Empowering adults with intellectual disabilities to become more independent
Through supported housing and life skills for employment
Our Programs
Supported Housing
Our housing model is thoughtfully designed to create a safe, supportive, and inclusive living environment for adults with developmental disabilities. Each home accommodates between four to six housemates who share common areas while enjoying the privacy of their own rooms, all under the guidance of a dedicated live-in House Manager. The House Manager plays a vital role in ensuring the well-being of the housemates by monitoring safety, facilitating organic life skills development, and providing practical support, including, organising shared house chores, grocery shopping and meal preparation. By actively engaging housemates in these processes, we promote independence and foster a sense of community within the home.
We are opening a new house soon and are currently accepting applications for housemates!
Employability Skills
Our Employability Skills Day Program is designed to help adults with developmental disabilities build the confidence, routines, and practical skills needed to thrive in real-world environments.
Participants engage in structured, hands-on training focused on self-advocacy, communication, workplace hygiene, cooking, cleaning, customer service, money handling, shelf stocking, time management and using public transport. These sessions are tailored to each individual’s pace and strengths, ensuring that learning feels relevant and empowering.
Participants then put their skills into action in our simulated café environment, where they gain real-time experience in a safe and welcoming setting. Progress is assessed at regular intervals, and those who demonstrate readiness may be invited to join our Supported Employment Program.
We currently accepting applications for employability skills training!
Supported Employment
Our Supported Employment Program is the next step for participants who demonstrate readiness through our employability skills day program. We work closely with local businesses to ensure that our participants are hired into suitable roles. Program participants work and are paid as regular employees, but they’re never alone in the process. A dedicated My First Place Ottawa job coach learns the role alongside them, providing hands-on support as needed.
Support is gradually reduced as the participant gains confidence and independence. Once they’re fully comfortable and capable in their role, they continue working without additional assistance—just like any other employee.
If a job isn’t the right fit, we match the participant with a new opportunity that better suits their strengths. We continue this process until a successful placement is found. This program is designed to foster long-term success, dignity, and financial empowerment through meaningful work.
In order to ensure matches with employers and coaches have the highest chances of success, only participants who go through our employability skills day program can be admitted to our supported employment program.