Ready for work and life

Pam Ross says she graduated from the Consumer and Job Preparation Program with a boost in confidence and life-long friendships.  

For Pam Ross, the Consumer and Job Preparation (CJP) Program  wasn’t just the means to finding a job. It was the start in making new friends, continuing her education and boosting her confidence.

“If you want a job, this program will definitely lead you to your goals. You will also have fun and a completely new learning experience,” says Ross.

Ross came to Douglas after graduating from Port Moody Secondary School. CJP is offered as an Adult Special Education (ASE) Program at Douglas and is designed for students with developmental disabilities. “I wanted to take it so I could see where my interests and strengths were,” says Ross.

Though she admits to being nervous the first time she came to classes at the New Westminster Campus, Ross says it didn’t take long until she became more comfortable and starting forming lasting friendships with her classmates. “There’s one friend I keep in touch with today,” she says, nine years later.

“The goal of the Consumer and Job Preparation Program is to make sure graduates are ready for work and life,” says instructor Jean Emmerson. Students learn about the personal, social and work skills needed to get and keep a job and to use community services. Ross fondly recalls class trips over the Summer to the PNE and the planetarium at H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. During outings like these, students also become more familiar and comfortable with taking public transit, something that is emphasized in the program.

CJP students assess their interests and skills in class and through three different jobs in month-long work placements. Graduates usually transition to further vocational training.

Ross went on to take the Retail Food and Supermarket Careers Program at Vancouver Community College. While there, she received a scholarship for her top marks. She started working at Save-On Foods in Coquitlam during a work placement. Ross enjoyed it so much that she decided to do her second placement at Save-On Foods. And they were so impressed with her skills that after her third week, they offered her a permanent position.

“Taking Consumer and Job Preparation at Douglas first really boosted my confidence. When I started out, I didn’t know where I would end up. It really helped me get to where I am now, working for a great company,” says Ross.

CJP is offered at the New Westminster Campus. The program starts in September and runs for 12 months. Referrals to the program are made through Community Living BC (CLBC). Anyone interested in applying should contact the CLBC office in their community. For further information about the program, please call 604-527-5171.

Links:

Information Sessions
Adult Special Education
Consumer and Job Preparation
Community Living BC
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