AYA Resources

School and Work

Returning to work or school, or seeking a new job or school program following cancer treatment is an important goal for many Adolescent and Young Adults (AYAs).

Engaging in work and educational activities are meaningful life roles that provide a sense of self-identity, stability, daily structure and offer a network of social support. Returning to work or school following treatment can provide a sense of normalcy and can have a positive impact on your self-confidence and self-image.

People treated for cancer sometimes have new challenges when they return to education or employment. You may notice new difficulties with returning to school or work due to:

• Side effects of cancer or cancer treatment
• Fatigue and changes in your sleep patterns
• Pain
• Stress and anxiety
• Changes in how you can think and focus (cancer-related "brain fog")

Your health care team has prepared resources that may ease the transition to school or work.

Online Schools and Career Building Programs

High Schools

• Independent Learning Centre - The Independent Learning Centre offers Ontario credit courses in English and French for Grades 9-12 as well as the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and the GED Testing program.
• Virtual High School - Virtual High School (VHS) provides classes that are available 24 hours a day. VHS offers about 71 high school courses for selections and allows students to learn at their own pace and also in the process foster student initiative, self-motivation, self advocation, and event management. The only restriction is that they must complete the course within 18 months.
  Courses available in: Business, French, Applied Science, Academic Science, Canadian History, eCo-op, Calculus and Vectors, etc.

Colleges & Universities

• OntarioLearn - A partnership of 24 Ontario community colleges where you can search through a course inventory to find the course. To enrol in an OntarioLearn course, students must register through one of the partner colleges.
• Contact North - A 24/7 gateway that provides easy and quick access in English and French for up-to-date information on more than 18,000 courses and 1000 programs available online at Ontario’s colleges, universities, literacy and other training providers.

Career Building Programs

• Canada's Centre for Distance Education - Provides a variety of online college courses that can help advance your career or help you gain professional training and certification from the comfort of your own home. Most programs can be completed within 1 year if you commit just 20 hours per week.

Scholarships & Bursaries

• Michael Kamin Hart Scholarship - This scholarship was created to honour the memory of Michael Kamin Hart, who was a vibrant, intelligent and compassionate young man who was completing his Masters degree in Biochemistry In his memory, the Michael Kamin Hart Scholarship recognizes other young people who are pursuing their studies while dealing with the effects of cancer. Michael Kamin Hart Scholarship ($1,000 each) is open to students who are between the ages of 18 and 39.
• The Survivor Scholarship Program - The Childhood Cancer Canada Scholarship Program is open to young adult cancer survivors. Applications open annually on March 1st and close on April 30th for both the $1500 general scholarship and the $5000 Teva Canada Scholarship for those pursuing education in the medical, health and pharmaceutical fields.
• Pink Pearl Scholarship - A $1,000 scholarship granted to a Canadian woman who has been diagnosed with cancer. You must be diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 18 to 40, attending post-secondary education as a part-time or full-time student, be involved in extracurricular activities and have a minimum grade average of 65%. It is also an asset if you have attended one or more Pink Pearl programs/events.
• Brain Tumour Youth Education Award - Survivors of a pediatric brain tumour (diagnosed with a brain tumour before the age of 25), between the ages of 16 and 30, who are pursuing post-secondary education. The aim of the program is to help young brain tumour survivors achieve their dreams through post-secondary education. Scholarship amount to be announced.
• Easter Seals Ontario Post-Secondary Scholarships - Easter Seals Ontario Post-Secondary Scholarships are available in February. Eligible applicants must have a physical disability that impacts their mobility. Scholarship amount to be announced.
• The Terry Fox Humanitarian Award - Providing university scholarships to students who exemplify the humanitarian ideals of Terry Fox by volunteering and giving back to their communities. A stipend of $7,000 is issued directly to the institution each year to a maximum amount of $28,000.
• Roots for Youth - A bursary that helps youth who are struggling due to difficult family or financial situations, or a loss/tragedy in the family, to get a post-secondary education. The foundation will provide one or more bursaries each year to qualifying students who are planning to attend or are enrolled in a post-secondary institution full-time in the coming year. The bursary(s) will be determined each spring and be paid out to assist with the fall and winter semesters.
• Shine Bright Bursaries - $1000 bursaries for post-secondary education for childhood cancer survivors in Northern Ontario, their siblings and siblings of children who have succumbed to cancer are available.
• AMI Scholarship Programs - The scholarship program is open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada with a permanent disability who are currently registered in and returning to a full-time program of study at an accredited Canadian post-secondary college or university. Each year AMI will award two $5,000 bursaries to two deserving students with a permanent disability; one from the English community and one from the French.
• Tri-Colour Classic Resilience Scholarship - Tri-Colour Classic Resilience Scholarship is crafted to support and empower students who have shown extraordinary resilience when confronted with cancer, either personally or through supporting a family member. Recognizing the unique challenges and emotional toll that cancer imposes, this program aims to alleviate the financial burden on students who have been significantly impacted by the disease. Each year, Tri-Colour Classic awards five scholarships of $1,000 each. These scholarships are intended to help cover educational expenses for students who are currently enrolled or accepted into an undergraduate program at a Canadian university.

Work & Employment Support Services

• Career Edge - An internship program that seeks to place recent graduates and/or graduates with a disability in paid internships relevant to their field of interest. Internships are 6 months to 1 year in duration.
• Youth Employment Service (YES) - A government funded service that provides a variety of programs and supports for young adults looking for work. Includes a variety of workshops, one-on-one counselling and job development on a client’s behalf. Program offers wage subsidies to employers who hire clients from the program.
• Youth Employment Service (YES) - YESability - A subset of the Youth Employment Service, YESAbility provides individualized action planning, career counselling, specialized job development, labour market information, work placement opportunities, accommodation support, and on-the-job coaching to individuals experiencing any physical or cognitive disability.
• Student Links Mentoring - Student Links is an opportunity for students (ages 14 to 21) who have an intellectual disability to explore ideas for their future after high school. It matches students and mentors who share a common passion or interest. The goal is to enhance their capacity to make informed decisions about their future prior to leaving school and to support the natural development of relationships and connections to their community.
  

Return to Work & Assistance Programs

• POGO School and Work Transitions Program - The POGO Transitions Program facilitates a smoother transition from high school to appropriate school and work opportunities for survivors of brain tumours or other childhood cancers.
• Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship Program - The Cancer Rehabilitation and Survivorship (CRS) Program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre provides one-on-one support for preparing for and navigating returning to work after cancer. Support typically includes 2-3 meetings with an occupational therapist to learn about common work-related challenges caused by cancer, and how to manage these. Other topics covered include how to prepare to return to work, how to communicate with your manager and co-workers, and relevant legislation that applies to returning to work after an illness. CRS also offers similar support for navigating and preparing to return to school after cancer. Your oncologist from the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre can refer you to the program by filling in the CRS Program referral form. Call the CRS Program at 416-946-4501 ext. 2363 with any questions, or visit the webpage.
• Cancer and Work - The Cancer and Work website was designed to address the unique needs of cancer survivors with returning, remaining, changing work or looking for work after a diagnosis of cancer. The website provides newly created information, resources, and interactive tools for cancer survivors, healthcare providers, employers, and highlights helpful information from across the globe.
• Careers and Cancer - Cancer and Careers empowers and educates people with cancer to thrive in their workplace, by providing expert advice, interactive tools and educational events.