Host Chapter: Central Office, Cape Breton Region, Truro • Categories: Children and Youth
Community Leadership
Community Leadership (CL) is a program designed to help Autistic youth build leadership and job readiness skills. Participants also get to volunteer with local non-profit organizations, connecting with and contributing to their communities. Throughout the program, participants work on individual goal planning and receive personalized support to help achieve their goals.
Registration:
Applications are accepted year-round. New groups start in January, April, and September.
Program Overview:
The program runs for 12 weeks. Participants attend a 3-hour in-person session once a week.
Optional one-on-one virtual or in-person meetings with staff take place every two weeks. These meetings focus on exploring program materials, personal goal planning, and providing support to help participants achieve their individual goals.
Topics covered include:
- Budgeting and personal finance skills
- Community involvement and building belonging
- Independent living skills (cooking, self-care)
- Exploration of future pathways (education, training, employment)
Who Can Participate?
Participants: Autistic high school students, ages 14 to 21, interested in building skills that support their pathways to education, employment, and meaningful community belonging.
Peer Volunteers: Youth (Autistic or non-Autistic) who want to learn alongside participants and gain community involvement experience.
Locations:
- Halifax
- Sydney
- Truro
How to Apply:
Contact:
Halifax
Nicole Wong Garcia, Program Educator
Sydney
Katie MacKenzie, Program Educator
782-321-5480
Truro
Kendall Curl, Program Educator
kcurl@autismns.ca
902-814-7674
Acknowledgements
The Community Leadership program is supported by:
- The Government of Nova Scotia (Halifax and Sydney)
- The Bank of Nova Scotia (Truro)
