Join VAD as Teresa talks with Gillian Luff-Schieman and William Hamilton from Norquest College. We discuss programs and accommodations as well as some interesting facts about the college.
Join VAD as Teresa talks with Gillian Luff-Schieman and William Hamilton from Norquest College. We discuss programs and accommodations as well as some interesting facts about the college.
00:00:00 Teresa
Welcome to the voice of Albertans with Disabilities, AKA Vad Societies Podcast for August 2022 I'm Teresa Jackson, your host and VADS program and service manager.
00:00:11 Teresa
Thanks for joining us today.
00:00:13 Teresa
As you may know from my past podcast VAD has started meeting with our members to learn about the resources that are available to our individual.
00:00:20 Teresa
Members and within the disability community.
00:00:23 Teresa
In today's podcast, I'll be talking with Gillian Luff Schieman, a senior student recruiter and the manager of Disability Services at NorQuest College, William Hamilton.
00:00:34 Teresa
NorQuest believes with the strength of a NorQuest college education.
00:00:38 Teresa
Learners have the skills and confidence to further their studies begin.
00:00:42 Teresa
New careers provide better lives for their families and make valuable contributions to society.
00:00:48 Teresa
I wanted to get Gillian and William on the show to share their knowledge and talk about NorQuest together.
00:00:53 Teresa
We hold the power.
00:00:54
Hello you too.
00:00:56 Teresa
How are you?
00:00:58 Gillian
Hello, thank you.
00:01:00 Gillian
Yeah, thank you so much for having us we're.
00:01:02 Gillian
Doing good I think.
00:01:05 Teresa
Awesome, Can you take a moment and briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your roles with NorQuest?
00:01:10 Gillian
Sure, do you want to go first William?
00:01:11 William
William sure OK.
00:01:13 William
My name is William Hamilton.
00:01:15 William
I'm the manager.
00:01:15 William
Accessibility services at NorQuest College, so our mission statement kind of our motto is you work with students with disabilities and help them become more independent and effective learners.
00:01:26 William
The approach that we take sometimes.
00:01:28 William
The approach we take is look you're here.
00:01:30 William
You made it.
00:01:31 William
To NorQuest, because you're awesome, you've got strengths.
00:01:34 William
You've got skills.
00:01:35 William
How do we help you take those skills and do whatever you gotta do or it's writing?
00:01:39 William
Essays how do we help you?
00:01:41 William
Take those skills to write the essay if.
00:01:43 William
It's do you know lab?
00:01:46 William
Reports how do you help you take those skills and do it?
00:01:48 William
That's the approach that we do, and it's just absolutely not cluttered it to work with the people that I work with to help build those students in this way.
00:01:59 Gillian
OK yeah, so I'm Gillian.
00:02:01 Gillian
I'm the senior student recruiter on the student recruitment team at NorQuest.
00:02:06 Gillian
And part of my job is to actually go out into the community and meet community members and prospective students for NorQuest and talk to them about NorQuest and help them figure out if NorQuest is the right path to reach their educational and career goals.
00:02:21 Gillian
So we do that for a variety of different methods, including presentations.
00:02:26 Gillian
Meetings we do.
00:02:27 Gillian
Campus tours.
00:02:29 Gillian
We host our annual open houses at the college where we put on monthly webinars.
00:02:34 Gillian
So it's all about engaging the community and talking to people about NorQuest and helping them figure out if if NorQuest is the right.
00:02:41 Gillian
Next step for them.
00:02:42 Teresa
Yeah, it's great interaction, thanks guys.
00:02:44 Gillian
Thank you.
00:02:45 Teresa
Your website states.
00:02:47 Teresa
We understand that our learners come with varying levels of education and we assist them at the time and places that meets their needs.
00:02:55 Teresa
Whether that is in the classroom via distance learning or continuing education, can you tell us more about the programs that are offered at NortQuest?
00:03:04 Gillian
Yeah, so I can kind of start off there. NorQuest offers over 45 different programs and we offer programs that really are all about meeting people where they're at and helping them reach their goal.
