Human Service Worker Program
"Qut of sight...out of mind”.

As recently as a decade ago, the mentally
handicapped person was, in many ways, still
viewed with this attitude.

However, in the past few years, it seems
that an awareness of the mentally handi-
capped person as an integral part of our
society has begun to flourish.

As a result of this increasing ‘change in
attitude’, there emerged a growing need for
trained people to work with the mentally
handicapped. In 1980, Douglas College re-
sponded to this need by introducing a new
program....the Human Service Worker - Mental
Retardation Program.

The Program, which is considered to be the
most extensive in B.C. and the only one of
its scope in the Lower Mainland, trains its
Students to ‘help the client help himself’.

The ‘client', as most handicapped people are
now referred to, varies...from mildly to
severely handicapped.

"The student has to be able to work with the
whole range of handicapped persons that
they'1] come in contact with" says Faculty
Person in Charge, Richard Norman.

From health care to leisure time activities,
the students are taught a variety of theory
and skills in the classroom.

"The students then have an opportunity to
apply their classroom knowledge to the ‘real
world'" Norman says.

The 'real world', to the students, is termed
a practicum, and the setting ranges from
that of an institutional environment to a
sheltered workshop, group home or other
special educational training program.

“The focus of the program is community ser-
vices. Our students are trained to work
directly with the client, under the super-
vision of professionals, in the various com-

 

Mad Hatter Page 4

. - an in
munity service settings as well as the
‘institution'" says Norman. |

|

Having both full and part-time enrollment,
the Human Service Worker Program “attempts —
to give the student a complete experience"
Norman explains. |

"The student has to blend the acquired
classroom skills with the reality of the
actual working environment. By doing this,
they get the well-rounded education in

this field that they need" Norman cae
During their practicums, a number of which
are required before completing the program,
the students keep weekly contact with their
instructor.

 

The College's program works very closely |
with such associations as the Simon Fraser |
Society for Mentally Handicapped People,

and the Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond and |
Ridge Meadows Associations for Mentally |
Handicapped People, as well as various day-—
care centres, schools and other agencies
which provide services to mentally handi-
capped persons and their families.

ing and in spite of the current economy
"the employment rate of the students has
been excellent" says Norman.

From one student's point of view, the pro-
gram is well worth it..."there is still so
much that can be done to help integrate the |
mentally handicapped person into the com- |
munity...to help them function more on |
their own" she says, "and I see my role as |
a challenge to try to do just that".

The interest in the program has been grow-
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Library Closure

The Library will be closed all day Wednes-
day, May 18 for Library Professional Dev- |
elopment. If anything is needed for that |
|
|

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day, please contact in advance:

Mary Matthews local 212]
or

Corky McIntyre local 212]