New Come to Work Structured Training and Employment Program Offering in BC

Thanks to renewed funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia, CNIB's Come to Work program is launching a new structured training and employment program in BC for people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision.

This cohort‑based program is designed to build skills and support participants in securing employment. Participants will move through a curriculum together, on a fixed schedule, and receive $650 a week throughout the training, placement, and follow-up period.

Program Details

Duration: 8-9 months, beginning May 2026
Schedule: 5 days a week, 7 hours a day (including one-hour breaks)
Commitment: 30–35 hours/week (25–35 hours a week during job placement)
Attendance requirement: 95% participation rate (up to 4 days may be missed)

What to Expect

16 weeks of paid training including:

• 5 weeks of intensive assistive technology training
• 11 weeks of career-readiness training (workplace etiquette, best practices, personality assessments, mock interviews, and individualized career support for people with sight loss)

Plus, a 13-week paid work placement with an employer partner, including a 4-week follow-up period after the placement, with peer sessions and one-on-one feedback.

This is a paid opportunity from start to finish, combining skills training with hands-on work experience to support long-term employment outcomes for people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision.

Eligibility Requirements

To participate, you must:

• Be legally blind or Deafblind 
• Be eligible to receive Employment Insurance (EI)
• Have basic computer skills and be willing to participate in assistive technology training
• Be able to commit to the full program (8-9 months), including the follow‑up period

Spots are limited to 8 participants, and recruitment is ongoing on a rolling, first-come basis.

How to Apply

To learn more or express your interest, please contact Zack Giesbrecht at zack.giesbrecht@cnib.ca or call 250-410‑4350.