00:03:16 Gillian
Walls, so we're well known for a lot of our certificate and diploma programs.
00:03:20 Gillian
Those are the college level programs in health, business, community studies, environment and technology, but we also have a lot of preparatory programs as well, so programs that prepare students for further education or prepare them for employment.
00:03:36 Gillian
So things like English language training courses and programs.
00:03:40 Gillian
Times we have a very large academic upgrading program, so offering those Alberta Education high school courses we have some really great employment certificates, including our transitions to employment program, which is a 10 month certificate designed for individuals with mild developmental disabilities, which has been just a game
00:04:00 Gillian
Changer for a lot of students and helping them break into the workforce and and gain that independence.
00:04:06 Gillian
We have other programs like Dayhome Provider Certificate, and Apprenticeship Prep.
00:04:10 Gillian
We have continuing education courses and programs like flight attendant, foundations of cooking, so there's kind of a program at NorQuest for everybody.
00:04:19 Gillian
Depending on what your goals are, and even if you have a goal in mind and you don't necessarily need it just yet, we offer programs that can help you get there.
00:04:28 Gillian
So, like I said, we're all about meeting you where you're at.
00:04:30 Gillian
And supporting you and helping you reach your goals.
00:04:33 Teresa
What kind of resources does a college offer for students with disabilities?
00:04:37 William
Yeah, that's a question I can speak to.
00:04:40 William
So there's a couple of.
00:04:41 William
Resources a couple of services like the.
00:04:43 William
Play started off with one that students would probably encounter earlier.
00:04:49 William
That's our accessibility advisors.
00:04:51 William
So accessibility advisors they work with.
00:04:53 William
Students to help set up their accommodation plan.
00:04:55 William
Hey, I'm a new student.
00:04:57 William
What accommodations would work for me?
00:04:59 William
That discussion starts with with an advisor.
00:05:02 William
Students can.
00:05:02 William
Always come back.
00:05:04 William
If their classes changed, their accommodation needs change no problem.
00:05:08 William
We could always continue that.
00:05:09 William
Carseat, not sort, starts with the advisors.
00:05:12 William
Vials would also help students with things like submitting an application for schedule 4 funding, which is available to postsecondary students who have expressed disability or if students need help procuring documentation, the advisors are whose students would give documentation to, and if someone says, hey, I have documentations.
00:05:32 William
It's out of date.
00:05:33 William
But I'm not really sure what the.
00:05:35 William
First step is to update it.
00:05:36 William
It no problem.
00:05:38 William
Accessibility advisor can help you with that.
00:05:40 William
The second areaI'd like to highlight is actually or sign language interpreters.
00:05:44 William
We have a group of permanent interpreters.
00:05:47 William
We hire casuals as well.
00:05:49 William
These individuals interpret spoken English.
00:05:53 William
And ASL back and forth.
00:05:55 William
The, an interpreter
00:05:57 William
Can go with the student into their class, whether it's in person or or
00:06:02 William
Online interpreters can also go with students to things like if they have a meeting, they're going to see an instructor during office hours or they have a meeting with someone from the office of the Registrar, not a problem.
00:06:14 William
Our society interpreters can go there so they can follow the student.
00:06:17 William
As the student does the various things that they do, it's not.
00:06:20 William
Only a classroom thing.
00:06:24 William
#3 would be assistive technology. We have a team of assistive technologists and what they do is they work with students to really dig in, identify the strengths and say hey what technology can we help you learn to use so that you can do what you need to do students?
00:06:42 William
Often have ongoing appointments with assistive technology as they're learning new tech skills.
00:06:48 William
They're learning new ways to use technology, even if it's the same thing they might use it in different ways.
00:06:54 William
The next area to highlight.
00:06:57 William
Is actually regular academic coaching.
00:07:00 William
Appointments, so here students meet with an academic coach.
00:07:04 William
These are individualized sessions.
