I worked with the CNIB, a national non-profit organization that provides programs and advocates for people impacted by sight loss. The goal of my internship was to help me understand disability from various perspectives. I worked on a project that involved changing the attitudes of new CNIB volunteers as they worked with people who experienced sight loss.  I completed an annotated bibliography identifying people’s attitudes towards blind people in existing literature. I also completed a survey and interviews. This opportunity allowed me to network with CNIB contacts, like the Vision Mates. One of the most meaningful lessons from my internship was how best to understand people’s attitudes toward the blind community, and it helped me to understand my own unconscious bias. A solid connection with Brock faculty, instructors, and my field supervisors at the CNIB helped me succeed. I had a wonderful time at my internship; my summer internship with them was valuable. It was a great learning experience as a person who worked with CNIB for the first time and will complete a second internship with CNIB next semester.

Joseph Chase Bognar, MA LDCC

I interned with the Brock-Niagara Centre of Excellence in Inclusive & Adaptive Physical Activity (CAPA), which provides adaptive physical activity (APA) for persons with disabilities and supports research and scholarly activity about inclusive and adaptive physical activity. I helped the CAPA team with a literature review examining APA research’s exclusion criteria. This task was essential for helping ensure they were genuinely inclusive in their APA practices by validating their Fundamental Movement Baseline Tool for participants with complex profiles. Additionally, I designed a poster summarising the key aspects of my project, which CAPA will display. As a disabled international student from Vietnam, I had little familiarity with APA before my internship, and this experience has been instrumental in deepening my knowledge of this area. The insights I gained are invaluable and have motivated me to challenge existing frameworks for understanding disability in APA and consider how these frameworks can be applied to support alternative, more inclusive strategies within and beyond APA. The field supervisor offered clear guidelines and feedback, which helped keep the project on track. This support allowed exploration and development opportunities in the field of APA while addressing the challenges of managing extensive literature review. I also appreciated the support from the instructor, who created a supportive environment to think critically and explore the exclusion of people with profound and multiple disabilities in APA research more deeply.

Linh Thuy Dang, MA LDCC

I had a wonderful experience internship with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Consultation, Education and Training Services (FASCETS). As a service-learning experience, I aimed to learn as much as possible about an educational organization and how to create training programs. I helped FASCETS ensure they were using the most recent and accurate Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) research while also bringing an applied disability studies lens to their work. Specifically, I helped create an annotated bibliography and update their book and educational materials (e.g., slideshow, concept sheet). From this opportunity, I learned a lot about FASD and other brain-based differences. I also learned how to work in an organization and what is needed to develop educational materials and programs. The instructor and my field supervisor were helpful and supportive throughout the internship.

Anonymous

For my internship, I worked with my field supervisor to create an online certificate program that provided learners with the foundational knowledge to create a learning space for learners of all abilities and educational levels. I learned about the world of disabled voices and where these voices lie throughout the internet, as well as more “discreet” yet open platforms for people to participate in many discussions. I learned about what’s missing from many training and certification programs, and the way to improve the current systems is to go to the source – unlearn to relearn what we know about the disability community. The program was entirely created by asking for representation and people living their lives with disability at the forefront of their lives first. Working in an online format, I had flexibility and freedom to do this project when it suited me best and allowed me much creative freedom to search for content and lessons and create an online learning space. I enjoyed doing the first part of the work: developing the certificate. Hopefully, I can continue this experience in a second internship to help launch it for people as the AODA becomes full in effect, conversations around disability becoming may become prevalent.

Anonymous

I interned with the Autism Alliance of Canada, a national organization that brings Autistic persons, caregivers, and other key groups together to inform policies and practices affecting Autistic people. I helped the Autism Alliance with their communication strategy, namely, developing a resource that could be shared with the members to update them about the 2024 Canadian Autism Leadership Summit and creating and strengthening the social media presence of “Ready, Willing and Able,” an employment resource. While this opportunity provided me with practical skills like using Canva to make posts, it also allowed me to learn more about what policies are effective for Autistic people across Canada and how Autistic adults navigate their lives. It also helped me apply the theories, ideas, and practices I learned in the LDCC program to real-world situations/concepts to improve critical thinking, civic engagement, and personal reflection. I found weekly meetings with my field supervisor to review my progress and get support to collaborate effectively and communicate with the team at the Autism Alliance helpful in my success.  –  Anonymous

Anonymous

My internship focused on developing skills for developing, adapting, and revising social policies within Community Living St. Catharine’s, a non-profit social support agency. I developed a final draft of the Operational Manual for the SIL department, revised various organization-wide policies, and developed a final draft of an Operation Manual for Non-Union personnel. My learning objectives were to develop critical thinking skills regarding the development of policies, learn how policy affects non-profit organizations, discover how provincial and federal legislation affects non-profit policies, work collaboratively with different departments, discover how a non-profit runs and operates from day-to-day, and learning how to work within union guidelines to develop policies for union personnel. During my internship, I learned the importance of interpersonal skills and developing clear deadlines. My supervisor was very supportive, and the experience allowed me to learn the importance of developing a critical eye and the staffing and time demands of policy development.

