Be a Smart Shopper!

You’ve decided that you want to return to work. Now what? You probably know that a few refresher courses are in order, and if you’ve been out of the work force for a while, you may need to learn new skills. So where do you start? The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Employment Supports gives you control over the process of entering the work force. You identify your goals, and then select the programs and services to help you succeed in finding and keeping a job.

These programs and services are designed to provide you with the skills you need to upgrade or learn in order to enter or return to the work force. This would also include assistance with any adaptive devices that remove or reduce employment barriers, help with job searching, work trials or on-the-job training, and even a job developer to sell the employer on hiring you.

How do you find the programs and services that are right for you? There are three avenues: community-based, non-profit agencies, such as Ontario March of Dimes; universities, colleges and continuing education; and private schools, such as computer or business training facilities. The ODSP can be helpful in obtaining funding for community-based, non-profit agency services and private schools, but individuals wishing to attend a mainstream education program (universities, colleges and continuing education) will be required to obtain funding in other ways.

Through the ODSP, you can identify what programs and services you need by completing an Employment Action Plan. Once you’ve determined what courses, if any, you need to take, you can begin your search to select the providers of those services from your community. Because this is a government-funded program, you’ll be asked to obtain quotes from two or three different sources.

That doesn’t mean you’ll be expected to attend the least expensive program. Besides the cost of the program, you need to determine if the program is right for you. It’s time for you to be the smart consumer, ask the right questions and figure out which programs will meet your needs.

Before beginning your search, think about your immediate and long-term goals. How quickly do you want to be in the work force? With a college program, you’ll need approximately nine or ten months to complete the course. Training through a not-for-profit facility could take three to four months, with work placement support following completion.

If you have no previous education or work experience, your r�sum� will appear a little bare to potential employers. A college education takes time but looks good on a r�sum�. Practical training through a community-service organization gives you material that is directly related to your goal AND looks good on your r�sum�.

Ask questions of the training facility’s teaching methods, classroom setups and track record for success. Ask about the level of education required for entry into the program. What percentage of students become employed soon after course completion? Does the facility have placement services? Does it offer on-the-job coaching?

Inquire if the course runs continuously or for a set period of time. If a set time, when does your desired course begin? If the course in which you want to enroll is already in progress, it may not make sense to come in late. If the next course doesn’t start for three months, it means your employment goals may be farther away than you anticipated.

Once you’ve compiled your list of questions, you can begin to search out the best providers of programs and services for your personal requirements. Don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions. It may take a little more time but, in the end, you can feel confident that you’re receiving qualified instruction that is geared to serving your best interests.

(Ontario March of Dimes is one of the recognized service providers for the ODSP. With ministry approval, we can assist you in your job-search efforts in many different ways, from helping you to complete the Employment Action Plan, to offering advice on selecting service providers, to supplying many of the services you may require to get you back into a competitive employment environment. For more information, check out our website at www.dimes.on.ca or call your local Ontario March of Dimes office.)

(Louise Desmarais is a freelance writer living in Paris, Ontario.)