00:07:07 William
They talk with the students learning journey, you know, celebrate strengths and say, hey, where we now really want to be and Co create learning goals and work and and practice strategies.
00:07:20 William
To help students.
00:07:21 William
Be more successful the last year you really want to highlight.
00:07:25 William
The last thing.
00:07:26 William
I'd really want to know.
00:07:27 William
If I was a steam with disabilities, going to ask him this question in the request is actually accommodated exam services.
00:07:33 William
This provides students with an environment the opportunity to go somewhere.
00:07:39 William
And write an exam in a place with fewer distractions but also a place where there just the technology accommodations are there, like the computers already there.
00:07:49 William
Wonderful, it's an environment where makes it a little bit easier to write with your extra time because it's an environment just for test taking for students with disabilities.
00:07:57 William
This can be done in person, both on the main campus.
00:08:00 William
And in Wetaskiwin it can also be done online and something I should have noted earlier with the other services in person online.
00:08:07 William
Yep, absolutely, we we do both.
00:08:11 William
Is is that helpful in answering your question?
00:08:14 Teresa
Absolutely, that's some useful information, great.
00:08:20 Teresa
What is the intake process?
00:08:21 Teresa
Look for a potential student.
00:08:24 William
Yeah, so I I can speak to speak that at a high level.
00:08:27 William
So, uh, my students looking around and let's say they decide they want.
00:08:31 William
To go to NorQuest on the thier.
00:08:33 William
Apply Alberta application.
00:08:35 William
One of the questions they get asked is hey, I have a disability or I think I might have a disability or have accommodation needs.
00:08:44 William
However, I think you may have if you.
00:08:46 William
Check that box, that's all the.
00:08:48 William
Student needs to do.
00:08:49 William
On the back end.
00:08:50 William
When a student checks that box, someone is going to reach out to them and say, hey, we saw that you checked this box.
00:08:58 William
Can we get you set up with with accessibility services?
00:09:02 William
Can we get you set up with supports?
00:09:05 William
So the students get that call.
00:09:06 William
They get a meeting booked and the first person will probably get to meet with the student navigator.
00:09:11 William
They're going to get some information they're going to get an initial appointment going tp be.
00:09:16 William
walk through how to submit their documentation and that kind of thing.
00:09:20 William
And really importantly is in that meeting the next?
00:09:24 William
Meeting for the student is actually booked, so that's.
00:09:27 William
The next meeting.
00:09:28 William
In this case, it would be with.
00:09:30 William
Accessibility advisor it's built.
00:09:32 William
Over right then.
00:09:33 William
So what we need a student to do is just check that box on the reply overt application someone is going to reach out to you.
00:09:40 William
Somebody is going to call you and then.
00:09:43 William
You're going to get your appointments booked.
00:09:45 William
Kind of you know, each each step goes into the next one.
00:09:48 William
Also wanna highlight what about if .
00:09:51 William
You're already here and you want to register with accessibility services.
00:09:54 William
Maybe you were good in.
00:09:55 William
High school, but oh the workloads a little harder.
00:09:58 William
Maybe your newly diagnosed happens all the time, so if that happens, what students would do?
00:10:06 William
Or or instructors you know, kind of with a student is go to our good
00:10:11 William
Guide, which is kind of part of our about web presence and right there it says, hey, how do I sign up for accessibility services?
00:10:18 William
Click that.
00:10:20 William
And an e-mail pops up.
00:10:22 William
Just give us, give us your name, press send and that initiates the whole process where somebody reaches.
00:10:29 William
Out to you.
00:10:31 William
Yeah, so new student just click that box existing student.
00:10:36 William
Just you know.
00:10:38 William
Press send.
00:10:41 Teresa
Great, so they're going to hit the student navigator 1st and the accessibility advisor second.
00:10:48 William
Absolutely yeah.
00:10:49 William
And of course there are exceptions to that.
00:10:51 William
If the student needs interpreting, then that might happen earlier, but.
00:10:55 William
For most people, most of the time.
00:10:58 William
Teresa, you're absolutely right.
