Christopher Simeone, Special Care Counselling

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Giving everyone support and a chance to succeed

Winning a scholarship is an accomplishment for any student. Winning one when you have a learning disability is all the more outstanding. But then Christopher Simeone a student in the Special Care Counselling program and a winner of a 2012 RFCM (Regroupement des fondations collégiales de Montréal) Scholarship for the Next Generation, is a truly remarkable young man.

Nothing stops him

Christopher has never let his learning disability stop him from studying, pursuing his ambitions and above all helping others. "What's really cool is that winning the RCFM Scholarship has made me realize there are many ways to get things into the brain and I can attain what others attain. Winning the scholarship showed me how capable I really am."

Sharing his story with others

As a member of the Ambassadors for Success, a Vanier student support group, Christopher has made many presentations sharing his story about what it is like to have a learning disability (LD), in his case dyslexia. He informs students of the services offered through Vanier ACCESS for Students with Disabilities; shares strategies that have worked for him; and demonstrates the use of adaptive technology – software that helps with reading and decoding information. He also provides mentorship to students with LD and encourages them to persist and reach their full potential.

Presentations in schools, colleges and universities

Christopher has made his presentations at elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities as well as to the general public, sensitizing audiences to what it is like to have a LD. In his visits to high schools he describes Vanier's services and encourages students with disabilities to apply to Cegep.

"I love explaining to kids that they're not dumb – it's the mechanics of their brains that make reading and learning more challenging. Those mechanics are not well understood but there are tools and strategies to help overcome those difficulties," he says. "I had parents, a dedicated tutor and teachers who helped and encouraged me. Now I want others to have the same kind of opportunities I've had and continue their education if they want to."

Disability Awareness Day

Christopher doesn't wait for others to fill a need when he sees one. He steps in and gets to work. So it's not surprising that he was the driving force behind the creation of Disability Awareness Day aimed at educating and eliminating negative attitudes and misconceptions towards people with disabilities. The awareness day has now become an annual event at Vanier.

Bringing insight and tools to students and teachers

"This year was special," explains Christopher. "As part of my program I had to do two fifteen-week internships, first in a high school then an elementary school. While there I saw how students could benefit from the use of the Kurzweil program – special software that helps students with reading difficulties. So I did a demonstration for the English teachers and a speech language pathologist. Then I was asked to do demonstrations for teachers, vice-principals and resource teachers during the EMSB professional development days. Now more schools want to get the technology for their students with special needs."

Training to help others in the future

As a student of Vanier's Special Care Counselling Program, Christopher is training to work with people who have special needs. "I want to help people," he says. "One year I worked in a summer camp as a shadow for a child who had autism. I wish I could have had someone like that for me when I went to camp."

A tireless volunteer with much to offer

Teacher, Cindy Blauer who has worked with the Ambassadors for Success has high praise for Christopher. "Christopher is a dedicated, inventive and tireless volunteer. It has been a pleasure to watch him blossom as an advocate for people with special needs. His smile, genuine warmth and caring disposition are easy to see. He has truly made an outstanding contribution to Vanier as well as the greater Montreal community."