4-Youth
reachability's 4-Youth program is a hands-on, employment training program for youth (aged 18-30) living with disabilities who wish to become ready to work in an office environment. It is often their first job, contact with a working office, and their first wage. The 4-Youth program builds strong social, interpersonal, and IT skills, while giving guidance and direction on acceptable office behavior.
The youth undergo 4 weeks of classroom training, followed by a 35-hour workweek (with a weekly class), for a total of 22 weeks. Each youth uses their creativity to develop a project, which they run and see through to the end of their contract. This gives them the opportunity to become intrinsically involved in their new workplace, to learn ownership, responsibility, deadlines, and results.
The 4-youth program is designed to help youth living with disabilities boost their confidence and overcome previous barriers, such as a lack of experience or non-accommodating workplaces. At the end of this program, the youth should be ready to enter the workforce and/or pursue further education, and may even have found permanent employment through our contacts and networks.
One project was creating thier own web site called ShakeTheStigma.org. It has been preserved here.Participants of the 2007 4-Youth Program.
(back row) Jenn Petrie, Peter Smith, Michael Gray, Jeremy Miller, with coordinator (in front) Achilles Galatis.
Absent: Kaleigh Hopkins
To apply to be a part of the 4-Youth program, the youth must meet specific criteria and be approved through their case manager.
reachAbility would like to thank Service Canada through the Government of 
for funding the 4-Youth program.
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