00:10:59 Teresa
That promotes full participation, accessibility and equity in our mandate for services.
00:11:05 Teresa
How do you feel that NorQuest works with those areas of inclusion in the postsecondary?
00:11:10 William
Do you want me to take a run at this first?
00:11:12 Gillian
Please do yeah.
00:11:25 William
OK, cool yeah, accessibility is seen largely as something that the college as a whole has an investment in and is something that the college as a whole has a as a partnership in doing.
An example of that is not that long ago, NorQuest unveiled.
00:11:30 William
A new visual like.
00:11:31 William
A new branding, a new visual identity.
00:11:33 William
Previous to that there was.
00:11:35 William
There was just so much awesome back and forth between my.
00:11:40 William
Crew and the marketing people.
00:11:43 William
To ask questions like OK, how do?
00:11:45 William
We do his.
00:11:45 William
Visual refresh in a way that's accessible.
00:11:48 William
What does it mean to
00:11:49 William
Have a visual identity, that's it that's accessible.
00:11:52 William
Things like the fonts or the color contrast.
00:11:55 William
And I just can't thank the marketing team enough, they really went after this.
00:12:01 William
And it's stuff like.
00:12:03 William
Kate, they incorporated the WCG standards in this way.
00:12:08 William
They did a bunch of research to make sure that this the font the school uses, which by the way, has been kind of pushed out to each computer, just that standard font.
00:12:17 William
It's accessible and I know that there are news like this is very recent, right?
00:12:21 William
So there are new steps to set up some of the other.
00:12:24 William
LSM templates and so on to incorporate that new identity.
00:12:29 William
Which is going.
00:12:29 William
To also progress accessibility and previous, not just another example is NorQuest and partnership with facilities.
00:12:38 William
We did quite a big.
00:12:40 William
Renovation downtown with things like some of the some of the entrance ways and some of the staircases and some of the washrooms.
00:12:48 William
To make sure that.
00:12:50 William
That's printing a built environment that meets accessibility standards.
00:12:54 William
This was done very much in utilization of the CNIB standards.
00:13:00 William
And the feedback that we've gotten from students and employees about both of those, you know, people.
00:13:06 William
Who identify as having.
00:13:07 William
A disability has been just awesome.
00:13:09 William
When we think about that in our request, we also want to keep a couple other things in mind. Each student will request when they write it attached an exam or so on actually has 50% extra time.
00:13:20 William
And this is the result of.
00:13:22 William
You know some udl thinking which is very much.
00:13:27 William
You know overlaps and certain amount of overlap.
00:13:29 William
Sorry is part of inclusion and think all the students that helps students whose maybe they're they're here in the first language is in English, so just that that extra bit of time.
00:13:37 William
But that's just built in, by the way, that's just build something that I don't things come up yet is actually the autism can tech program.
00:13:45 William
This we work very closely with them.
00:13:47 William
Really they do just awesome work and what it is.
00:13:50 William
It's a six month program.
00:13:52 William
It is geared for individuals who are who are on the spectrum youth and the outcome is they commonly do the six months course to gain employment in the new digital content.
00:14:07 William
Cantec works really closely with employee partners to help the student transition into.
00:14:12 William
That employment part of their training with with Kent.
00:14:16 Gillian
I wanted to just add on a little bit that was amazing.
00:14:18 Gillian
Thank you William.
00:14:19 Gillian
I wanted to add on a little bit just about how NorQuest has tried to make post secondary more accessible to everyone and we've kind of got a few new initiatives that we've undertaken.
00:14:30 Gillian
Some of them are initiatives with the indigenous populations to make post secondary more accessible.
00:14:35 Gillian
And to work.
00:14:36 Gillian
Towards reconciliation.
00:14:37 Gillian
And so in that regard, we have our indigenous admissions process, which is we're prioritizing seats in our programs for indigenous learners.
00:14:46 Gillian
Another thing is we now have an application fee.
