Blog #9: A Co-op Job Placement
A co-op job placement is where a person gains experience on the job through an association with an employer and a school. It is a way to introduce people to a working environment, kind of like an apprenticeship.
When I was in high school I had a number of co-op job placements. It was my first chance to work in a more formal setting, to learn what working in a store was like. I learned that I can work with other people, as well as on my own. It was a new and valuable experience for me on my path towards my working life.
I am currently enrolled in an Adaptive Learning Program (ALP add link) and recently started a co-op job placement at Winners retail store. Winners sells clothing, toys, decorations, household goods and some food.
I received on-site training for this job that was task specific. However, at ALP the students work extremely hard in a number of job tasks in the school itself. For example there is an industrial kitchen, a functioning coffee shop and an office setting. You might be on dishwasher duty, or customer service, or coffee prep, or office work for a week rotation. Ideally every student gets a chance to try every job. The first year the students work in-house, and the second year if possible then the students work in co-ops off site.
I love my job at Winners. I have never worked in retail before and I really love it! I like the environment, it’s really calm. I love the staff at the store. They are amazing. They are very caring and genuinely interested in how you’re doing. I feel very supported. I feel like if I had a concern or a question I could ask for help and I would get it. My boss is particularly amazing, he is really funny and also a very hard worker. He leads by example and shows me the right way to do things.
Most of my work is straightening things up, like for example in Women’s coats I have to make sure the coats are zipped up and on the right hanger, with the right department tag. Another example of what I do is dealing with customers, asking if they need help if they are in my aisle for example. It’s expected that I arrive to work on time, that I’m polite with customers and staff, that I work hard, and listen to what my supervisor tells me. If you don’t understand something, or are confused by directions then you can ask for clarification.
I want to get a job. So my expectation for a program like this is that it teaches me what is necessary to get and hold on to a job. I want to work for a living. This job is ideal, it is really good. The program is really useful to help people who want to learn. They just need to show up and let the teachers teach you what you need to know.
If I could make one suggestion for job co-op placement programs, it would be that they could serve as entry level positions and if things worked well then it could turn into paid employment. It can be very hard for people with disabilities to find meaningful employment and programs like this one could make a real difference for finding the right fit workwise.
