Job coach Reva Cuthbertson shares a glimpse into the unique experience of vocational training at Turtleworks

Within special needs vocational training, a job coach plays a crucial role in ensuring students receive personal guidance and feel empowered to learn. At Turtleworks, our vocational training workshops have flourished, offering our special needs students the opportunity to learn the intricacies of embroidery and the fundamental operations of a business. A key figure within our work is job coach Reva Cuthbertson, whose help has allowed our workshops to become a conducive learning environment. Cuthbertson’s work as a job coach focuses on providing students with close, hands-on guidance and support throughout their vocational training journey. 

“It's a very hands-on, detailed role and it has to be all about the students,”  Cuthbertson said. “I knew nothing about embroidery, you almost have to learn the job as if you were going to do it. I model what should be done in a work situation and that really falls a lot on the job coach, but it can be reinforced by teachers.”

Turtleworks’ workshops are taught by our owner, Sherry, while Cuthbertson aids students in completing their tasks. From a Job coach’s perspective, Cuthbertson notes strong aspects of the learning environment at Turtleworks.

“It's a business that's dedicated completely to training those with special needs and to give them a learning trade,” Cuthbertson said. “It's an amazing place because all of that stuff that they learn can be transferred — holding inventory, specialized work, doing the embroidery itself — anybody can come in and make a difference because they're actually working on customer products.And one of the things that I love is that generally there's groups and there's a communication aspect. There's a social aspect to it where people work together at a particular task, and that's unique. If you can get a group and they work together, there's opportunities to socialize and communicate, and that's phenomenal.” 

Cuthbertson also feels her son has been deeply impacted during his time in Turtleworks’ workshops as a student with special needs. From a parental standpoint, she’s pleased by the guidance her son receives at Turtleworks and says it has contributed to his growth in training for work experience.

“It's a great experience for [my son],” Cuthbertson said.  “What I love is that Sherry's willing to show them anything and have them do anything. She’s very laid back and understands that mistakes happen and you learn from the mistakes. While we strive to not to make any mistakes or try not to make it a problem for any of the staff, I think the environment itself is very conducive.”