00:14:49 Gillian
waiver for our indigenous learners, so typically, depending on the program that you apply to, there is an application fee built in, but we now are able to waive that for any indigenous.
00:14:59 Gillian
learner as well as a tuition deposit waiver as well.
00:15:02 Gillian
We recognize that coming up with that tuition deposit can often be a barrier.
00:15:06 Gillian
For some of.
00:15:07 Gillian
Our indigenous learners, so we're happy to offer a tuition deposit waiver as well.
00:15:11 Gillian
So just different ways to make post-secondary more accessible.
00:15:14 Gillian
We have a new admissions opportunity called open admissions pathway.
00:15:19 Gillian
That exists currently for six of our programs, and I do foresee that kind of being applied to more programs in the future.
00:15:26 Gillian
But essentially if students don't meet the stated admission requirements for their program of.
00:15:31 Gillian
choice they can pursue the open admissions pathway, which will allow them to take three courses from their program, as long as they get a grade of C or higher in each of those courses.
00:15:41 Gillian
Then we will admit them to their program, even if they don't have the stated admission requirements.
00:15:45 Gillian
So we understand that people come to us with varying backgrounds, different educational history.
00:15:51 Gillian
From different countries and we know that this kind of 1 size fits all education just doesn't work for everybody.
00:15:57 Gillian
So the open admissions pathway is a really great opportunity for people to get admission to their program of choice and be able to prove that they can be successful even if they don't meet those stated admission requirements so.
00:16:10 Gillian
Just a few other ways that NorQuest is working to make postsecondary education more accessible.
00:16:16 Teresa
I was just wondering about your preparatory programs.
00:16:19 Teresa
You've mentioned 2 already.
00:16:21 Teresa
The can tech autism can tech and I've forgotten the first one that you mentioned there Gillian, that.
00:16:26 Gillian
Was it the transitions to employment, perhaps?
00:16:28 Teresa
Transitions to have fun.
00:16:29 Teresa
Do you have other preparatory type?
00:16:32 Teresa
Programs that are like those two.
00:16:35 Gillian
So those are the two that are specifically designed for individuals with disabilities, but we do have absolutely other preparatory programs, including day home provider, which is designed for English language learners to prepare them to work in childcare facilities or to run their own day home.
00:16:52 Gillian
Facility and so that has a lower level English proficiency requirement because it is designed for those English language learners, there's also funding government funding available for that program, including as well the transitions to employment program.
00:17:06 Gillian
Has government funding available so eligible low income students are able to access funding to pay for these
00:17:12 Gillian
Programs we also have an apprenticeship prep program which is designed to prepare participants to enter into an apprenticeship prep, prepare them to write the apprenticeship entrance exam and also sets them up with a 3 month work experience in the trade of their choice.
00:17:29 Gillian
And then our other preparatory programs include link which is language instruction for newcomers to Canada.
00:17:34 Gillian
Our ESL intensive program.
00:17:36 Gillian
So English is a second language and our academic upgrading as well.
00:17:40 Gillian
So we have quite a few preparatory programs that prepare students either for employment or for the next stage of their life, or to continue on to postsecondary.
00:17:49 Gillian
Education, whether that be at NorQuest or at another college or university.
00:17:54 Teresa
What is an interesting fact about NorQuest that everyone should know?
00:17:59 Gillian
I think that there's probably quite a lot.
00:18:01 Gillian
I have a couple there, maybe one that I can share and then maybe William if you have one that you wanted to share to.
00:18:07 Gillian
One thing that I think is really great to know about NorQuest is that all of our programs are developed and maintained with consultation and feedback from industry.
00:18:18 Gillian
From business and from the public sector so students can be confident that the education that they're receiving is actually.
00:18:27 Gillian
It's actually preparing them for the type of work that they're going to be doing after they graduate, so they can be confident that their education is timely and it's relevant, and they're going to be able to go out into the workforce and be successful after they graduate.
00:18:42 Gillian
And another great thing about NorQuest is that we build practicums, or, you know, clinical placements.
00:18:47 Gillian
Or work experiences into the majority of our programs so NorQuest.
