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Students with disabilities to benefit from new VIU entrepreneur program

Jul 27, 2018 | 4:40 PM

NANAIMO — Vancouver Island University is launching a new program to help students with disabilities make their entrepreneurship goals become reality.

Provincial funding has allowed VIU to establish the Co-operative Entrepreneur Training Program (CETP) in October at the school’s Nanaimo campus. VIU stated in a news release the pilot program to be offered to 12 participants is aimed at creating self-employment careers which create a better fit for those with mental or physical disabilities.

Tanya Assaf, VIU instructor and chair of the Workplace Essential Skills and Training Program, stated in a news release the program is designed to find and showcase hidden talents.

“Becoming self-employed can significantly increase the quality of life for these participants,” Assaf stated. “It will allow them to become more independent and feel included in our community.”

Assaf stated there was a huge demand for this type of program, but nothing was being offered. VIU developed the CETP to meet the needs of people with disabilities who have a desire to be successful entrepreneurs.

“The program will provide individuals with skills to follow their passions and become creative thinkers,” Assaf said. “They will be immersed in real-life learning experiences where they can take risks, manage the results and learn from outcomes with ongoing faculty and community support.”

The 30-week full-time program will involve a combination of academic courses focused on business and marketing, as well as community-based mentorships.

It’s the intention of VIU to have CETP become a permanent offering at the university.

 

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