CICE empowering individuals with learning challenges to discover their full potential
The Community Integration through Cooperative Education (CICE) program is in its third year of operation at Fanshawe and is only expecting the number of students to grow. CICE is a specialized two-year certificate program that encourages students with developmental disabilities, acquired brain injuries and other significant learning challenges in furthering their education and helping integrate them into a work field of choice. Robin Frkovic, the program co-ordinator of CICE, said the college is increasing their student intake every term.
“We’ve got people coming from all over the province to attend the program.” She said CICE is already offered in 11 other colleges in Ontario and that the demand is only increasing.
Each student that is accepted into the program receives a unique and custom learning opportunity in an area of interest. Over the two years of studies, students enroll in eight integrated courses, six CICE seminar courses, three electives and attend three field placements. The CICE specific seminar courses assist students in transitioning to college, fieldwork, college technology and employment. Frkovic thinks that the seminar courses would benefit any student whether CICE or not. “They cover things like organization skills, self-awareness, employment skills, time-management and test taking skills.” At the end of the two years, students receive an Ontario College Certificate in CICE and graduate with hands-on experience in their desired career field.
The main focus in meeting criteria for enrollment is that the student requires curriculum modification to be successful in school. Fanshawe has a team of Learning Facilitators that engage students by learning the material with them in-class, and then modify the curriculum to meet each individual students’ needs and strengths.
Each Learning Facilitator is experienced in teaching and writing curriculum as well as working with students with disabilities, who have acquired brain injuries, or experience specific learning challenges. Frkovic said, “Flexibility and a sense of humor is always good too.”
There are no limitations to what a person can do and CICE helps students believe in themselves and their abilities to reach their goals.
“If we have somebody in early childhood education, they can be a day-care assistance. Somebody in culinary could become a prep cook. We have a student in photography and they could certainly become a photographer or photographer assistant. There are lots of opportunities.”
Frkovic said she loves what she does and is blessed to be a part of watching people realizing their dreams and their potential.
“Just watching the self-esteem and confidence of the students grow from the day they walk into the program to the day they leave is better than anything a book could ever achieve. We all on our team consider it a privilege to be a part of the journey with the student and it is something we are grateful for everyday. We really have a devoted team for our students that are definitely in this field for a reason.”
CICE’s graduating class of the 2016-2017 school year walks the stage in June and the program is accepting 12 new students in the fall of 2017-2018.
“We’ve got people coming from all over the province to attend the program.” She said CICE is already offered in 11 other colleges in Ontario and that the demand is only increasing.
Each student that is accepted into the program receives a unique and custom learning opportunity in an area of interest. Over the two years of studies, students enroll in eight integrated courses, six CICE seminar courses, three electives and attend three field placements. The CICE specific seminar courses assist students in transitioning to college, fieldwork, college technology and employment. Frkovic thinks that the seminar courses would benefit any student whether CICE or not. “They cover things like organization skills, self-awareness, employment skills, time-management and test taking skills.” At the end of the two years, students receive an Ontario College Certificate in CICE and graduate with hands-on experience in their desired career field.
The main focus in meeting criteria for enrollment is that the student requires curriculum modification to be successful in school. Fanshawe has a team of Learning Facilitators that engage students by learning the material with them in-class, and then modify the curriculum to meet each individual students’ needs and strengths.
Each Learning Facilitator is experienced in teaching and writing curriculum as well as working with students with disabilities, who have acquired brain injuries, or experience specific learning challenges. Frkovic said, “Flexibility and a sense of humor is always good too.”
There are no limitations to what a person can do and CICE helps students believe in themselves and their abilities to reach their goals.
“If we have somebody in early childhood education, they can be a day-care assistance. Somebody in culinary could become a prep cook. We have a student in photography and they could certainly become a photographer or photographer assistant. There are lots of opportunities.”
Frkovic said she loves what she does and is blessed to be a part of watching people realizing their dreams and their potential.
“Just watching the self-esteem and confidence of the students grow from the day they walk into the program to the day they leave is better than anything a book could ever achieve. We all on our team consider it a privilege to be a part of the journey with the student and it is something we are grateful for everyday. We really have a devoted team for our students that are definitely in this field for a reason.”
CICE’s graduating class of the 2016-2017 school year walks the stage in June and the program is accepting 12 new students in the fall of 2017-2018.