00:18:52 Gillian
Is very much about being workforce relevant and wanting to prepare students for the workforce.
00:18:57 Gillian
So like I said, they can be confident that their education is going to accurately prepare them for that career, and they're actually going to get that hands on training while they're still a student, which is really great for employment purposes.
00:19:10 Gillian
Great experience to put on your resume.
00:19:12 Gillian
Gives you that competitive advantage when looking for work.
00:19:15 Gillian
So really I think that workforce relevance of NortQuest programs is.
00:19:19 Gillian
I don't know if it's an interesting fact, but I think it's something important for people to know about NorQuest.
00:19:25 Teresa
Strengthen yourself for you.
00:19:25 William
Yeah, you look better on the journey was saying just did just an awesome job providing an overview of the diversity of programming.
00:19:35 William
That's that that that that's offering so to me.
00:19:37 William
The interesting fact.
00:19:38 William
But NorQuest is that.
00:19:40 William
There's prop is.
00:19:41 William
Hey, if you want to go to post secondary.
00:19:42 William
There's probably something here for.
00:19:44 William
You Gilliam described like hey there.
00:19:46 William
Opportunities for someone in Link and ESL and TP and academic upgrading and post secondary and Fbad etc etc.
00:19:56 William
And if we take that we also see a similar thing in the students.
00:20:00 William
Or so subsided things.
00:20:02 William
Kate, you need extra assistance 'cause you're posting with disabilities.
00:20:07 William
We got you no problem.
00:20:08 William
Maybe you're someone who wants to connect with the indigenous student center done.
00:20:13 William
There's a, the Center for both and harmony.
00:20:16 William
Also does some awesome work, as does the library as is the office of the Registrar, et cetera, et cetera.
00:20:22 William
So to me, an interesting fact.
00:20:24 William
It's the broadness of the diversity.
00:20:26 William
Of opportunities and supports for students.
00:20:29 William
If you're interested in something, you will probably find it here.
00:20:33 William
And if you're looking for some support in, fill in the blank, you're probably going to find that here too.
00:20:39 William
And I I do.
00:20:41 William
Think that's why when our students graduate, they often do want to keep keep in touch with us.
00:20:47 William
Which I think is just awesome.
00:20:49 William
And that's something that we're.
00:20:50 William
Really quite proud of so to me.
00:20:51 William
That's the interesting fact.
00:20:53 Teresa
Those are both great bits of information.
00:20:55 Teresa
Good job guys.
00:20:56 Teresa
Can you tell our listeners how to get ahold of you at the college if they want more information?
00:21:02 Gillian
Yeah, so I can certainly give the student recruitment contact information, so if you're thinking about a program you want some more information, maybe you want to come for a tour of the college.
00:21:13 Gillian
Or maybe you want to check out one of our events like our open house That's coming up on October 22nd. Definitely connect with student recruitment.
00:21:22 Gillian
So our e-mail is student.recruiters@NorQuest.ca and our phone number is 780-644-5927.
00:21:34 Gillian
In so that would be the best way to connect with student recruitment and we're a great first stop for you when you're exploring your programs.
00:21:42 Gillian
If you want some advice on how to apply, if you need information regarding funding opportunities, we're absolutely available to help with that, so that would be a good first stop for any.
00:21:52 Gillian
Of your listeners.
00:21:53 Teresa
Student recruitment then.
00:21:55 Teresa
The student navigator, then the accessible advisors.
00:21:59 Gillian
Yeah, there's lots of people to support you.
00:22:02 Teresa
Sounds like there is.
00:22:04 Teresa
Is there anything else you want our listeners to know about NorQuest College?
00:22:09 Gillian
Ooh, that's a good.
00:22:10 Gillian
Question, yeah, I think I would just say you know, I think a lot of times people can feel discouraged by post-secondary.
00:22:18 Gillian
It can be a little bit intimidating.
00:22:21 Gillian
You know.
