MentorAbility Experience Story: Mélodie
The goal was clear: provide Mélodie with a full immersion in a professional workplace, with expectations, instructions, and direct client interactions.
Mélodie is a young woman supported by Inclusion NB. Already involved as a volunteer at Café d’Ici in Fredericton, Mélodie had the opportunity to explore the café from a new angle through a MentorAbility experience. This time, instead of being a volunteer, she was a mentee.
At the café, Mélodie and her support person from Inclusion NB were greeted by the manager, Sylvie. Mélodie was ready to discover and learn about the different workplace responsibilities: packaging individual cookies, cleaning tables, stocking the fridge with drinks, and even helping a client with their payment. The goal was clear: provide Mélodie with a full immersion in a professional setting, with expectations, instructions, and direct client interactions.
The café happened to be very busy that day, which brought many challenges. For her part, Mélodie was able to adapt, while remaining calm and professional. She clearly communicated her needs, followed the instructions around hygiene before and after breaks, and deftly handled her assigned tasks. Her bright personality, her ability to interact naturally with clients and her team, and her people skills were all highlighted by her support person.
Sylvie shared that, even though the conditions were not ideal (noisy atmosphere, many clients, limited space), she recognized Mélodie’s ability to adapt and the positive dynamic this experience engendered. The mentorship also provided Sylvie with an opportunity to adjust how she assigns tasks and to better understand how to offer a more inclusive workplace, even when the café is busy.
As luck would have it, this day also happened to be Mélodie’s birthday! It was a great way to celebrate a significant personal milestone while also reaching a new professional level.
This mentoring experience perfectly illustrates the principles behind MentorAbility: personalizing the career path, inclusion in the workplace, natural supports provided by the workplace team, and emphasis on the mentee’s strengths. This experience also demonstrated that mentoring, even when it’s short term, can transform an employer’s perception, increase the confidence of a person experiencing disability, and foster a more inclusive workplace culture.
For the mentorship facilitators, this match demonstrated just how much a structured approach, being present but in the background, and having an open mind can make all the difference.
We’re so glad you were able to have a meaningful mentorship experience on your birthday, Mélodie. All the best with your next milestone!