S.T.E.P Forward for Teens
Build Work Experience Before Graduation
Many teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities miss out on the formative experience of gaining work experience in high school. Then they graduate, often at 21, without the hands-on practice that helps make employment possible.
Melly’s S.T.E.P Forward for Teens (Skills, Training and Employment Preparation) is a summer work-skills program that can extend through the school year. It helps youth build job readiness through practical training, real work experience, and mentorship before graduation.
Participants focus on the fundamentals of keeping a job with 6 main components that build work experience and independence.
1
Communication
Using your voice, practicing good manners, having effective conversations, building friendships, giving/receiving feedback, and preparing for interviews.
2
Presenting your best self
Builds professional presence through dressing to impress, strong hygiene and germ awareness, a confident walk, self-advocacy, and overall workplace preparedness.
3
Managing Time
Understanding time, pacing tasks that are too fast or too slow, knowing the days of the week and months of the year, building a daily routine, and adapting to change.
4
Independence
Managing a wallet, practicing basic personal accounting, spending and saving wisely, earning money, understanding value, and exploring everyday independence.
5
Safe Community Navigation
Spatial awareness, navigating directions, personal security, safe lifting, sidewalk etiquette, and recognizing hazards in the community.
6
Wellness
Grip strength, tying knots and using keys, preparing healthy lunches, staying hydrated, improving sleep, and overall wellness.
Turn learning into real workplace skills
400+ practical activities for all learning styles, all mapped to job-ready skill development. Created by Melly’s with employer and disability community feedback.
Over 100 hours of coaching and hands-on training over the summer.
From customer service to setting achievable goals to building routines, every hour is designed to build workplace readiness and independence.
Paid Work Days that build your résumé.
Our Paid Work Days let you practice your skills on the job, building confidence and a stronger résumé.
New friendships and connections
Teens make friendships over the summer with peers who share their interests and goals, and those connections continue throughout the year.
Ongoing growth check-ins so progress stays on track.
Throughout the summer program, we hold growth check-ins with parents, caregivers, and support workers to:
- confirm strengths and accommodations
- set and refine goals
- identify areas for growth and next steps
A person-centred approach
Coaches capture real-time focus notes and track progress on every activity, moving from accuracy to efficiency, then fluency. These notes shape the following week’s schedule and help us build individualized learning priorities for each apprentice.
Work and Personal Development
To create an immersive learning experience, teens move between a satellite learning location and a real work location that mirrors a future workplace.
This approach builds confidence, develops skills, and ensures a confident transfer of skills and abilities into their next workplace.
Person-centred Coaching
Our experienced coaches, each with extensive leadership backgrounds in customer-facing roles, facilitate every activity.
They bring firsthand insight into the skills needed for competitive employment, working closely with apprentices to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and fluency in common job tasks that exist in most hospitality and retail environments.
Paid Work Opportunities
At our Whitby location, teens are invited to apply for, interview, and work paid shifts in our café and market on Saturdays. Designed to simulate competitive employment, each role carries unique responsibilities and is performed independently—without a coach—followed by a performance review at the end of each shift.
These real-world experiences help develop confidence in job searching, onboarding, working autonomously, taking initiative, and reaching personal career goals.
I want to be a part of everything. Just like everyone else. A part of life. - Melly
FAQ
How long is the program?
Our S.T.E.P Forward for Teens program is 8 weeks in length. Those able to travel to Whitby are also invited to apply for paid work opportunities throughout the school year, developing their resume and work experience.
When are the sessions?
Sessions run four days a week, and each participant receives a personalized schedule that shifts throughout the summer to help them adjust to a typical work schedule and changing shifts.
How much does it cost?
The S.T.E.P program is currently funded and delivered at no-cost to the individual.
Who can join this program?
This program is best suited for candidates between the ages of 16-21, who are still attending high school and who intend to explore employment opportunities after graduating.
Candidates must be able to work independently without needing direct supervision at all times.
2026 Applications Open
Use the form below to apply for our S.T.E.P Forward for Teens Program. The application process starts with a group tour and interview with the potential apprentice. A parent/guardian/caretaker can attend this tour.
Summer Program Schedule: June 30th - August 21st 2026
4 changing sessions each week between the hours of 7:30-4.
This program is best suited for candidates between the ages of 16-21, who are still attending high school and who intend to explore employment opportunities after graduating.
Candidates must be able to work independently without needing direct supervision at all times.
Apply below!
