In Vancouver and the Lower Mainland
please call: 604-683-5554

ALDA's "Start Here" Employment Assistance Services is for anyone unemployed and actively interested in employment, trades training or an apprenticeship opportunity. "Start Here" specializes in assisting those who have a suspected or diagnosed learning disability or learning difficulty.

Services include:

Intake:

To determine participant eligibility, identify barriers to employment and individual needs and determine appropriate interventions. Intake will also develop a mutually agreed upon return-to-work action plan and referral to appropriate intervention.

Learning Disability Assessment: (only if required)

Psycho-Educational/Vocational Assessments are essential to the success of adults who have learning disabilities and/or difficulties. It is crucial to identify and relate the following factors to employment potential and career decision making:

• The presence and type of disability
  
• Individual strengths and weaknesses
  
• Learning style
  
• Interests and aptitudes
  
• Social skills and personality

This information guides identification of realistic vocational goals and action plans, determines appropriate compensatory strategies in the workplace, and ensures an appropriate match between an individuals abilities and job requirements. A comprehensive Psycho-Educational Assessment can increase the probability of finding and maintaining employment and contribute to an individual's overall sense of confidence and well-being.

Skills Enhancement: "Breaking Down Barriers" Workshops

Assists participants to understand their specific disability and how this has impacted their life, as well as how to move forward to meaningful experiences and employment. The facilitated workshop series consists of topics including:

• Understanding your learning disability
  
• Barriers to Employment and how to overcome them
  
• Transferable skills
  
• Career exploration and research
  
• Interviewing techniques
  
• Resumes, cover letters and cold calls
  
• Time management and organization skills
  
• Job search skills
  
• Accommodations and issues of disclosure on the job

This element of "Start Here" is provided on an individual basis. Knowledge of job search techniques is not usually sufficient for individuals with learning disabilities to find and secure employment. The majority of our participants require and are provided with direct assistance in:

• Job matching
  
• Job placement assistance
  
• Employment maintenance
  
• Workplace accommodation
  

Follow-up:

We offer consultations with the employer and provide ongoing follow-up for participants who require additional support. ALDA has counselling, mentoring and support groups available to all participants, to ensure continuing success through an ongoing connection with our Association.

Funded in whole or part through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement