What are the STOMP and OLTS Programs?
On-Line to Success (OLTS) and Successful Transition Online and Mentoring Program (STOMP) are two transition programs run by RARC. The programs are for students going from secondary to post-secondary school, and take place from March-June. OLTS is for students in Grades 11 and 12 with learning disabilities, ADHD and/or Autism Spectrum Disorders. STOMP is for students in Grades 11 and 12 with mental health disorders, including (but not limited to): depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and OCD.
Both OLTS and STOMP are primarily web-based courses developed by teams from Queen's University, Loyalist College, and Cambrian College. They have been designed to specifically target and address areas that research has shown are problematic for students with disabilities as they make the transition to post-secondary education. Almost all of the programs can be completed on-line, where students will develop strategies to be better prepared for post-secondary education, and to better deal with the increased demands of workload, stress management, and self advocacy required at this level.
Students are supported by trained teacher candidates as part of their Alternative Practicum at Queen's Faculty of Education, and supervised by staff at RARC. These are pass/resubmit courses, and the mentors will provide students with feedback and support regarding their assignments.
Some secondary schools have agreed to grant a partial General Learning Strategies (GLE) credit (0.5) for the course. Please speak with your school's Resource, Learning Support or Student Success department regarding this matter.
The High School to Post-Secondary Transition
Research from the Learning Opportunities Task Force (LOTF) shows that students who participated in a transition program, had better outcomes (progressing to second year and improving grades by 10% to 15%) than same aged peers entering post-secondary studies who did not take a transition program.
Alternative Practicum Opportunity
Each year, teacher candidates from the Queen's Faculty of Education are able to work with the OLTS and STOMP transition programs as part of their alternative practicum. In this practicum, students receive comprehensive training in learning disabilities, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and mental health disorders, as well as hands-on experience working directly with students. Classrooms today are inclusive learning spaces, and this placement gives teacher candidates the chance to learn directly from the students and put their teaching skills into action!
Teacher candidates help facilitate these courses by helping to plan and run the Opening and Closing days which take place at the Faculty of Education, by mentoring the students, and by grading the students’ work during the online course portion. While there are several days that teacher candidates must attend in person, much of the practicum is online, and can be completed from anywhere, so long as you have internet access. This practicum is open to teacher candidates in P/J and I/S, and in all FOCI concentrations.
Jamie
Having a learning disability means to me that I'm different. Sometimes I feel "alienated" because I have one. Sometimes I feel better off alone, other times it’s extremely depressing. I don't feel comfortable talking about my disability, so I almost never talk to anyone. OLTS helped me realize that I am not alone. There are other students who have had similar experiences to me at school and for the first time, I started to feel comfortable talking to other people about my learning disability.
Jamie
OLTS Student
Wesley
STOMP helped me feel more prepared to start college. I got to learn more about the school I want to attend and start thinking about how to support myself when I get there. I learned where to go and who to ask for help if I need it. I also learned how to take care of my own mental health. My moderator was really supportive and answered any questions I had.
Wesley
STOMP student
STOMP & OLTS Forms
*Registration for STOMP & OLTS 2023 is NOW CLOSED. Registration forms and information for next year's cohort will be available in late fall 2023.*
OLTS & STOMP - Information Letter and Registration Form
OLTS & STOMP - Flyer
A Note on Queen’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
At this time, proof of vaccination and masking is not required to attend most in-person activities at Queen’s, including the in-person OLTS/STOMP programming. The university may reinstate its Policy Regarding Mandatory Vaccination Requirements for In-Person Activities, if the local public health environment changes or if government mandates or public health recommendations restore proof of vaccination requirements. If the university does reinstate its Policy, OLTS/STOMP participants who cannot provide satisfactory proof of vaccination could find their ability to participate in the in-person opening and closing activities restricted or discontinued. Please contact our Program Coordinator at olts.stomp@queensu.ca if you have any questions.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact our Transitions Program Coordinator, Gillian Goldsmith at:
(613) 533-6000 ext. 75220
(613) 533-6564
Completed registration packages can be sent by fax, via email or dropped off in person. For confidentiality reasons, electronic packages should be password protected or sent via a secure portal such as SecureDocs to olts.stomp@queensu.ca. Packages can be dropped off in-person to RARC during work hours (8:30am-12pm or 1pm-4:30pm, Monday-Friday). Please do not leave packages unattended outside of RARC's office.