Students

Students with special needs must be encouraged to take part in positive work-related experiences at the school level where support makes the experience the best it can be.

 Click here to see questions to consider in advance of a workplace exprience.

Parent/Guardians

Parents and guardians of students with special needs should be aware that their son or daughter might qualify to have a short- or long-term workplace experience. You can inquire about work experience and cooperative education at the Guidance department at your son or daughter’s school.

Click here to see questions to consider in advance of a workplace experience.

Employers

Excited and dedicated employers/supervisors are key to successful workplace experiences for all students, including students with special needs.

Work and Employability Education:

• Enables students with special needs to experience a variety of opportunities (cooperative education, short- and long-term work experiences, job shadowing and twinning, career talks and mentoring) and to learn more about themselves and the world of work.
• Helps students to develop specific job skills and/or earn course credits in the community.
• Provides students with the opportunity to learn independence, develop strengths and extend classroom learning.
• Helps students to develop social, problem solving, and time management skills.
• Prepares students for transitions from school to work, community living and post secondary education.

Click here for questions to be considered in advance of workplace experience.

Teachers

More than half of Ontario students will go directly to the workplace without attending college or university. A significant number of these students are students with special needs.

These young people need more practice with work-related skills both in the classroom and in the community. In many cases, their futures will depend on this experience and on making good community connections before they leave secondary school. We should do our best to provide these opportunities!

Click here to see questions to consider in advance of a workplace experience.

Click here for link to Helpful Hints.