Work opportunities giving Andy a chance to transition
Derek Kilbourn
derek@soundernews.com
Monday, February 8 2010
Making the transition from high school to the job world can be difficult, but thanks to work opportunities at Artworks and Village Foods, Andy Rollerson is getting work experience before he leaves school.
Andy is 16 and in Grade 11 at NDSS. He will soon be finished high school, and his parents have begun the process of planning for his life as an adult. They are thrilled that Andy has been able to find two work experience opportunities in his own community: at Artworks and at the Village Food Market.
Andy, who has Down Syndrome, has been working Wednesdays at the two stores.
His Mom, Liz Steele, thanked the Sounder for spreading the news that young adults with disabilities can be welcomed in the workplace.
Liz acknowledges there can be some verbal challenges when Andy meets new people.
“Sometimes it’s hard to see the possibilities in a person if there’s a barrier to speaking. It’s amazing the amount of emphasis we place on the ability to speak as representing a person’s capabilities. It’s just so easy, talking back and forth. But when that’s not easy, people on Gabriola are good about giving that small amount of extra time that is needed.”
Familiarity, though, brings understanding. One has only to watch Andy interacting with the rest of the staff at Artworks to know there are no language barriers there.
“It makes a difference, getting in tune to how Andy talks.”
Andy’s duties at Village Foods include washing the hand baskets, spraying the vegetables, keeping things tidy in the produce department and flattening the cardboard boxes.
At Artworks, he helps with similar tasks to keep the back room tidy.
Liz said, “I get so many comments from people saying it’s pretty cool to see Andy working. Over the holidays he was singing Christmas carols.”
Andy asked to thank Alison Kloosterboer and Wayne Howard at Village Foods and Kathy Ramsey at Artworks for hiring him.
He also thanked his teacher, Maris Mackenzie, at NDSS, for getting things rolling for him.
Liz said, “People with disabilities can give back to their communities, and Andy is doing that in these two workplaces.
“We are so proud that he has been able to learn the tasks presented and now does them mostly independently, and we are so happy to see him sharing his cheery personality to brighten the days of people on Gabriola.
“His teacher, Mrs. McKenzie, at the Skills for Life Program at NDSS is so pleased that Andy has these opportunities. She believes they are so necessary to prepare him for life after high school.”
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