Derek is a positive and outgoing twenty year old who enjoys working out at the gym. He’s just shy of obtaining his grade 12 diploma and is interested in going to college. Derek has spina bifida (new window), a congenital disorder which causes varying degrees of damage to the spinal cord and nervous system. He describes himself as a wheelchair user who has some difficulty with short-term memory.

Recently, Derek attended an Employ-Ability workshop at the Neil Squire Society’s Ottawa, Ontario office entitled, Disclosure of a Disability. The group discussion got him thinking about employment challenges and he wondered if and how he might talk to an employer about those challenges.

Following the workshop, Derek met with Employ-Ability Program Facilitator (new window), Joanne Ahern, to discuss his goals and to start developing a plan of action to meet those goals. Derek and Joanne identified several community agencies and programs that could help him work toward his goals, such as Volunteer Ottawa (new window) and YSB Employment Services.

Joanne and Derek talked about how most jobs require fairly strong reading and writing skills, an area that Derek acknowledged he was having difficulty in. He soon enrolled in the Ottawa Carleton District School Board’s (new window) Literacy and Basic Skills program (new window) in partnership with the Neil Squire Society.

Not only is Derek improving his literacy skills, but he is doing so in a computer centered environment and as a result, he is also building his computer skills. He also has access to Assistive Technology (new window), which makes using the computer much easier for him.

Once Derek improves his reading, writing and computer skills, he plans on getting his high school diploma and then going on to college. Congratulations, Derek, and best of luck to you!

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