| Success Stories: 1 |
 Donald is in his mid-twenties, living with his mother. Before joining Haadd and learning about the Joseph Umbrico bursaries, Donald and his mother had been trying for years to obtain assistance from several agencies to help Donald find work in a library. After high school he had completed a two-year math and science programme and one year of a Library Technician Course at a community college. Donald was successful in the library programme until the second year when the programme coordinator changed and the new person had less appreciation for his skills and little understanding of the small degree of support Donald required for success. He was dismissed from the programme, and with his mother’s support began to study at home. As a result, his mother lost her own job. Donald applied for a bursary to hire a job coach to assist him with on-the-job training in a library, work that he enjoyed and had already shown an aptitude for. A library, housed in a community-based organization was delighted to have Donald help them to reorganize and catalogue materials that had been in boxes for some time. Donald not only learned the tasks well, but developed his own systems. He also acquired the ability to take public transportation without his job coach. Prior to receiving the Haadd bursary, Donald had spent a frustrating three years as he worked to become prepared for the world of work, only to be denied the support he needed. The bursary significantly changed his life by giving him a chance to learn and succeed at work that he can pursue in different settings. His self-esteem has grown immensely and he feels more optimistic about his future. |