Getting a diploma (part 2)

For many students, federal and provincial student aid in the form of bursaries and loans are a large part of helping to pay for education. However, when I went to get more information about the student aid process, I found that there were many barriers. They wanted documents signed by lots of people, a variety of assessments, and details about my life that most people would never ask.

What was worse was that the government service agent that I was speaking with commented, "People on AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) do not qualify for student aid because they are already receiving funding from the government. Why would we give you more?" This statement is unprofessional, insensitive, and uncalled for.  Disability funding from the government is not enough to live on and go to school. Why shouldn't someone with a disability have the same opportunities for further education as anyone else?

I realize that the person that I spoke with is not necessarily the voice of the government but he is representing the government while interacting with people like me every day. He is unknowingly discouraging people from pursuing their dreams of having better lives. People go to school to learn the skills necessary to have a job, and eventually support themselves enough to not need government aid. This is just one example of someone I have met that was disrespectful. I continued on despite this.

During my first months in the Graphic Design program, I had several facilitators from PASC helping me at school. However, it was difficult because they didn’t have the same knowledge about computer science that we needed for class. Thankfully, one of my classmates, Lisa, was really friendly, and we would talk about assignments and class information. I was grateful to have her there with me.  One day my coordinator was with me at school; she and Lisa started talking and decided that Lisa would be a good fit to be my facilitator.  Even though she was not a facilitator previously, PASC employed her to work with me since she was already doing the same assignments as me.

Because it was sometimes hard to stay motivated and productive, I would break the course into smaller goals so it felt more manageable. Breaking the unit into smaller sections also helped me to better understand the concepts. Lisa insisted I take plenty of small breaks to calm my frustrations. Sometimes I found myself stuck on one step but had no one around to ask for help. There were other students and teachers in the computer lab, but they were never in the same program; I had to email the unit's instructor whenever I had a question.

During the program, I used new study techniques: quizzing myself, writing out key concepts, doing open-book tests, and highlighting important parts of the textbook. These techniques helped prepare me for multiple-choice tests. Multiple-choice tests are an easier way for me to show that I understand a concept than written tests. However, the Academy of Learning had a passing grade of 70%, and I sometimes had to repeat the test before reaching it. Every student had three attempts to pass before having to pay thirty dollars for each additional try. Luckily I never had to pay that $30!

It was a huge accomplishment to graduate from the Graphic and Web Design Diploma program in July 2009.  It made me feel like a normal person because it was the first “real” diploma that I had ever received, since my high school diploma was from a modified program.  I felt very proud of myself because I never gave up even when it was really tough.

If I go back to school again though, I’ll pick a program where there is more interaction among classmates and the teacher, even if it is only a weekly classroom session. Part of me wished I had gone to SAIT instead so there would have been more hands-on instruction and less independent learning. I missed the social aspect of high school; I didn't meet anyone else who was doing Graphic Design because it was so independent.

Getting a diploma (part 1)

The negative experiences I had with working convinced me to be my own boss and reduce differences in services. At the time, I hoped to develop a magazine as a platform for people with disabilities, one that not only added clarity but also included a lighter look at the every day life of a person with a disability.  I wanted to publish stories about people's life accomplishments, take a humorous look at the stigmas that still surround people with disabilities, and have all the features of a regular magazine.  Above all, I wanted to show readers that people are more similar than they are different, with or without disabilities.

I was confident about the content of my future magazine but didn't know anything about publishing.  I decided to visit a graphic services department to see how they could transform my idea into reality.  I spent three days shadowing different people and learned about design, editing, writing, printing, and how to put it all together into one final project. The last day, my mind was made up!  I really loved the design aspect of publishing and what could be done with a computer.  I felt passionate enough that I wanted to go back to school and become a graphic designer.

I started to look into different schools where I could take Graphic Design. However, I would need assistive technology to make the most of the course. The Developmental Disability Resource Centre (DDRC) worked with me to assess my needs and find the best solution, which turned out to be a joystick and laptop (it is easier for me to control a joystick than a mouse).  I received funding to purchase a laptop so I could do my work anywhere I wanted.  I then looked into two different schools: the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), which offered a five-year program and classes mainly at night; and the Academy of Learning, which was recommended to me by a woman at the DDRC. I decided to pursue the program at Academy of Learning because it was less than a year and the classes were during the day.

Before I could apply to the program, I needed grade 12 English and Math credits. My high school diploma was based on modified program requirements, so I hadn’t yet passed the public curriculum diploma exams.  I spent six months studying for the exams and the experience is nothing but a blur of frustration.  I do remember wanting to give up, and constantly telling myself, "Maybe people were right when they said that I can't have dreams or goals."  I had never given up on anything in my life, so I convinced myself to carry on with my education. After writing the multiple-choice exam, I was scared to hear the results. When I heard that I passed, I broke into tears.  I felt incredibly proud that I was on my way to becoming a graphic designer.

