Community Living Ontario

Youth visits microbiology lab through Passport Mentoring initiative
Wednesday August 25, 2010 -- Natalie Hamilton

With a hands-on experience in a microbiology lab, a Toronto-area high school student recently had a taste of what a career in science entails.

Working with University of Toronto graduate student Laura Hug, Duncan Fong spun DNA in a centrifuge and learned about Hug’s project, which involves creating a microbe that cleans ground water.

The meeting with Hug was made possible through the Passport Mentoring initiative, an opportunity for students who have an intellectual disability to explore ideas for their future after leaving school.

The program is available to pupils aged 14 to 21 who wish to learn more about an area of interest, or to be introduced to members of their community who have similar interests.

Samantha Walsh, Passport mentor co-ordinator for metro Toronto, worked with Fong to identify his interests and ideas for post-secondary activities.

Since the Drewry Secondary School student has a passion for the environment and science, Walsh arranged the meeting with Hug.

The graduate student says she enjoyed her experience with Fong.

“It took us a couple of minutes and once we got into a groove it was really good,” Hug says.

“(Fong) clearly had really good questions. He began enjoying to use the equipment. It’s really refreshing to meet youth who are interested in science.”

Hug doesn’t have formal experience related to working with people who have an intellectual disability, which made the afternoon about two people sharing their passion for a subject and additionally valuable, Walsh says.

“All of Laura's contact with persons with disabilities has been through community inclusion,” Walsh explains.

“I like this because Laura has not had special training, she is not a service worker or someone who understands herself to be doing charity work. She is a graduate student who is passionate about science and wishes to share that passion with anyone in the community who shares it.”

Following a tour of the lab and various scientific demonstrations, Hug answered Fong’s questions about science and different career choices related to that area of study.

While Fong found the experience valuable, he hasn’t made any concrete plans for the future just yet. However, Hug says, “if he wanted to come back, I’d be more than happy to have him.”

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