Montreal neurodivergent students showcase workforce development skills during end-of-year festivities

Students kicked off celebrations as they finished another school year at Place Cartier Adult Education Centre’s Beaconsfield Campus on Montreal’s West Island — all this while bringing awareness to vital programs for adults with disabilities.

The school is home to two programs for 150 adult learners with disabilities, with their end of the year theme focusing on elements of the four seasons.

“While we do many events throughout the school year, a lot of them are sort of driven and organized by the staff. Today, this is something that is by the students for the students,” said Matthew Kennedy, a pedagogical instructor at the school.

“This is a farewell to the graduates and congratulations to achieving accomplishments in the school at Place Cartier,” said Stephanie Torriani, one of the Thrive program students who helped organized the event.

18 students graduated earlier this month, seven students from the Endeavour program and 11 from Thrive.

The Endeavor program focuses on improving social skills over five years — while the Thrive program, which runs from two to three years, further prepares neurodivergent students to enter into the workforce.

“We just think that more people need to know about the work that we and other programs are doing to serve this population but also what this population is continuously giving back to the community,” Kennedy said.

He adds that there needs to be more attention within the greater Montreal and West Island areas from a community collaboration standpoint.

Graduating students could be identified by their graduation stoles, including Ryan Hector.

“We like to make this a way to end this school year and I’m really excited for everything and everyone that shows up here to know that we are a strong team that is not afraid to show their confidence,” said Hector.

“It is definitely a huge celebration because it’s a great way to kick off the start, plus it’s a great way to end off the school year.”

Music therapist at the Place Cartier Adult Education Centre, Monique Laflamme says the school instils pride and support for neurodiversity, and people with disabilities.

“We love to celebrate any time we can because they’re just awesome and they love to have fun and be involved,” said Laflamme.

“There are lots of different employment opportunities for our students upon graduation,” Kennedy said. “We are doing our best to prepare them as much as we can for that but we do think that there is a need for a greater array of opportunities for our students.”

Laflamme mentioned that the waitlist for the program is in high demand and are trying to increase their capacity.

With their main goals of improving the transition into the workforce, one student, Austin Amato-Reede explained that this program empowers him on helping his mother pay rent.

“I think its the best program,” he said. “People want to work for the school over here because we have so many disability people over here and I think this school is great.”

Laflamme and Kennedy says the energetic atmosphere occurs year round though it’s important to recognize every students’ potential to be leaders in the community and to have their voices amplified.

“It sort of gives them a chance to test out like being autonomous, expressing their interests,” she said. “Showing the community like we love to have fun, we’re capable, we’re able, we’re just like everybody else.”