When Taylor first came to Neil Squire, they were looking for flexible work that would expand their skills.

“I wanted to gain some experience that I haven’t had before,” they explain.

Taylor has schizoaffective disorder. They had learned of Neil Squire through a vocational counsellor, and joined the Digital Jumpstart and Working Together programs.

Through Digital Jumpstart, Taylor received equipment including a computer, mouse, and keyboard, and received training in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, and Power Point.

Working with Neil Squire staff on their job search, Taylor was hired by the Disability Foundation (new window), a role that helped Taylor find confidence in their abilities.

“I had a lot of issues with confidence,” they explain. “Since I dealt with many years of not being well and not being as functional as I could be in the workplace, I was also unsure of how I would perform in the new job, so I found that the people that I worked with were really helpful.

“Connecting me with the right company that would allow me to gain that confidence and gain that comfort with myself, that was what I’m grateful for to Neil Squire.”

After working with the Disability Foundation, Taylor was recently hired by an insurance company thanks in part to the experience gained from working with the Disability Foundation.

“My life has changed in the sense that I have become a more confident person, more sure of myself, more sure of my abilities, and more sure of what I can offer a company,” Taylor explains. “[I] now work for a company that I hope to work for for many years, so I’m grateful for the opportunities that I had to work with Neil Squire to find that role, and I’m really grateful for what it’s allowed me to become.”