August 19th, 2026
The Pillars of WALES
By: Haela Von Hatten-Baer, WALES Community Facilitator
At Working Adults Learning Empowering Skills (WALES), every journey begins with getting to know the person behind the goals. After we get to know someone, we work with them to create a Person Directed Plan (PDP) based on their wants and needs.
The PDP is the foundational plan for the person’s current life and what they want and need to reach their dreams. We ask each person and their network what the individual’s strengths and interests are. Sometimes it’s hard to see the strengths we have in ourselves, so it can be nice to hear what others see in us. We learn who the person has in their corner and where they may want to make connections to grow their community to further expand their capacity, skills, and community.
Employment is one of the goal categories of the PDP. We support each person in applying for jobs and follow that with coaching once they are employed. We follow up with check-ins which provide support for the person and their employer, helping them to develop and maintain their working relationships and aiding in problem solving as needed.
At WALES, we believe that everyone has gifts and talents to be shared. By supporting people to recognize and share those gifts, we help create opportunities for people to be known, valued, and connected in their communities—places where they truly belong.
If you or someone you know is looking to build skills, explore employment opportunities, and strengthen community connections, WALES is here to help. Reach out to learn more about how we can support your journey. Visit eafwr.on.ca/wales for more information.