These Hamilton students with disabilities are getting training — and full-time jobs — through growing HWDSB program

On a typical weekday, you might find Justin Gillespie sitting at his desk in the IT department listening to AC/DC or anything else except for jazz." It helps him focus, he says.

Gillespie is a full-time IT technician assistant with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) where he works testing cables, cleaning tablets, and troubleshooting and repairing equipment used by students and staff.

I have a wide variety of skills," he said. Outside of his 9-to-5 job, Gillespie is an avid YouTuber, gamer and photographer.

The 22-year-old was hired in January after a summer job and an internship with the central Mountain board of education department.

His favourite part of the job?

Learning new things every day," he said. And coming to work."

Gillespie is a recent graduate of Project SEARCH, the HWDSB's transition-to-work program for young people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The year-long program offers each participant three internships that last 10 to 12 weeks, as well as employability skills training, such as resume building and communication skills.

There's a real stigma as to what people with disabilities are capable of doing," said Vesna Frankovich, program co-ordinator and teacher. The important piece is to always maintain high expectations and to expect the same of them as you would of any other employee ... They will rise to those expectations every time."

Launched in 2020, the program has graduated nine interns in two years. This year, the cohort has grown to nine interns, thanks to a new partnership with the YMCA of Hamilton-Burlington-Brantford (HBB) and YWCA Hamilton. Starting this fall, interns can apply for placements both in school board departments and at the local YMCA and YWCA in downtown Hamilton.

We're proud to be a partner and excited to see how the youth utilize their experience to build skills and put them on a pathway to success," said YMCA CEO Manny Figueiredo.

Seventy-five per cent of interns who participate in Project SEARCH - which operates throughout North America - land a job within a year of graduating. Local grads have been hired at the school board, the public library and a Travelodge hotel, while others continue to look for jobs after a summer break.

John Manzin, principal of specialized services, said historically these youth may never have found jobs. But, thanks to the program and a slowly evolving view of the capabilities of people with disabilities, they now do.

They would not have been gainfully employed if not for Project SEARCH," he said.

Frankovich said they continue to seek community partners in order to create more internship opportunities and grow the program.

Down the hall, intern William Dolmer expertly slices the extra plastic from colourful flash cards and posters with words and images using a hand-held laminate cutter. He's in the first week of his HWDSB internship.

You can measure how straight it is with the grid over here and this paper cutter right here. You can adjust this guy to make it straight and when you push down on it, it'll cut part of it off," the 18-year-old said, demonstrating the lamination process from a basement workshop.

Another student, Ethan Connell, is labelling and filing papers in the human resources department. It's his 18th birthday, and after work he's going bowling.

I have to file and organize police checks," he explained, demonstrating the filing process. I highlight the last name ... this one starts with a K' so I put this one into the K' section."

Taped above him is a strip of paper with the alphabet in upper and lower case, a tool he can use to do his job with accuracy and ease.

I am very comfortable in this position of the work," he said. If I get taught and if I get explained and briefed on how to do the work, then it'll be very simple."

Frankovich said meaningful work experience allows young people to be independent and really their best selves."

An intern last year struggled with language processing, making oral communication - a skill often needed in the workplace - a challenge.

We worked on that throughout the year and by the end, she was engaging in conversations and small talk in the workplace with all of us. At graduation, she stood up in front of the group and made a speech," Frankovich said. The change from when they come in September to graduation, it's unbelievable."

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com