Newsletter

Okanagan-Columbia Highlights
Debbie Sluggett, Kalon Nahachewsky (Educational Liaisons)
Debbie Bazett ( Forest Education Coordinator, COFI - Southern Operations)

Blind Student Receives WoodLINKS Certificate

Dan Thoreson is an ambitious young man who has had to overcome many challenges because of his blindness. One of his most recent accomplishments saw Dan receive his WoodLINKS certificate, commemorating his completion of one of the most dynamic and successful trade programs in the secondary school system. The WoodLINKS program is an introduction to the forest industry and wood products manufacturing, covering the whole spectrum from logging to processing to value-added products.

Having a visually-challenged student in a shop class might seem to be an unsafe and impossible scenario, but Dan's teachers, ever creative and adaptable, were able to rise to the challenge. While certain machines in the shop needed hand-on-hand assistance, others could be used with help from Dan's Certified Education Assistant. When it came to tests, Dan was able to complete this requirement with some revisions or removal of visual-type questions and received 100% on his written test.

Dan's positive attitude, hard work, and commitment along with his teachers' willingness to adapt to this special situation have earned him his WoodLINKS certificate. Regarding his accomplishment, Dan commented, "I fought hard, that's what I did. I've lived a full life and to this day, I'm still at it."

Congratulations, Dan, on achieving your goal and good luck in the future!!

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