West Toronto KEYS to Inclusion, Inc.

westtorontokeys.com

KEYS strives to help create neighbourhood opportunities for learning,

work, volunteer and social experiences for people with an intellectual disability

Table of Contents
Key
About KEYS Defining Community Contributors Partnerships: Participants Agreements Establishments Agreements

Page
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Job Coach Role

Witnessing the creation of strong and vibrant communities, which include people of all abilities. CONTACT US AT : keystoinclusion@gmail.com
January 2012

West Toronto KEYS to Inclusion, Inc.

westtorontokeys.com

About

KEYS

KEYS We are a group of West Toronto families and friends of young adults with an intellectual disability who have recently graduated from high school and are keen to participate meaningfully in the Junction community. KEYS participants have various abilities to contribute to establishments in our community. We believe that local neighbourhoods offer opportunities for knowledge and social experiences through meaningful paid and unpaid work. Our community business partners are the KEYS to the successful inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. By continuously establishing and maintaining strong ties with the local business community, opportunities are created for volunteer work, employment, and social recreation for our participants. For local establishments, KEYS is one of your links to enhancing your community involvement work. KEYS can help you with our resources to help your business for a win / win for all. KEYS participants can offer:

 A unique set of strengths and skills brought to your establishment for 2 or more hours a week of paid / voluntary work.  A Job Coach for your KEYS hire to ensure proper initial training and support as required; thereby saving you time.  an asset to your business because of their reliability, punctuality and commitment to doing a good job.

-1CONTACT US AT : keystoinclusion@gmail.com
January 2012

West Toronto KEYS to Inclusion, Inc.

westtorontokeys.com Defining Community Contributors
KEYS believes that going to work is key for community integration. 1. The first step of achieving a paid or unpaid position for an adult with an intellectual disability occurs in a community-based establishment. 2. Once a placement is identified for a participant, a Job Coach is assigned to that participant to support their training through job shadowing. This helps to ensure tasks are understood and performed to the expected level. 3. These are win / win placements for both the establishment and our participants who learn while contributing extra assistance to a business that demonstrates respect and support for workers with a wide range of abilities. 4. A three month trial period is established to ensure a good fit. Close communication among all parties is essential during this period. We have found that success is achieved when all questions and support needs are addressed early in the relationship. We have experience and resources that support challenges through the initial training period. 5. Through true partnership, our participants learn new and valuable skills which allow them to be active and vibrant members of our west Toronto community. The sense of accomplishment and selfconfidence allows for further growth for all involved.

-2CONTACT US AT : keystoinclusion@gmail.com
January 2012

West Toronto KEYS to Inclusion, Inc.

westtorontokeys.com KEYS Partnerships with Establishments

The KEYS Participant agrees to demonstrate :

 Punctuality  Professionalism and respect for all community members  Commitment to employer and community  Communication as related to job responsibilities  Responsibility for the task and striving for more responsibility

The Establishment agrees to :

 Provide a paid/unpaid job for a KEYS participant  Include a weekly 2 hours or more job for Participants  Provide the participant and their Job Coach initial training and on-going feedback during the first three months.  Define Job Coach roles as required to support the business.

-3CONTACT US AT : keystoinclusion@gmail.com
January 2012

West Toronto KEYS to Inclusion, Inc.

westtorontokeys.com Role of the Job Coach
KEYS recognizes that no two people are the same in terms of their goals, abilities and support needs. As such, Job Coaches provide participants the individualized support they need in order to successfully perform their jobs. Job coaches strive to provide a win / win for both the participant and the establishment so they :  assess the need to adapt the job description (if required) to ensure success for both the establishment and the participant  help with communications between the participant and the employer ;  travel with the participant from KEYS to and from their workplace setting;  work one-on-one with participant to teach job responsibilities;  set the goal with the participant to be as independent as possible in the job;  ensure that the participant completes their task(s) effectively;  respect and treat all with dignity at all times  use his/her interpersonal skills to handle all work related situations to ensure professionalism all around  manage regular feedback sessions with both the participant and his/her supervisor to review progress and to ensure job requirements are met.  review progress regularly and report on job fit.
-4CONTACT US AT : keystoinclusion@gmail.com
January 2012