Archive for May, 2010

One Step at a Time

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

When Susan, who has spina bifida (new window) as well as diabetes (new window) , came through the doors of our Burnaby office, she had been out of the work force for some time and didn’t know how to get back in.

She joined the Employ-Ability Program and was diligent with her work, soaking up as much information as she possibly could. She asked questions about the resources she could make use of, and worked hard to improve her skills in order to become as marketable as possible.

Susan was often exposed to people in her neighbourhood with high needs and she really wanted to reach out to them and make a difference. With this in mind, Susan decided to volunteer as a Peer Counselor in a Diabetes Program after graduation.

As a volunteer, she assists people living with limited financial means, helping them to eat properly and manage their diabetes. She loves what she is doing and she is truly making a difference in her community. Susan plans to build her skills in this volunteer role before moving forward with a paid employment plan.

If you would like to make a donation to support others like Susan, you may do so here.

Jamie Finds the Stepping Stones to Success

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Jamie, a psychology graduate from Simon Fraser University (new window) , was a recent participant in the Employ-Ability program. She came to the Neil Squire Society with a very clear idea and focus in terms of which career she wanted to pursue. Jamie has had fibromyalgia (new window) since she was 8 years old. Complications have resulted in her having to use a wheelchair.

She has a strong passion and desire to work with people with disabilities in the area of advising, education, and counseling. Jamie’s commitment to finding meaningful employment was evident when she stepped through our doors. Career Facilitator & Job Developer Anu Pala worked diligently with Jamie to find appropriate positions for her to apply to. One of them was a student advisor position at Simon Fraser University (new window). After calling the department to enquire whether the position had been filled, she learned that it had been. However, after speaking to the hiring manager, she expressed her interest in working at Simon Fraser University (new window) , and she was informed of an exam invigilator position that they were recruiting for. The manager took the liberty of forwarding her resume and within a few days she was called in for an interview and then offered the position.

Jamie has continued to stay connected with the Neil Squire Society as a volunteer for the Computer Comfort program, and she has recently undertaken specific training from us on the use of the screen reader software JAWS (new window). This training will come in handy as she supports a current Simon Fraser University (new window) student with a visual impairment. Although Jaimie’s ultimate goal is to work as a student advisor, she considers this a stepping stone towards eventually reaching that goal.

If you would like to make a donation to support others like Jamie, you may do so here.