The Graphic Design program was 43 weeks and 28 courses long. It allowed each student to progress at his or her own pace because it consisted of individual study.  I arranged to have extended time limits on my coursework so that I had enough time to understand the material before moving on. I would go to the computer lab at the Academy of Learning during the week to work on the courses.  We needed to do 25 hours of work per week, and could do it either at home or school, but I liked getting out of the house and doing most of it at school. Still, I kept working on my courses at home and did it when I felt most productive—usually after midnight.  I am definitely a night owl.  It also meant I didn't have to deal with commuting in bad weather.

Searching for work (part 4)

During my work experience, I kept looking for other positions.  I did find a few opportunities volunteering in non-profit offices where they needed an extra hand during their busy season.  I also found a paid position monitoring exams at a college.  My worker and I dropped off my resume at a certification school for medical professionals.  The coordinator asked if I wanted to be added to the list of exam monitors, with the warning that it wasn't very often, but they would pay me. They called me to monitor a lady writing an exam for half a day, and I helped out at their two-day conference.  I was scheduled to work all day on both Friday and Saturday.  I finished up my tasks earlier on Saturday and asked what else I could do but they let me leave early.  I never heard from them again.  All of those opportunities made me more excited to reach the end of my work experience and start a real job with consistent pay and regular hours.

Shelving was becoming easier and more routine too and I was interested in adding  new tasks. I was planning to bring it up at the six-month evaluation, but then the manager explained that they couldn't pay me because of my disability.  I don't know the reason behind the decision, but it made me mad. Still, the manager agreed that I could stay on until I found another job.

I was at the bookstore for another three years while I handed out numerous resumes all over the city.  Initially, I kept looking in the Northwest (where I lived) or downtown but then I started looking anywhere and everywhere. I didn't have a single job interview in those three years, but I kept hearing about how they would keep my resume on file. I started thinking, "I can't be happy in a job knowing that I am not getting the respect I deserve because people can't see past my disability." I decided that I would start my own business and hire myself instead of waiting for someone to hire and pay me. As you can see, I have already started taking steps towards this goal and I will keep pursuing it throughout my life.

Around this time my program with PACE ended and I started looking at other agencies. I decided on the Progressive Alternatives Society of Calgary (PASC). We sat down and talked about what I wanted out of my life and possible ways to reach those goals.  One of the first things we did was to investigate different businesses. This started me down my path of going back to school and becoming a graphic designer.

Searching for work (part 3)

I thought finding another retail job would be easier because I now had experience. Like before, though, it was a couple of weeks before I found one; most companies weren't hiring or weren't interested. Finally the manager of a Coles bookstore downtown sounded interested. We proposed the idea of a six-month work experience.  It sounded like a great fit because it was still retail and I enjoyed reading. She accepted our proposal and I started working there three days a week. However, this work experience was without pay, without even a free bus fare. This made me frustrated because I knew it wasn’t fair, but I went along with it anyway for the experience and knowledge. Also, I didn’t know what I wanted to do yet, so these were learning experiences for me. At the end of six months, the manager and us agreed to review my performance and discuss a wage.

Like at Nevada Bob's, my worker was with me for the first two weeks and I worked independently after that. My job was to sort and shelve new books. The store was on two levels; I couldn't reach the other floor where we kept some non-fiction sections because there was no elevator. The back room at Coles was also too small and cramped for me, so my friendly coworkers arranged the books on a cart at the back of the store.  When I wasn't sure where a book belonged, I would check the ISBN in the computer, and write down the location.  After a couple of weeks, I had it down pat!  My mom made me a book bag to keep at the front of my wheelchair so I could carry more than one book at a time and didn't have to make so many trips.

Searching for work (part 2)

My work at Nevada Bob's was mostly behind the scenes; I was responsible for preparing the merchandise for customers. I would unpack and sort products we received, checking the purchasing documents to ensure we were receiving what we needed. I would price items and use the computer database to maintain inventory. The hardest task I had was to place the price and size stickers on clothing and shoes. They needed to be in the same specific place, but sometimes I would accidentally put it in the wrong spot or not be able to peel it off the sticker sheet. Luckily, they were easy to peel off when I misplaced them. It wasn't very often but I also helped customers find what they were looking for in the store. I spent my breaks eating a snack or going outside for sunshine.

Although I usually worked in the back room, the other sales assistants would come and go, stopping to talk with me. I t was an amazing atmosphere to spend my time and the staff were positive-minded, friendly, and fun to work with.  My worker originally came with me the first week to make sure it would be a good match for me.  Once we realized how easy it would be for me to work independently, she dropped by every other week to check that it was still going well.

After nine months of being a valued team member, I received disappointing news that management was changing over. The new management was unable to offer me the same terms of employment.  I was sad to be leaving because I had enjoyed working there.  On the other hand, the store had hired new employees after me, and it was hard to see them earning the regular wage. I started to see the news as an opportunity to earn more than a bus pass for my shifts.  I hoped to find another job as challenging and rewarding as Nevada Bob's.