Because of You - Donor Report 2011
 Your Support Paves the Way for Success | 
| | BECAUSE OF YOU, we help students like Joel Dejardine meet the challenges of living with disabilities and achieve success in education and the workplace. | If he didn't use a wheelchair, you might mistake Joel Dejardine for just another student in SAIT’s Civil Engineering Technology program. At 22, he’s well on his way to a rewarding career in geographic information systems. In fact, with one more course left to complete before certification, Joel has already landed a full-time job at a Calgary survey firm. Joel was born with a rare and debilitating neurological disorder called Aicardi – Goutieres Syndrome. It hampers his ability to walk, disrupts some of his fine motor skills, and presents minor learning disabilities. It was nothing that would keep him from realizing his childhood aspirations of designing roadways and intersections, but it definitely put up a few hurdles that would challenge the course. “It affects my reading comprehension,” said Joel, “And my writing is very slow so I can't focus on the instructor and take notes at the same time. If I try, I fall behind.” Falling behind isn't an option when just keeping up is a challenge. That’s where SAIT’s Centre for Academic Learner Services (CALS) helped out Joel. A lot. He was assigned a disability advisor straightaway; someone who he knew he could go to if issues came up during his day-to-day life as a student on campus. Together they would address any accessibility issues, identify and do everything in their power to secure the resources Joel would need to succeed while at SAIT. The Centre made arrangements for someone to take notes for him in class. A strategist was assigned to help with different learning and test strategies. When requested (and available), CALS brought in a tutor to help him study. The Centre also arranged for a quiet, distraction-free setting where he could take his exams and an impartial scribe to write down his test answers, on his behalf. Services such as the ones that helped Joel are possible through donations made by hundreds of people to the SAIT Opportunities Fund. “Without the accommodations, I wouldn't have made it through,” said Joel. “I really appreciate all the help they've given me.” Still, student life wasn't exactly easy, and Joel admits there were times when he just wanted to give up, go home and never come back. “I had thoughts like that, but I've had support and I've had people encourage me to keep going.” Joel’s landed himself a full-time job in his field of interest — and all the independence that comes with it. “Everything I do at work is on the computer and I'm good on the computer, so I can pretty much do everything. I'm getting experience and I'm getting money.”
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