About the role
Program: Community Outreach for Drug and Alcohol Use
Status: Relief
Hours: 36.25 hours/week
Salary: $21.5960- $26.2747 per hour
Date Posted: August 26, 2025
Closing Date: September 9, 2025
About Surrey Place
Surrey Place is a not-for-profit organization that helps people of all ages with autism, developmental and sensory-related concerns push the boundaries of what’s possible to achieve new victories. We offer integrated services and inclusive support in a safe and welcoming environment. Our approach is family-based, which centres the interests and care of our clients, families and caregivers by teaching them skills. We strive to ensure the greatest access to services and support our clients in navigating the health care system. Surrey Place helps people learn new skills, gain self-confidence and reach their full potential.
Program Description
Safer Steps, My Way: Community Outreach for Drug and Alcohol Use (formerly Harm Reduction Program) is a new 3-year program that will include input from individuals with personal experience to create and test a harm reduction program. This program aims to provide personalized care for people in Toronto and Kenora/Rainy River. This position will be based in Toronto and will focus on developing a comprehensive care approach, guided by The SHIFT Model, which emphasizes evidence-based and specialized support for individuals with developmental disabilities, prioritizing humility, awareness, sensitivity and accessibility.
Position Description
The Safer Steps My Way program at Surrey Place is looking for a Lived Experience Associate. The successful candidate will report to the Manager, Safer Steps My Way. We are seeking someone who has an intellectual disability and has experience with drug and alcohol use. This job is about giving advice to Surrey Place staff to help create and improve things like assessments, materials for clients, website content, research projects, educational presentations, training videos, and how services are delivered.
What You Will Do
- Help design the service model and ensure that all materials are in plain language.
- Co-design and co-facilitate groups for clients and workshops for Surrey Place staff.
- Provide input on how to involve participants in research and help them understand it.
- Present information about our program to medical students at the University of Toronto and to community members
- Participate in teams that focus on improving accessibility and advocating for people with IDD and who use drugs and alcohol.
- Help create and provide feedback on educational materials and training sessions.
- Offer suggestions on various resources, such as videos, scripts, and questions for expert interviews, to ensure they are effective and appropriate.
- Be available to assist and meet with participants in the Safer Steps My Way program, which likely focuses on helping individuals navigate their challenges.
- Help test the Surrey Place website and any new programs to ensure they meet user needs and are easy to navigate.
What We’re Looking For
- You are a friendly person who makes others feel safe.
- You have either a College Diploma with 1 year of work experience or a High School Diploma with at least 3 years of work experience.
- You are enthusiastic about sharing your lived experience as a person with an intellectual disability who has used or is using drugs or alcohol to improve Surrey Place's processes and services.
- You are organized and can attend scheduled meetings (with reminders if needed).
- You enjoy working as part of a team and are interested in learning new skills.
- A satisfactory Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector Screening).
- You are knowledgeable in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
- Fluency in French is a plus.
Surrey Place values the diverse and intersectional identities of its staff, clients and families and regards equity and neurodiversity as fundamental at all levels of our organization. We are seeking applicants who embrace our values of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA). We encourage candidates from Indigenous and equity seeking groups such as those from Black and racialized communities, people with disabilities, women and 2SLGBTQ.
About Surrey Place
Surrey Place is a not-for-profit organization that helps people of all ages with autism-, developmental-, and sensory-related concerns push the boundaries of what’s possible to achieve new victories. With a holistic circle of care approach, Surrey Place brings together caring clinicians, staff, valued partners and other experts to collaborate for the client’s best interests.
About the role
Program: Community Outreach for Drug and Alcohol Use
Status: Relief
Hours: 36.25 hours/week
Salary: $21.5960- $26.2747 per hour
Date Posted: August 26, 2025
Closing Date: September 9, 2025
About Surrey Place
Surrey Place is a not-for-profit organization that helps people of all ages with autism, developmental and sensory-related concerns push the boundaries of what’s possible to achieve new victories. We offer integrated services and inclusive support in a safe and welcoming environment. Our approach is family-based, which centres the interests and care of our clients, families and caregivers by teaching them skills. We strive to ensure the greatest access to services and support our clients in navigating the health care system. Surrey Place helps people learn new skills, gain self-confidence and reach their full potential.
Program Description
Safer Steps, My Way: Community Outreach for Drug and Alcohol Use (formerly Harm Reduction Program) is a new 3-year program that will include input from individuals with personal experience to create and test a harm reduction program. This program aims to provide personalized care for people in Toronto and Kenora/Rainy River. This position will be based in Toronto and will focus on developing a comprehensive care approach, guided by The SHIFT Model, which emphasizes evidence-based and specialized support for individuals with developmental disabilities, prioritizing humility, awareness, sensitivity and accessibility.
Position Description
The Safer Steps My Way program at Surrey Place is looking for a Lived Experience Associate. The successful candidate will report to the Manager, Safer Steps My Way. We are seeking someone who has an intellectual disability and has experience with drug and alcohol use. This job is about giving advice to Surrey Place staff to help create and improve things like assessments, materials for clients, website content, research projects, educational presentations, training videos, and how services are delivered.
What You Will Do
- Help design the service model and ensure that all materials are in plain language.
- Co-design and co-facilitate groups for clients and workshops for Surrey Place staff.
- Provide input on how to involve participants in research and help them understand it.
- Present information about our program to medical students at the University of Toronto and to community members
- Participate in teams that focus on improving accessibility and advocating for people with IDD and who use drugs and alcohol.
- Help create and provide feedback on educational materials and training sessions.
- Offer suggestions on various resources, such as videos, scripts, and questions for expert interviews, to ensure they are effective and appropriate.
- Be available to assist and meet with participants in the Safer Steps My Way program, which likely focuses on helping individuals navigate their challenges.
- Help test the Surrey Place website and any new programs to ensure they meet user needs and are easy to navigate.
What We’re Looking For
- You are a friendly person who makes others feel safe.
- You have either a College Diploma with 1 year of work experience or a High School Diploma with at least 3 years of work experience.
- You are enthusiastic about sharing your lived experience as a person with an intellectual disability who has used or is using drugs or alcohol to improve Surrey Place's processes and services.
- You are organized and can attend scheduled meetings (with reminders if needed).
- You enjoy working as part of a team and are interested in learning new skills.
- A satisfactory Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector Screening).
- You are knowledgeable in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
- Fluency in French is a plus.
Surrey Place values the diverse and intersectional identities of its staff, clients and families and regards equity and neurodiversity as fundamental at all levels of our organization. We are seeking applicants who embrace our values of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA). We encourage candidates from Indigenous and equity seeking groups such as those from Black and racialized communities, people with disabilities, women and 2SLGBTQ.
About Surrey Place
Surrey Place is a not-for-profit organization that helps people of all ages with autism-, developmental-, and sensory-related concerns push the boundaries of what’s possible to achieve new victories. With a holistic circle of care approach, Surrey Place brings together caring clinicians, staff, valued partners and other experts to collaborate for the client’s best interests.