Finally, the ATS tour took place last week. The reason that the tour was conducted so late in the semester was because there many participants in the tour, some were UC students from various departments and colleges, some were new employees of ATS and some came from companies that fund ATS. It was a pretty mixed crowd and thus it took some effort and time for the ATS staff to get everyone together.
The tour started with all of us gathering at the Teacher's College, which is the main administrative building for ATS. After a short introduction we were taken to the presentation room and given a short presentation on ATS, how it started,how it runs, current student body, events employment opportunities etc. Our tour guide was Ms.Doyle who is a doctoral student ATS and is in her 3rd year. To our delight she was joined by a current ATS student Steve, who has been associated with this institute for the past 2 years and has another 2 years left to graduate. Honestly speaking I am yet to meet another person who can be as articulate as Steve. Ms.Doyle graciously let Steve take over the lead of the tour and that I feel was a great idea as it made all the more difference to see the institute from a student's perspective.
The ATS offices and classrooms are spread across the UC campus. The work from the College of Education and the Edward Center. We were informed that this was done intentionally so that the students who suffer developmental disabilities can learn how to browse through the campus independently. We were shown there work stations where they make dog biscuits and sell at a local brewery and it looked amazing. This is actually a part of the vocational training that they get in ATS which prepares them for future employment. I learnt these students also do a lot of work at the back end of the cafeteria at TUC like delivering fresh vegetables , meat etc. Some students also work at the Rec Center.All in all I feel that the institute has done an amazing in indulging the students in various campus activities.
I feel one of the highlights of the tour was to visit the ATS apartments at Stratford Heights. ATS has formed the apartments into dormitory for the students to live there independently. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well the students manage to live by themselves, doing all kind of daily activities on their own.
After this tour I honestly feel that ATS is doing much more than just educating it's students. It is teaching it's students how to live life independently, which honestly I feel many of us, who do not suffer from any disabilities, lack.
Recent Comments