Get Your ACT Together

By Susan D. Wheeler

In terms of employment the only thing more important than ability is opportunity. Without opportunities, abilities cannot be acquired nor exercised. A.C.T., (Alternative Computer Training for the Disabled) is in the opportunity business. A.C.T. participants include individuals who experience life with various visual, hearing, mobility and neurological disabilities. These individuals receive unique training, guidance and support as they successfully develop their employment aspirations. A.C.T.’s policy is to provide up-to-date training in computer programming and information services to persons who cannot otherwise be trained in conventional colleges. Students are individually assessed and selected over the first month of training. This “hands on” selection process assures the most suitable program is determined for each student based on individual interest, aptitude and motivation. Students initially require a grade 12 education (or equivalent) and must be able to work full-time without attendant care. Eligibility is also based on candidates’ need for the ACT program. Factors such as diminished self-confidence, need for individualized instructional support, physical access and adaptive aids are all salient considerations.
ACT is currently funded by the Employment & Immigration Job strategy program, therefore training is free of charge and a minimum salary is provided to students. The entire training program is 12 months in duration.

Graduates of the ACT program have achieved a rate of 84-100% successful placement since it’s beginning in 1981. This high standard is the result of several unique features that are not available from similar training courses. The first nine months of the ACT program consist of classroom instruction. After successful completion, a two month on-the-job internship permits each student to experience first hand the demands and expectations required of employees in the business community. Ongoing business advice and expertise is provided from a voluntary advisory committee currently consisting of 45 highly respected companies. This committee aids in phases of student selection, internship placement and each student’s overall final evaluation. In addition, students benefit from a mentor program where interpersonal conduct and business protocol is supported and encouraged. The last month reviews newly acquired skills and knowledge and helps students develop job search strategies – if successful employment was not available from internship placement.

Typically, disabled persons suffer from chronic unemployment, sporadic employment or underemployment. Negative attitudes toward hiring disabled people are long-standing and difficult to break. Over time these attitudes impact on disabled individuals and reduce their level of self-confidence and self-expectations. This, of course, affects their success in retaining employment. As a result, many disabled people become disillusioned and do not make the effort to achieve their full potential. The ACT program addresses these issues by incorporating in its eligibility criteria a program philosophy and curriculum that optimizes opportunities for each participant to achieve their full potential.

Program design was influenced by three factors: a successful model used in the US; the training requirements stipulated by the business community and the special needs of the target group. The focus is on the mastery of COBOL programming skills in business applications. Secondary objectives include the introduction of related computer concepts and business fundamentals. ACT has a nine person voluntary board directors and is successfully managed by Karl Fuller. Instructors have impressive backgrounds in the data processing field as well as previous teaching experience.

The most significant component of the ACT program for disabled participants is its area of internship and job placement. ACT recognizes the difficulties disabled people experience in securing and maintaining employment, therefore internship and job placement services are tailored to each individual’s abilities, physical capacities and needs. In large part, the success of ACT is to the credit of the business community. It is the high level of commitment of participating businesses which enables ACT to provide comprehensive placement services to disabled persons.

For more information contact:
Alternative Computer Training for the Disabled
562 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 4888—4076