Seneca College RED 2020 - 32

Following an
unexpected path
Ahmed Mirza supports the disability community

It's not the
easiest job in the
world, but
I'm grateful.

PHOTO: IAN PATTERSON

WHEN ONE OF AHMED MIRZA'S SISTERS was diagnosed with
congenital kidney disease in 2005, he and his family
started down an unexpected path.
That path would lead them from Kuwait to Canada
in search of better health care, and for Mr. Mirza, it
would lead to Seneca.
" The Behavioural Sciences diploma program at
Seneca stood out to me because I felt it would allow me
to combine my insights on disability with my interest
in human behaviour, " he says.
His insights were formed by his sister's experiences
and by her further hospitalizations and treatments
for an acquired brain injury and cancer. As a result,
Mr. Mirza had ample opportunities to become familiar
with medical institutions like the Hospital for Sick
Children and the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation
Hospital.
What he witnessed during this time gave him a
deeper understanding and appreciation for the healthcare and the disability community.
" Being up close to those living with disabilities, and
seeing the work done by the front-line staff over the

years, has had a big impact on me, " he says. " It taught
me the power of empathy, science and perseverance. "
Mr. Mirza began at Seneca in 2015 and after two
years - through the advanced entry option provided
by academic pathways - entered Seneca's Honours
Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology program in 2017.
While his academic pursuits were his primary concern,
Mr. Mirza also found time to experience campus life.
He worked for Student Services and was on the board
of the Seneca Student Federation.
" I wasn't the most engaged student in high school,
but everything changed once I came to Seneca, "
Mr. Mirza says. " I didn't just want to graduate with
a diploma or a degree, I also wanted to build meaningful
relationships with my professors and my peers. I wanted
to make the Seneca community better. "
He graduated with high honours as part of the
degree program's inaugural cohort in 2019 and secured
a co-op position at the Toronto-based Geneva Centre
for Autism, where he is now employed as a Registered
Behaviour Technician.
Functioning as an intermediary between front-line
staff and therapists, Mr. Mirza collaborates with his
colleagues and provides direct clinical services to
adults with developmental disabilities with complex
needs, including those with secondary mental health
diagnoses. A typical day could include conducting
behaviour assessments, addressing challenging behaviours, implementing programs that promote life skills
and community integration.
" It's not the easiest job in the world, but I'm grateful, "
he says. " I get to live my values, support people with
autism and help improve their quality of life as well as
our communities. "

RED

2020

Seneca College RED 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Seneca College RED 2020