1Awards finalists: Apprenticeship Community Internship

The 1Awards competition for small businesses is now down to 10 finalists.

Winners will receive a $25,000 cash prize, and professional, in-kind services" such as marketing and digital media support, for a total award value of $126,500. Winners of the competition led by FirstOntario Credit Union in partnership with seven other organizations will be decided on May 12.

The Spectator spoke to all 10 finalists.

Apprenticeship Community Internship

Website: aciapprenticeship.com/

Address: 3156 Homestead Dr., Mount Hope

Contact: 905-528-3880

Owner: Sherri Crechiola

Helping adults with disabilities flourish

The transition into adulthood can be daunting for people with disabilities. Though parents may wish for more time for their children to learn and develop certain life skills, high schools do not enrol adults with disabilities past the age of 21.

After conversations with parents seeking this type of program, educator Sherri Crechiola decided it was time to create one.

Her company, Apprenticeship Community Internship (ACI), is the product of more than a decade of developing curriculum for students with disabilities and carving out meaningful opportunities in the community.

Inclusion is huge. If you don't have that, you're like a lost soul and life is too short to be walking around lost," she said.

She purchased a building about five years ago in Mount Hope and converted it into a space where adults with disabilities could develop skills in four areas: culinary; domestic and housekeeping; horticultural; and health and fitness.

Students return for an internship following the four-year program, either at ACI, in the community, or starting their own business.

A lot of people will take people with disabilities for volunteer [work], but not too many people will hire them, which I have a hard time with," Crechiola said, adding that she advocates for fair compensation for her students.

With the winnings

Crechiola would use the prize to expand her facility on the property, and envisions creating something akin to a plaza where the students can operate storefronts for their businesses, and have housing on the upper floors during their internship to live independently.

Then they can transition into the community wherever they live, having all those skills, but with us right [by] their side making them successful, and allowing them to fall and make mistakes. That's how we all grow," she said.

Vjosa Isai is a reporter at The Spectator covering Hamilton-based business. Reach her via email: visai@thespec.com.