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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 1982, PAGE 5 Brock Stop has fine craftsand busy workshop Whltby's Brock Stop Store, looks like any other gift shop from the display room. - But behind the rows of hand crafted gift items lie the working aspira- tions of 25 men ..and women from 'the Dur- hamn Centre for theý De- velopmentaily Handi- capped. Once past the front roorn, Brock Stop is a" classic beehive, with trainees cleaning cera- nue moulds, ,pourîng dlay, sanding figuines,' painting and glazing., Brock Stop is a, uniqueý project tlat enables traiees between the ages of 18 and 60 to learn skIn i a normal work- ing.en#ironment. S 1"What we're' reaily doing 'here is selling mental retardation,"l says Heidy Vereulen, supervisor 'of the shop. "But we also ,sell a. product, and it's a good produet." S Everything in ,the store is made by train- ees, either from, the Durham Centre or from other institutions across the provice. The trainees at Brock Stop specialize in making ceramie produets. Brock Stop is unique because it is not a shel- tered workshop. When the, project moved downtown from the cen- tre three years ago, the Ontario government gave its full support pre- cisely because the new A trainee from the Durham Centre for the Developmentaily Handicapped has; learned the fine art of painting glazed ceramie figures. Other jobs per- formed by trainees include cleaning moulds, pouring clay, and arraning- displays at Whitby's Brock Stop Store. -Free Press Staff Photo location enables 'train- ees to learn social and life skills in the com- munity. "They learn a lot more than just vocation- ai skiils here, " says Vereulen. "Most of them have been in insti- tutions aIl their lives, and suddenly, they are faced with things, like e open doors and even an open frldge.." >The shop also pro- vides a. variety. of jobs for trainees of widely varying akili levels. "We can employ a persoDn with.very limited skills who may only be able to sweep the floor," says Vereulen. "And, we can also train5 someone to work hi the frontwith customers, writing re- ceipta and takixig cash." .Vereulen. and three other occupational in- structors workfuli time with the trainees. Every six months', or more of- ten if necessary, the staff of Brock'Stop re- view each trainee's pro- gress with professionals from Durham Centre. "I was very leary at first to bring the shop downtown," Vereulen' says. "But the response from the other mer- chants and from the stores' and restaurants has been great." <The trainees are given points for such things as appropriate dress, «cO- operation, .work per- formance- and beha- viour.- They can earn up to $1 per week to spend at a weekly outing to a restaurant. Many things that we take for granted must be slowly and methodie- ally learned by the trainees. One woman has mas- tered the art of painting ceramic Christmas trees. "lShe h as to learn to cover the whole object, and remlember how many coats she bas put onep," says Vereulen. "lWe teach, ber that by using a.number «system, or by having ber, usea' different colour on each coat."ll Volunteers help with the daily operation of the shop, and on Satur-, days* the -Whitby Jay- cettes keep the' store open for business. 1 Perbaps the most ex- citing thing about Brock Stop is, the comfortàble' atmospbere and sense of accompllshment trainees feel. "In a bigger work- shop, ail-the trainees migbt do is put screws ,i ail day. But here he sees the beginning and end of the project. " 1Because the workshop is àrma there .is con- stant contact -between staff ,andtrainees., "tsa small, .active -and very intense shop,'- Vereùlen says. "It's reaily like a 'big, family because we, go, tbrougb many tbings together. " . .iNTL i ihiiE .~ o THE AUSTIN. TOPPERM 'ANIMAL STOPPEW 2GIT FOR THE-PRICEOF ONE A GIF T-- CERTI FICATE, WILL ýSTOP THESE PROBLEMIS ARREST SPARKS KEEP OUT DEBRIS Give peace of minci Give a gift certif lcate. FROM AUST IN TOPPER CHIMNEY SWEEPS. ALSO DISCOURAGES OOWN DRAFTS With Every Gif t Certif icatej ,S: Purchase.... Receive FREE Raccoons, Rodents and Bi rds f rom our home via the chimney. sAnimal neets whlch could block A 1982 ' riey and cause smoke to back-up.Co siu on onSe This complete set of coinls s displayed on a velvet > ¶USTIN TOPPIER7 tray and cornes in a beautiful wood & eun'la INVSWEEPS INC. th er presentation case protected in plastic'& gift 281-8513AJ boxed. A $15.00 Value. WE'LL DELI VER. 686-0226 ,p U j PR EV ENT. Squirrels,1 enterIng y< EiimInates your chimi