research and take up opportunities that you will like and have fun doing.

    Tip: Mix it up! You don’t have to pick only one type of volunteer opportunity. It may be in your best interest to do some hours at one organization and finish the rest with another.

    Revised by Erin Lynne Bouman