Inclusions East Inc.

by Stella Shepard

Inclusions East Inc. offers many services to those with intellectual and/or dual disabilities in Kings County including employment services such as needs assessment, case management, employment readiness, job search, job coaching, and other services. They also have a training centre, community support, and residential services, with several locations in Montague.

Earlier this year, Inclusions East officially opened its new training centre location. The single-floor accessible building is spacious, with wide doorways, well-marked flooring, and bright natural light.

“Our Phase 1 training centre is fully accessible with newer equipment, a large modernized commercial kitchen, industrial arts area, including a larger woodworking space, ceramics room with a kiln, and laser engraving as well as other activity spaces and our Community rooms,” says Nancy Anderson, Executive Director of Inclusions East.

“With the larger space, we are now able to take on additional projects in a safe manner. We introduced a laser engraver to our program services and we can now engrave promotional items for sale, giftware, and company items, for example.”

Inclusions East offers daily programming, functional skills training, and vocational training in a commercial kitchen and woodworking shop. “The clients transitioned to the new location well and are so excited to be in the new facility.”

Woodworking shop: “The new workshop has natural light and a finishing room,” says Nancy. “The clients can now work on larger projects available for sale. It provides vocational skills training, a creative outlet for the clients, and a source of unique, hand-made products for the community.”

Bakery and catering: “The staff and clients who work in our kitchen pride themselves on the quality of their home-style baking and catering,” says Nancy. “Their products have earned a very positive reputation in our community and allow us to also support small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) of our areas through standing orders and contracts.

“The new commercial kitchen is much larger and brighter, with stainless steel equipment, a future gluten-free area, and extensive pantry space.”

Residential Services serve 35 individuals through a spectrum of support models from several locations providing 24-7 care to clients.

Other services:

The Kingswood outlet at the Down East Mall in Montague is operated by clients. Staff provide employment training to clients and sell products from their bakery and workshop.

“We offer a larger variety of products for sale at the Outlet, which allows us to test out the viability of new products, greeted by our great staff.”

Day programming through Second Degree and Skills Development

“Personal development is our focus through both of these programs,” says Nancy. “We offer many skills and activities to engage and help clients grow and gain independence. Clients participate in community placements, seasonal projects, recycling, wellness programs, and life enrichment activities.

Community Support offers a flexible and often customized service as a bridge to other services. Staff assist clients in attending community events and participating in recreational activities.

Employment Services

“Providing assistance throughout Kings County from staff in both our Montague and Souris offices to find and maintain employment for clients through Outreach or involved with Kingswood Centre gives clients purpose and self-worth by being part of the community, which is every citizen’s right,” says Nancy.

“We have talented, hard-working clients who demonstrate each and every day their potential and work in partnership with employers who are quite pleased to have them as their employees whether part-time or full-time, depending on the needs of both the employer and the employee.”

About the staff

“We have more than 70 full-time and part-time staff,” says Nancy. “Most staff are Direct Support Workers assisting our clients in many capacities through employment, daily living, and training.”

Future hiring needs

“We currently have several positions with flexibility in some positions to suit a changing labour market. Expansion in our Residential Services to serve individuals through a spectrum of support models from several locations will require hiring more 24-hour support staff.

“We hire as needed,” says Nancy. “As we expand in many of our divisions, we will be hiring more Direct Support Workers with the development of Phase Two.”