Worktopia
Worktopia is a new, federally funded project designed to improve the employment futures of youth and young adults ages 15-29 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as they transition from high school to independent adulthood.
As part of the Economic Action Plan 2014, The Sinneave Family Foundation and Autism Speaks Canada were provided with $11.4 million over 4 years to set-up, implement and evaluate a network of pre-employment training programs in five regions across Canada.
Worktopia aims to provide meaningful opportunities for individuals with ASD to explore their interests and abilities in a wide variety of community and workplace settings, while developing the skills necessary for greater independence and future employment success.
Worktopia provides opportunities to enhance job skills while improving the social and communication skills necessary to obtain meaningful, sustainable paid employment leading to greater independence and an improved quality of life.
Worktopia aims to enable long range positive impacts on employability by creating opportunities for individuals to develop and practice their job skills via peer supported learning and activities performed during community volunteer experiences and in real workplace environments.
By offering education to community partners, employers, co-workers and peer mentors, Worktopia programs foster greater awareness of the skills and contributions individuals with ASD bring to the workplace while creating greater community integration and social inclusion opportunities for all.
To read more, go to www.worktopia.ca.