Students with disabilities to benefit from new VIU entrepreneur program
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.”