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Page It THE HERALD Wednesday August 15 1990 Former psychiatric patient learning basic work skills ByBENDUMMETT The Herald Acton resident Tom White 27 likes his job When asked what he was doing before the North Halton Work Pro gram NHWP opened in Acton in February Mr White said I was just waiting for it to open The NHWP is a form of rehabilitation for Georgetown Ac ton and Milton former psychiatric patients that involves them in a normalized work environment said the program s manager Anita Lloyd The- program operates out of the complex and is run in a similar way to any other type of factor operation explained Ms The purpose is to teach the participants basic work skills such as punctuality how to interact with coworkers and supervisor and how to adapt from one type of job to another she said The difference between the and a factor operation is thai Ms Lloyd as an employer is more forgiving than a real employer and the program employees set their own work pace This translates into five hours per day work for each employee It the ability to set his own pace that Mr White ap preciates about the job As one of the first who joined the program there are now 22 Mr White said he is trving to get a work pace that he can keep up and it s working The hours he works hours a week are something I can put up with and make it through the said Mr White Hela Spread Th Ward Worldwide over adult cannot read or More than 100 rMrlf children of school between 6 and no to learn One of Mr White favorite jobs is rolling gift wrap and then shrink wrapping it using a specialized machine I like electrical and mechanical work he said If he could improve the program Mr White said he would like it if there were welding and forging equipment At the same time he had some reservations about on more complex work saying the more complex the work the more hours I d have to work I like to think about the job for half of the time and then do it for the other half of the time he said Mr White hopes to get a full time job in the future working with cars To date Mr White explained he is learning about money and on what not to spend it on Before I d be spending everything I could get my hands on Ms Lloyd called Mr White a very good employee because he works hard and has long term goals But with a lot of the employees motivation is a big problem she said Some have come a little way to being completely dependable workers while others function in cycles For a couple of months 11 do well but then thev ill be less dependable for the next few ths she explained But that the nature of their illness The majority of employees are schizophrenic or suffer from either paranoia depression or a per sonahtv disorder In this sense Ms said success for one pa could be graduating from the program to a regular job while for mother it could be just getting into work regalarh So far none of those who might work outside the program are Ms Llovd On good ll of the employees will show up to work SERVICE lb COM UMracr I 4131 NX PRINTER I ONLY 229 i IBM Epson lily I COLOUR 275 I While ties Last Gmlph SI Unit rk makes you feel good inside The Stellar Plus high efficiency gas furnace and 2000 high efficiency air conditioning combine provide a Total Comfort System York Stellar Plus Lifetime warranty on heat exchanger Uses clean efficient natural gas Cuts annual heating costs York Stellar 2000 Efficient summer cooling Quality construction Very quiet operation Stellar to Call today for details Kendale Mechanical Ltd Georgetown Milton 8972555 said Ms Lloyd That means if there is a large order to fill it can become a real challenge Although our customers realize the program has a different population they re in business so they still want everything done yesterday said Ms Lloyd The program is currently doing work for DRG Stationary in Georgetown Purity Life Health Products in Acton and the Bramp ton company Rieke Most of the contracts are for light assembling and packaging said Ms Lloyd Ms Lloyd acknowledged that the program isn for all former psychiatric patients Those who participate have been recommend by either a or hospital The proram could handle 30 employees but part of the pro blem is that many patients don t have transportation to Acton In explaining why most of the employees reside in Acton Ms Lloyd said possible eligible pa tients living in Georgetown and Milton don t have adequate access to transportation Ms Lloyd said she sees no solution on the horizon The NWHP is one of three Region The other two are in Burlington and Oakville resident Tom White above is one of 22 former psychiatric patients currently participating in the North Work Program in Acton The program is meant to teach its participants how to work in a normal environment Mr White is seen here operating the shrink wrapping machine to wrap Christmas paper Herald photo Enter The Heralds SHOPPING SPREE CONTEST DClOSefr 11110 si You Could Be 1 of 8 Winners Of A 500 Shopping Spree At Any One Of The Participating Merchants HERES HOW TO ENTER 1 Simply visit one of the Participating Shopping Spree Value Stores till in an entry coupon No purchase Is necessary Contest ends Saturday November Each store wilt be making Random Draw for a 500 GO SHOPPING SPREE tram all the coupons deposited at their store on Monday November 1990 The person whose name is randomly drawn at each of the participating Shopping Spree Value Stores will be eligible to win one of the eight 00 Shopping Spree prizes by answering a mathematical testlng question The prize Is a voucher onty The voucher can be used as cash towards your purchases at the pre selected SHOPPING SPREE VALUE STORE The winner may elect to make purchases which ex ceed the value of the voucher by adding personal funding Provincial taxes are extra Check Individual store for Sale Item exclusions Prizes must be accepted as awarded No cash value No Decision of the judges is final You may enter as often as you tike by visiting one or all of the par ticipating Shopping Spree Value Stores No responsibility will be assumed lor lost or misdirected entries 7 Employees am Immediate relatives of The Herald or participating ad vertisers are not eligible Winners must be years or older 9 By entering the contest you agree to accept these rules Look For The Specially Marked Shopping Spree Value Stores Every Week Only IN the HERALD Your Regional Super Station