When Beamsville native Ashley Amis visited Niagara College’s Open House in the Spring of 2024, she was excited – and a little apprehensive – about the prospect of starting college. She knew that she wanted to help people and make a difference in the lives of others, but she wasn’t sure what that career path could look like.
“I love to help people, but I knew that I didn’t necessarily want to work with neurotypical people,” said Amis. “Growing up with a brother who has a mild intellectual disability, I knew that I wanted to work with the population that sometimes can’t help themselves, but it wasn’t until Niagara College’s Open House that I decided to pursue a career as an Educational Assistant.”
Now currently in her second term of the College’s Educational Assistance and Adult Supports (EA&AS) program in the School of Community Services, Amis is confident that she’s chosen the right career path.
“I’ve learned so much during my first year of the program and I’m excited to continue to learn and develop new strategies to help students succeed,” said Amis.
EA&AS work pathways
Niagara College’s EA&AS program is the only program in Ontario that combines the Educational Assistance and Adult Supports programs, giving students the unique opportunity to learn about disability across the lifespan.
NC’s EA&AS program offers students different opportunities for hands-on-learning.
“The EA&AS program at NC is one-of-a-kind in Ontario as it is tied to two sectors,” said Professor and Program Coordinator Barbara Morris. “This means that students in this program will graduate with the knowledge and ability to work in two different fields. They can work in the adult sector which includes day programming, respite work, group homes, etc. and/or they can work for the school board as an educational assistant.”
This innovative approach to supporting individuals with disabilities across the lifespan offers students the ability to meet individuals where they are, while having knowledge of what the future could look like for a child with disabilities or what struggles an adult might have faced in their early years.
Students enrolled in the program complete 400 hours of practical field placements in both educational and community settings, allowing them to explore both career pathways.
“In many cases, students receive job offers while working at their placements,” said Morris. “We have a one hundred per cent employment rate, so whether a student wants to work in the school system or with the adult population, there’s a job for them.”
Niagara University pathway
A dual admission agreement between NC and Niagara University (NU) offers EA&AS graduates a direct pathway to pursuing a teaching degree at NU.
Hunter Jeffery (left) plans to pursue a career as a teacher through the dual admission agreement between NC and NU.
The agreement grants anyone graduating from the EA&AS diploma program preferred admission to the University’s Bachelor of Arts in Teacher Education program (Kindergarten through Grade 6) and is the fastest, direct pathway to becoming a teacher in Ontario.
“I chose to come to Niagara College because of the NU pathway in the hopes of becoming a teacher,” said Hunter Jeffery, EA&AS student from St. Catharines. “A good teacher can build-up and motivate children to follow their dreams and strive to become a better version of themselves. My goal as a teacher is to use the skills I’ve learned at NC to help create a positive learning experience for children, as I believe elementary teachers play a vital role in supporting children of all abilities.”
Student experience
Throughout NC’s EA&AS program, students are exposed to different opportunities that encourage critical thinking, hands-on learning and collaboration.
“Working with community partners has been an eye-opening experience for me,” said Amis. “Through NC’s partnerships with Variety Village and Bethesda, I’ve been able to meet both adults and children with various disabilities. I’ve learned about the power of inclusion and witnessed the resilience of people with both physical and intellectual disabilities when they have the right support and people in their corner.”
EA&AS student Taylor Hynes interacts with a child at Bethesda and NC’s PA Day Camp.
For second-year student Taylor Hynes, her experience in the program has inspired her to further her education at York University where she will be pursuing her BA in Educational Studies this September.
“As someone who struggled in school, I never thought that I would go to University,” said Hynes. “But since starting at Niagara College, I’ve gained so much confidence and realized that I want to help kids succeed so they don’t have the same experience I had in elementary school. Niagara College has given me the skills and the ability to further my education so I can make a difference as a future teacher.”
NC’s EA&AS program prepares students for a successful career by using a wholistic approach to teaching. Students learn about all aspects of caring for individuals with disabilities including a foundational understanding of Ontario legislation, the importance of community supports, communication skills for interacting with other professionals, all in the interest of providing the best support for the individuals they will be working with.
“During my first placement in the program, I was able to use many of the foundational skills we were taught in the classroom,” said Amis. “Not only did I get to witness the things that our professors talk about, but I was able to use my skills to help the students when they were experiencing a difficult situation. It’s amazing how much of a difference you can make in someone’s life in such a short amount of time, and I’ll always be grateful for the experience.”