Anonymous, MA LDCC

During my internship at Community Living, Toronto, I engaged in hands-on tasks such as assessing resident needs and executing interventions to address specific health or well-being concerns. I gained valuable, practical experience by actively participating in the development, implementation, and adjustment of individual care plans. My internship provided an effective platform for skill development while offering opportunities to enhance various competencies such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. A crucial lesson I learned was the value of fostering effective collaboration within a team, recognizing the value of openly sharing perspectives and allowing space for others to articulate their ideas on various matters. Some valuable pieces of advice for future students on internship included setting clear and achievable goals, prioritizing tasks to maximize productivity, and building professional relationships with colleagues, mentors, and other interns. It is also important to focus on effective communication with team members and allocating moments for relaxation and self-care.

Abena Serwaah Acheampong, MADS LDCC

The site of my internship was at KinderCamp Chabad of Markham. The purpose of my internship was to learn about disability accommodation in an Early Childhood Educational setting. The outcome of my internship was that I learned about helpful strategies for managing challenging behaviours in an ECE setting while also recognizing areas for improvement. From my internship, I learnt how to better operate as someone in a leadership role.

Tamara Giblon, MADS LDCC

I completed my internship at Champlain Daycare. The purpose of my internship was to increase disability knowledge within a daycare setting. I had an overall good outcome. I believe the staff were able to take away from what I presented to them at the end of my internship. I was able to demonstrate the importance of inclusion for all children whether it be current or future children. Something I learnt from my internship was that change is not going to happen if you don’t express your voice. I was able to see how my voice can make a difference and help others especially with topics they may be unfamiliar with such as disability.

Anonymous

I completed my internship at Community Living St.Catharines as a resource developer. The goal of my internship was to create various resources for the residents in the house I worked in and for those within the community. The goal of my internship was to research and create 3 different resources for the organization. By the end of my internship, I learned a lot about the lengthy process researching and developing resources can be, as there are many contributing factors to consider. I also learned a lot about the type of leaner I am through this course layout, I require a more hands on approach when it comes to connecting my learning to class material and keeping track of my studies.

Anonymous

The site of my internship was an Elementary School in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School board. The goal of my internship was to support students with disabilities in the school I work for. The outcome of my internship was further exposure to the educational needs of verbal and non-verbal children with autism. Overall, I learned how to support students with disabilities in the classroom.

Anonymous

I completed my internship at AlphaBee. The goal of my internship was to recognize, distinguish between/among and apply historical, contemporary, and interdisciplinary concepts, approaches and theories in disability studies and especially as these relate to current practices and express myself and provide multiple levels of analysis across a spectrum of modalities and literacies. By the end of my internship, I was able to express myself and provide multiple levels of analysis across a spectrum of modalities and literacies, completed internship reflective journal, analysis and recommendations. In my internship I learnt about disability study concepts, practical ABA implementations, neurodiversity, culture differences and communications amongst diversities.

Anonymous

The goal of my internship was to assist with the Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) Advancement program. ​ By the end of my internship, I had written a summary paper about TAY summer camp, sent a survey about TAY programs at L’Arche, designed training for TAY programs, and planned parent programming for parents.​ In my internship I learnt about the challenges that Transitional Aged Youth face as they move out of high school. I also learned what L’Arche London can do to better serve this demographic and their parents.

The goal of my internship was to promote the inclusion, equality and full involvement of adults with developmental disabilities in residential settings. ​By the end of my internship, we successfully cultivated community engagement, a program that has now become an integral part of the residential facility’s offerings.​ In my internship I learnt to efficiently manage my time to balance my internship tasks with any other commitments I might have. This helped in meeting deadlines and prioritizing tasks effectively.​

Community Living St. Catharines had an excellent experience with LDCC Internship program. Student placement is an opportunity to provide practical application of learned principles. Building connections and providing mentorship for future employment opportunities.

L’Arche London was grateful for the excellent contribution that our LDCC Intern made to our Independence Summer Camp. She designed a comprehensive week-long training program for our Camp Counselors which was thoughtful, interactive, useful and necessary. She also designed curriculum for the campers and planned three different camp offerings. She was a gem!

Melanie Anne Quevillon, Program Coordinator

Internships are valuable experiences that benefitted my organization and the programs I offer. I welcome any motivated, interested intern with a willingness to prepare and learn. I have been impressed with the interns who have worked with me, and I am confident in their abilities and capacities to contribute to inclusive community building.

Maureen Connolly, Professor of PEKN: Director of CAPA

The contributions students bring during their internship allows us to complete work that would sit on the side of our desk. In a not-for-profit space and research, working with students on projects is always enjoyable. We get experience and sometimes work directly together and problem-solve and witness the impact and the professional development of students. Thank you for this opportunity and bridge with the academic communities.

This was a wonderful first experience for us, and we would be happy to continue working with your program and offer other internship opportunities in the future. The intern came in well prepared and well supported by the LDCC program. Thank you for creating such a positive experience for both the intern and the host organization.

Nathalie Brassard, Executive Director

Fantastic collaboration. Highly Valuable program. Win /win for students and charity orgs.

Peter Athanasopoulos, Director, Public Policy & Government Relations