by PAUL RAYNER

The mentally challenged clients of the Boissevain Association for the Handicapped can achieve in the regular community work environment. They just need a helping hand to start with.

That is the job of Loretta Wanless, job developer for the Westman Coalition for Employment Opportunities. Funded through Family Services and Housing, Wanless spends two days a week in Boissevain, Thursday and Friday, with the goal of integrating the Association clients into the everyday work world.

“It is supported employment,” Wanless explained, adding she performs the same duty each Wednesday with Southwest Community Options in Ninette. “I myself go with the person to work and assist them getting into a routine, with the hope they will work independently eventually.”

She said she operates under an agreement between the Westman Coalition and the communities affected. In the Boissevain case, she has space in the Hand Crafter to work out of. She begins with job training for the clients involved, working with them to develop different job related skills. The idea is to get them ready to go out into the work world.

What sort of jobs are the clients interested in and prepared for?

“Really, it’s anything and everything. A lot of people are wanting to stock shelves in stores, work in restaurants waiting on tables or preparing in the kitchen, pumping gas. Really, there are a lot of possibilities.”

Different clients have different desires and also different abilities. Wanless is aware of that.

“Absolutely,” she stated, “and part of that is finding out what a job entails, working with adapting to that job, find out what they can handle quickly. We hope we can move them into a job and get it to work for them.”

As an example, Wanless said she has a client in a different jurisdiction who has been working as a stock person in a grocery store. Wanless went to the store prior to the employee and talked to management to see what the person could do. When the client started work, Wanless went with her, to show her the proper way to do it and work with her. Slowly, the job developer has been stepping back. Although she stays on the premises when the client is working, she basically just checks up on her. She hopes to leave her alone for a few hours soon.

“This is something supported by the agency involved,” Wanless explained. “You want to help them do this, because you don’t want to set them up for failure.”

She is presently working with six clients in the Boissevain Association. The idea is to develop them in the workplace setting to some degree, then once they are in a work routine, a staff member take over as a “job coach”. Then Wanless will move over to someone else.

There has been some response in the community for the client workers, but Wanless said it has not yet been overwhelming. Right now, she is out pounding the pavement, letting businesses in Boissevain know she is there.

“I’m hoping people call, keep us in mind. Some clients are willing to work once a week for a few hours. We are willing to take very small shifts. The goal is to have minimum wage paying jobs for these individuals.”

There is the possibility of clients working outside the home community, but the costs of travel could be a problem unless a large group could be accommodated in a neighbouring town, making it cost effective. As well, Wanless is planning to form an odd job squad, dealing with tasks like lawn and garden work. The Hand Crafter would take the calls, and she can get a crew together and go.

She feels the development is part of an overall move to replace workshops for mentally challenged individuals with more integrated employment within a community.

“They are so capable,” Wanless stated, “there is no reason they can’t be out working in the community. This has a combination of benefits. In a small town, it is like a new employee market for employers. There is certainly a lot of potential here. It is definitely good for both employer and employee.”

The funding for the program is on a yearly basis, but Wanless hopes the work in Boissevain can continue to develop in Boissevain and elsewhere.

“I think it is important for the equality of these individuals,” she stated. “They are members of society like you or I. They are capable and talented individuals. It is so important in our society to be a contributing member. You don’t want to not have a job. So it is so important to give them the opportunity.”