00:22:22 Gillian
There's lots of new processes to figure out when navigating post-secondary education, but like William, I and I have talked about.
00:22:28 Gillian
NorQuest is accessible to you regardless of where you're at in your journey, and we are going to work to ensure that you can be successful.
00:22:38 Gillian
Yeah, I think that that would be the biggest thing about NorQuest that I would just want to drive drive home to people and just take the first step.
00:22:45 Gillian
Reach out to us, even if you're not sure what you want to do.
00:22:48 Gillian
That's our job is to help you explore your options and help you find out if this is the right place for you.
00:22:53 Gillian
And like I mentioned, even if your goal is to go elsewhere, maybe you want.
00:22:57 Gillian
To eventually go to the uofa.
00:22:58 Gillian
Or mcewen university.
00:23:00 Gillian
We have university transfer programs so you can start at a smaller Community College setting.
00:23:05 Gillian
Take advantage of our small class.
00:23:07 Gillian
Size is kind of have that.
00:23:09 Gillian
Take that first step into post-secondary and a little bit more of a welcoming kind of community environment.
00:23:14 Gillian
And then we're going to help prepare you to transfer on.
00:23:17 Gillian
So just I know I've mentioned it already, but just saying, you know, regardless of where you're at in your educational journey, you didn't finish high school.
00:23:24 Gillian
Or if you have a university degree from another country.
00:23:27 Gillian
We have opportunities that can support you for sure.
00:23:31 Teresa
Perfect and anytime any final.
00:23:34 Teresa
Thoughts for yourself for yourself WIlliam.
00:23:35 William
You know, I think my final thought would be if someone is thinking of taking the plunge, whether it's an orchestral or anywhere where I'd really encourage people to attend open house to attend open house for NorQuest, but for other places to attend open house, talk to some people get.
00:23:53 William
Get that more.
00:23:54 William
Information get a feel for the place.
00:23:57 William
And I think that could really help people get a sense of what's right for them.
00:24:02 William
I know we love doing open house.
00:24:03 William
We always have a lot.
00:24:04 William
Of students.
00:24:05 William
Stop by and have.
00:24:07 William
A lot of dialogue with them and.
00:24:09 William
Kind of make.
00:24:10 William
That human connection, right?
00:24:11 William
As you can see people you can talk to people.
00:24:14 William
You can ask those questions.
00:24:15 William
We're like, well, I have a question.
00:24:17 William
I'm not really.
00:24:17 William
Sure how to ask.
00:24:18 William
It or have a question.
00:24:20 William
Or really know what it is.
00:24:22 William
Awesome, let's figure it.
00:24:23 William
Out, let's work through it.
00:24:25 William
So that would be kind of my parting thought is if you're thinking of doing it, whether it's here anywhere, go to.
00:24:31 William
The open houses.
00:24:32 William
I it is a lot of.
00:24:33 William
Time, but put that time in 'cause.
00:24:36 William
I, I think that.
00:24:36 William
Can really be valuable.
00:24:37 Teresa
Great advice, thank you both for your time and energy today.
00:24:42 Teresa
Your support of the Community is a value to all.
00:24:46 Teresa
NorQuest College is an organizational member of that and the link to their website can be accessed on our membership list online.
00:24:53 Teresa
Individuals looking to access VAD members can do so at our new inclusive website vadsociety.ca under our resource directory. Thank you again, both to William and Gillian.
00:25:05 Teresa
For joining VAD’s podcasts, voice of Albertans with disabilities across disability nonprofit organization ov and for people with disabilities.
00:25:14 Teresa
We are guided by the principles of accessibility, equity and inclusion. Learn more about our services on our website or call 780-488-9088 for more information.
00:25:27 Teresa
If you have a topic you would.
00:25:28 Teresa
Like to hear.
00:25:29 Teresa
More about in a podcast, please e-mail Teresa at vad at vadsociety.ca with topic.
00:25:34 Teresa
Ideas, speech, speaker suggestions or your feedback?
00:25:39 Teresa
Signing off for today together we hold the power.