FOCUS ABILITY CCC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Instructor for Correctional Services of Canada
Dan Hiemstra MA, Instructor for Correctional Services of Canada. Dan Hiemstra has been an educator for 25 years both in private high schools from 1993-2006 in Vancouver, British Columbia and in Okanagan College from 2009-2015 in Salmon Arm and Vernon, BC. He has been a member of the Teacher Regulation Branch since 1993, and he is currently an instructor for Correctional Services of Canada at Kent Correctional Institution in Agassiz, BC. Dan obtained his Master's degree in Work, Organization, and Leadership in 2009 where he learned the methods of transformative education; a learning style that encourages alternative methods for curriculum, critical thinking through learning, and practice with experiential education. Dan has worked with many people with diverse cognitive abilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit-Hyperactive Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and Epilepsy. Dan's future goals are to integrate ideas such as critical thinking, social skill development, and work experience learning in order to help adults with developing abilities find appropriate and meaningful work.
Job Titles:
- Certified Canadian Counsellor, Katherine
Katherine Paxton, Certified Canadian Counsellor, Katherine has retired as a counselor in private practice, who specialized in working with people who have an autism spectrum disorder, or developmental disability, or special needs, and/or their families. She has focused her career on supporting people who are on the autism spectrum, including those with multiple disabilities, dual diagnosis, and other special needs. Katherine has supported people with special needs in many different aspects, from front-line support and vocational support to behavioral consultation and, at present, counseling. Katherine wrote, "Counselling People on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Manual" as a way to address the lack of helpful information around supporting the emotional needs of adults and children who have an autism spectrum disorder. Her book won the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association's Counselling Book of the Year Award for 2010.
Job Titles:
- Events Associate, Business Writer
Nathan Glasser, Events Associate, Business Writer, and Artist. Nathan graduated from Salmon Arm Secondary School in 2003 in the Shuswap area of BC. He has completed some college certificates, and he may pursue further education in the future if funds become available. His writing and artistic skills are mostly self-taught. Nathan took part in the Focus Ability Community Contribution Company (FACCC) assessment and training Employment Program in 2017. He also worked for Apple Auto Glass from 2018-2019, and continued to receive Job Coaching through FACCC. Although Nathan has worked in different jobs over the years, he has found that he is often underemployed for his skill level. He finds his artwork a form of therapy; due to Covid19, he hasn't been doing as much art due to a lack of space but still does some. Some famous people in Vancouver and Salmon Arm have purchased his artwork. You can find it on the walls of the Innovation Centre in Salmon Arm, BC. He has also had many local art shows in the community library.
Pearl Hiemstra BA, CEO at Focus Ability WorkAble Solutions. Pearl Hiemstra has owned and operated her own business, Pearl Solutions for over 17 years. Pearl has completed her ESS (Employment Support Specialty) through Douglas College. Pearl was born and raised in Kelowna BC. Pearl has extensive technology and business management history before starting Focus Ability in 2015. Pearl is a very resourceful, decisive, optimistic, and a results-driven individual with a wide range of experience. Pearl and Dan have raised two boys (one with high functioning autism).