A few months after completing his work experience with Independent Living Vernon (new window), Wyatt looked back fondly on his time in our Working Together program in a presentation at his school.

Wyatt, now in Grade 12, has autism and ADHD. Wyatt is Métis. He joined our Working Together program early last year to find some work experience.

Working with Penticton case manager Mindy, Wyatt worked on his resume, cover letter, and interview skills, as well as identifying his strengths and necessary adaptations for work.

“I found by focusing on my strengths I can be an effective and highly valued employee with unique strengths that can benefit an organization. My strengths include exceptional concentration, attention to detail, good memory, and repetition,” he shares.

In April, he found work as an assistant with Independent Living Vernon, working with their youth group after school on Tuesdays and an adult group on Thursdays, with duties including setting up, hosting, and cleaning up afterwards.

“I enjoyed my time there over the summer,” Wyatt says. “I made new friends, got out of my comfort zone, gained independence by taking the bus there, and I was around like-minded peers in a non-judgmental atmosphere.”

Wyatt now looks forward to finishing Grade 12, and wants to find a permanent part-time job to save up money for postsecondary education.

“I have learned I have many strengths and I gained self-confidence. I want to work with computers. This experience may give me the confidence to pursue this in the future,” he says.

“It was a great way to get work experience. I would recommend the Working Together program to others who have disabilities and want help getting work experience.”

Read Wyatt’s initial success story