More young people with disabilities will have access to life-skills training thanks to an Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant.
The grant worth $184,000 was awarded to the John McGivney Children's Centre to continue pilot programs that offer training for job skills, transition to employment, transition to adulthood planning, and life skills programs.
"It's things that we take for granted on a daily basis that we want to empower our youth to be able to go out into the world and confidently do," said Jennifer Jovanovski, director of client services at JMCC.
The programs are expected to assist around 400 young people over the next two years.
Mackenzie Caradonna, 23, participated in the Transition to Employment Program offered through the JMCC. She said she learned important skills for communicating in the workplace and conflict resolution.
"My experiences in the world of work started out a little rough, but I persevered and overcame my fears of not being ‘good enough’. The funding the Centre is receiving today will have a tremendous impact on teens with disabilities who are transitioning into adulthood. Learning these life skills will empower the next generations to be more independent and allow them to thrive in society. We need to show the world that disabled people are unstoppable,” said Caradonna.
