Supporting Educational Assistant Co-operative Education Supports

For the 2024-25 school year, the Ministry of Education has provided Cooperative Education Supports for Students with Disabilities funding which allows districts to provide targeted support to students with disabilities to pursue cooperative education credits within a variety of placement opportunities. Across the Durham District School Board (DDSB) this funding has been used to secure a dedicated Co-op Central Educational Assistant (EA). 

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To date, the Central Co-op Support EA has connected with 130 students across the district, working regularly with 20 students to support them directly in their placements. The goal is to make a positive impact, problem solve, and enhance the experience for students who may be anxious about entering the workplace, getting to their workplace by transit, or are struggling throughout their placement. Individualized support is provided to students to assist with pre-placement work, communication skills, workplace etiquette, completion of logs and reflections, and offering support to employers to help meet the needs of students. Our central EA is also being booked with schools to help support students on integration days and doing transit training and placement preparation. Feedback from both teachers and students has been positive.