This article looks at Centennial College's Developmental Services Worker program, which takes two years to complete and includes a combination of practical application, theory and off-campus experiences in the form of field placements.

1. Developmental Services Workers Play Essential
Role in Society
There are questions you can ask yourself to determine if a certain field is for
you. Those interested in developmental service work should ask themselves
questions such as: Do you have an interest in helping others? Do you like to
work with other people? Is working as part of a team something you enjoy?
Do you have a caring attitude? Is social justice and social change an area of
interest? If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, this field may be for you.
Developmental services workers are employed in a range of roles that
include: residential counselors in group homes and supported independent
living situations, support workers in day programs offering life-skills
training, educational assistants in schools, vocational support workers or job
coaches in work situations, employment support, integration facilitator,
residential services and recreational program coordinators.
In one way or another, these roles involve:
• Promoting and mainstreaming health and well-being of clients
• Promoting the development of inclusive communities in which clients
with developmental disabilities are active members
• Identifying and using personal development resources and activities
that promote professional growth
• Facilitating the development of everyday skills
• Providing support with respectful and empowering approaches
Through Centennial College’s Developmental Services Worker program,
students can obtain the training they need to enter the field. This takes two
years to achieve and results in an Ontario College Diploma.
Because the program’s curriculum reflects current issues and developments,
it is often revisited and revised. Currently, the offering is focusing on
understanding the nature of intellectual disabilities, personal support
requirements and techniques, communication and facilitation skills, critical
and reflective thinking, team skills, time management and accessing
resources.
Students attend theoretical courses as well as practical application courses
that include a range of activities to help them become familiar with topics
and scenarios they may face in the field. Among the hands-on aspects of
the program are: projects, seminars, community observations, Internet
searches, teamwork and electronic communication.

2. In addition to the training they receive on campus, students experience the
real world during their time in the program. This is made possible through
field placements. The program contains supervised field placements in
semester three (two days per week) and semester four (three days per
week).
Not only can students who successfully complete the program launch
careers in the previously mentioned roles but, should they wish, they can
also continue their educations. Qualified graduates may be eligible to
participate in programs at partnership institutions that allow them to apply
academic credit towards further study. This program’s partner is Ryerson
University. Graduates with a B grade average or better can apply to
Ryerson’s two-year post-diploma degree completion program, Bachelor of
Applied Arts in Disability Studies.