NELSON — You may recognize John Ryan as leader of the Moving Mosaic Samba Band.
The band plays traditional Brazilian rhythms at festivals around the West Kootenay, connecting with community its mission.
Just a few years ago, Ryan took this mission to heart as he sought out a new path, an injury ending his career as an electrician close to achieving his Red Seal.
Selkirk College’s Education Assistant & Community Support Worker (EACSW) Program helped the Nelson man learn more about himself and how he could be of service in his community. He graduated from the program in 2015 with a deeper understanding of how to connect with people.
“This program made me a better person,” he says. “It’s all about making relationships. It’s great work. I see it as a privilege to be able to help people — to help them shape their lives.”
Ryan didn’t come to his new career with fervor. His previous job as an electrician (Ryan also studied for this career at Selkirk College’s Silver King Campus) and work as a tree planter had him in solitude – for the most part – and he had never worked with people with disabilities before.
The support worker profession was suggested to him in casual conversation one day and Ryan reached out to EACSW Instructor Jane Green to learn more.
“She really made me feel like this could be a good thing and that’s what did it. That’s why I signed up,” he says. “Jane’s welcoming presence and leadership made me feel like I could do this. She is teaching us to support so she lives that and is with us the whole way.”
Students in the nine-month EACSW certificate program learn skills to help them work with people of differing ability in both classroom and community contexts. Green says graduates find exciting and essential work as Education Assistants, Job Coaches and Community Support Workers across the lifespan.
“Our program prepares people for schools and community work,” says Green. “We help our students develop their skills and confidence to be of service in truly valuable ways. We provide the foundational knowledge and information that skillful practitioners need to know to be effective. There’s a balance of self-assessment, critical thinking and reflection, combined with two practicum experiences for hands-on work to assure graduates of our program are head-and-heart ready for the hands-and-feet work.”
Ryan currently works for at Salmo Secondary as an Education Assistant. He also provides home support through Community Connections for two people with disabilities who are living independently in Nelson.
Part of the EACSW program includes examining the history of how people with disabilities have been treated in society. The evolution of care has gone from “doing to” to “doing for” to “doing with.” Ryan learned how to overcome his own awkwardness to be assured in his abilities as he becomes an advocate for people he works with.
“Growing up, there wasn’t as much inclusiveness in society,” he says. “Coming into the program, I worried I would do something or say something wrong. There was a level of (discomfort) I had to work through which is part of the course as well – talking about how we feel about our (discomfort). We all have it at a certain level.”
An important part of the EACSW Program is its practicum component. Students do one week of field experience early on in their training and then a five-week practice at the end of their schooling. While demonstrating their abilities, they self-evaluate and receive feedback.
“This was extremely valuable to help make connections to employers while we got into the real hands-on work of it,” says Ryan.
By mid-July after graduating from the program, Ryan had three jobs in his new field. Green says this is the case for many alumni.
“It’s a really good time to get into this field. School districts in our region and across the province often have more positions than they can fill and not enough people on their sub lists. With recent legislation changes requiring more classroom support, the need will only increase,” she says.
Learn more about the Education Assistant & Community Support Worker Program at selkirk.ca and follow them on Facebook.