EDS has become involved in a number of ventures, which provide revenues for EDS that can be used for the provision of services. These ventures have also created a number of job opportunities for EDS participants. For each of these ventures, EDS has designated a certain number of positions and are paid competitive salaries and benefits. The following are examples of such ventures: SARCAN and contract work for other agencies or companies.

The Day Program is designed for individuals who have limited motor and sensory development. Programming stresses daily living skills, communication, computer programs, healthy living and socialization rather than vocational skills. However, some activities may be of a vocational nature. There is a pre-employment aspect to the Day Program as it is a first introduction to a structured work environment. We work on computer skills, time management and hygiene. Productive aspects are secondary to the primary goal of developing sufficient social competence to maximize an individual’s potential in the community.

The Resource Centre offers continued learning of day to day life skills for our participants in a comfortable private setting. Every person helps create their own learning plan with goals. Each person has many choices to choose from like reading, writing, computers, money, and other daily living skills. We see growth in their confidence and skills because of this program. Human Rights is our main concern. EDS took the Rights of the participants seriously by creating a Human Rights book called, “Your Life, Your Rights”. The book is written in Clear Language, meaning words that we know or will be able to understand. There is a picture for each Human Right to help people think about it. EDS participants took part in every piece of the book project and learned about their Rights along the way. Most importantly, they are still learning everyday that they have Human Rights, too!

Your Life, Your Rights - BOOK LINK

The Vocational Centre involves the manufacture and sale of goods and services to the public. Here individuals are provided training in a more production oriented setting and they become more familiar with the responsibilities of a job. We provide the basic concepts of work and responsibility, with the plan that these skills may aid in the transition towards greater independence. The aim is to provide work experience which may be transferable to other settings.

Supported Employment Services provide employment for individuals, off site from EDS facilities, but with adequate support to enable clients to handle the job and the independence it brings. With supports we believe that our clients are able to handle the challenges and benefits of paid employment. Participants in this program may earn minimum wage or more.

The Supportive Apartment Program provides individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to become more integrated members of society, and at the same time promotes positive community attitudes regarding the person’s capability and right to live independently. Staff provides support to the participants in this program. The program shall be administered in such a way as to enhance the self-dignity and self-sufficiency of the participants.

The Supportive Independent Living Program is the final program on the continuum of supported residential programs. SILP provides individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to become more integrated members of society, and at the same time promotes positive community attitudes regarding the person’s capability and right to live independently. SILP provides staff support to clients who live in and maintain their own apartments. The program shall be administered in such a way as to enhance the self-dignity and self-sufficiency of the participants. The program focuses on encouraging our clients to participate more fully in community life, i.e. churches, restaurants, and the use of leisure facilities. The program focuses on nutrition, cooking programs, budgeting, attitudes, relationships and hygiene depending on the needs of the individual.