A great avenue for students with disabilities

 

St. Clair College offers a unique program for students with learning disabilities.

St. Clair College’s program the Community Integration through Cooperative Education was designed to aid individuals with learning disabilities, by getting college and work experience.

According to the St Clair College website, the CICE core curricula is designed to educate students in job skills, education, money math and communications. The program even allows you to pick one course of interest from the St. Clair catalogue, such as general arts, culinary or horticulture. During the semesters two to four students will complete a work place experience also known as a field placement.

In order to apply for the program students have to go through OCAS and select the program. During the student application, applicants are required to choose a specific field of interest. Once you have applied you will be contacted for an interview with the Chair and learning facilitator, to determine whether you meet the requirements for the program.

At the beginning of the program in 2014 there were a total of 10 students in the first year, but in 2015 that grew to 20 students.

Alex Michos,23, is a graduate of the CICE program who has shared his experience.

“Where do I begin? I started the program being afraid to talk to people,” said Michos. “I found it interesting.”

The St. Clair website also notes that one of the benefits of this program is being accompanied by a learning facilitator who will go with you to your classes.

Danine Depauw, a learning facilitator with the program who spoke about which part of the program makes her the happiest.

“Working with the students seeing them initially come into the program at the start and seeing them graduate and how much growth,” Depauw said. “How much they get out of it and having fun with them every day its very rewarding.”

Chair of Community Studies Randall Semeniuk oversees the program and talks about his favourite part.

“I love seeing the students who graduate and blossom and go on to do great things,” Semeniuk said.

The CICE Program applications are currently open on OCAS, however CICE is an oversubscribed program, which means students are required to apply before the deadline of Feb. 1, 2020. for more information you can call 519-972-2727 ext. 2768.