Its onwards and upwards for the Facile Perth-HPCDSB partnership

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Since partnering with Facile Perth, a Stratford-based non-profit which serves people with disabilities across Huron and Perth counties, the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board (HPCDSB) has seen a marked increase in success stories across the region.

The partnership was started in the 2022/2023 school year to empower students with disabilities and help them transition to post-graduation life. As Tara Boreham, superintendent of education for the board, said, not only has the partnership helped students transition to post-graduation life through Facile’s facilitators, it has also empowered the board’s teachers.

“As educators, we have a ton of knowledge, but Facile Perth also has a ton of knowledge and they have transition facilitators that know a lot about funding opportunities, workplace opportunities, etc.,” Boreham said. “Teachers want the absolute very best for every child and the involvement with other community agencies to help us in support planning has made them feel more confident that we are doing the very best.”

Since partnering, the HPCDSB has increased their service levels for students with disabilities year over year. During the 2023/2024 school year, the board served 15 students. This year, it is currently serving 21 students. In the upcoming 2025/2026 school year, it is expecting to serve 25-30 students.

The HPCDSB has renewed its partnership with Facile Perth, extending it for another three years (which it is in the first year of). During this period, Facile will continue to share knowledge and co-create presentations that will provide school teams with insights on building collaborations, community development, increasing access to future pathways, and meaningful planning for life after graduation.

Additionally, Facile will aid students and families in finding meaningful opportunities within each students’ home communities, with a focus on active citizenship, the world of work, and post-secondary and life-long learning opportunities.

The board and Facile will continue to work with community partners, employers, colleges, and service providers to identify and plan pathways to adult life beyond high school.

“It has had an incredible impact,” Boreham said about the partnership. “I believe that families are feeling more well held by both education and by community partners. … When you put heads together, you know you can come up with some pretty great things. And I feel that the community collaboration is extremely important and has made it so that we have reached more kids, and we have supported more kids, than ever before. A community raises a child and I think that's the most important part of this. We need to all work together to help students.”

Boreham clarified that they have a long-term plan in place at the board with Facile in mind, meaning that when this most recent agreement comes for renewal in two years, they are looking to expand the partnership with an even more fulsome program.