Jay Van Dam, IAC’s Social Club co-facilitator

We spoke with Jay about his career path, his background and experience working with Autistic youth, as well as some of his thoughts on managing stress and navigating challenges in the workplace. Jay also shared his exciting news of his recent engagement and his upcoming plans for a big move later this year!

Hi Jay, I’m glad we are able to connect today. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me!

Tell me about the current work you are doing.

“Currently I am in transition to a new position as an EA (educational assistant) for the Catholic school board so I’ll be working with a whole bunch of different kids with varying needs and that will be in the Barrie and Orillia area [this Spring]. I previously worked as a Behaviour Therapist for children where I worked one-to-one with kids on the Spectrum.”

What type of educational background do you have?

“I have an undergraduate degree where I majored in Sociology and minored in Psychology. So with that background you learn about the institutional effects on people with disabilities, and the support needed, and change that is happening now. Also with psychology, on the individual level, how that affects each person individually.

I also have my post-graduate certificate in Autism Behavioural Science which directly relates, where you learn in more detail about the diagnosis of Autism and the varying levels that it has, the umbrella of the diagnosis, and what you can do to help promote positive behaviours.

I completed the undergraduate degree with Laurentian at the Georgian college campus due to their partnership but the fourth and final year I spent it up in Sudbury on Laurentian’s main campus and lived on my own with roommates at that time.”

Why do you enjoy this type of work?

“I enjoy it because there is a personal component to it, as someone who has a diagnosis of Aspergers (which is considered in the umbrella of Autism). I understand to a certain extent how some kids can experience certain challenges. I believe my empathy helps drive my work and I like the idea of each day when I go in I’m helping a child similarly to how I was helped as well.”

What types of support have been helpful to you in work or education?

“I would say my family is a big support when it comes to my work and when I was completing my studies. Whenever there were things that I was unsure how to go about, like job searching for example, they would help. My father in particular was helpful with my resume and making sure it had all of the important info. For schooling, just having my family there to talk about my schooling, like different assignments and essays. Like with my writing, making sure it made sense to me but making sure it also made sense to them. Also going through the process of completing applications for schooling, they helped with those processes that I can get a little overwhelmed by.

At Georgian I did get a computer to use for support and they did supply me with a school laptop because I am a lot better with typing than writing and also I was given extra time during exams. I didn’t necessarily need the extra time but it was nice to know it was there.”

What have you found to be the most challenging situations you have encountered in the workplace and what strategies do you use to overcome them?

“I’d say one of the most challenging for me would be advocating for myself for advancements at a job. Going out of my way to tell them that I would like an advancement or a pay raise or something like that because it is a very awkward conversation. I don’t like rocking the boat but it can be rocking the boat doing that.

For strategies, I guess it goes back to talking to my family to ask, what is the best way to do this so it comes across professionally and it doesn’t sound like I’m complaining. With that advice, it helped me to think about the skills that I have and the experience that I bring so I think about my qualities that I bring to the job.”

How do you manage your stress and recharge after a long day or after experiencing stressful situations at work?

“When it comes to stress in the moment, I find it helps if I am able to step away from a situation so I am not just stuck in that stressful environment. That way I can kind of calm down in the moment.

I guess when it comes to kids too, I just always try to keep in mind that a lot of times their difficult behavior isn’t a personal attack, it’s because they are having trouble regulating themselves, so I am always keeping that in perspective.

To recharge at the end of a hard day, it helps first to have my own alone time just away from other people for a bit. I let them know that I need time away but after that I like being with those close to me – that would be my brother who lives down the road so just being with him for a couple of hours. If not him, then going to my parents’ farm and walking their nature trails that they have. Then when I’m ready I will maybe talk about the situation, if it’s still bugging me or nagging in the back of my mind, with my family or my partner.”

How do you approach disclosure in the workplace?

“When it comes to disclosure, with the previous job I told them during the interview so they understood where I was coming from but I normally would disclose it in that respect when they ask about strengths that I bring to the table because I like to think that there are a lot of positives that come with the diagnosis. Especially with a position like that, involving working with children on the Spectrum. I like to basically tell them right away.

I would say, I am a lot better when I am focusing on one thing at a time. When working with children, and one-on-one, it is a lot better for me to focus on that one thing, so with that work I would be present in the time spent working with that child.”

What goals did you set out for yourself when you started your career journey?

“With the undergrad, that was right after high school so at first I just went into something that I was interested in. As time went on, near the end of that degree, I was thinking what it meant to like that subject and I found that I like learning about psychology and sociology because I wanted to understand groups of marginalized people, how they were marginalized and how they could be helped. So after that I tried to find a career that would help those that have disadvantages in society and then I used my personal experience, being on the Spectrum, and thought it would be nice if I found a job that allowed me to help kids that also live on the Spectrum. That has geared my perspective of where to go with my career.

I also had lots of conversations with friends and family to allow myself to do some introspection to get to that realization of where I want to go.”

We are lucky at IAC to have you as one of the Social Club facilitators where you have worked for the past couple of years and where you are a wonderful facilitator! What is enjoyable about this role?

“I like being able to spend time with everybody on a regular basis, really getting to know each person and have fun with them with various games that we do and also being able to just chit chat about whatever is on anybody’s mind. It is nice to feel like I am another peer, just connecting with them about what’s going on in peoples’ lives.”

What types of hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?

“I like helping my parents out with building nature trails and I like splitting the wood that we have and making a bunch of firewood. It’s nice to just have it all there and give it away to some people that need it.

Also I have been, in the last year, learning to play the guitar so that has been nice to learn. Of course I also enjoy playing video games and watching movies. I like playing things together with my brothers online, it helps keep us connected even though we are living apart.”

What is something that you are looking forward to in 2025?

“Later this year, I am looking forward to moving away from home, getting my own apartment and finding a community. It’s going to be nice to be able to try to make it on my own and explore what is unique in that new area which is going to be St. Catherine’s so there is lots to do with arts and culture, like plays, theatre and also visiting the wineries.”

Article by: Erin Lalande

Jay also shared with us his wonderful news, he is engaged and plans to get married to his partner, Marisa, in October! Congratulations Jay on your big news, we are so excited for you and wish you and Marisa the most happiness in your journey together!