Author Archive

Philippe Increases His Independence With Technology

Philippe playing his guitar

Watching Philippe sing his songs, you’ll notice he can be a bit of a one man band — he’ll sing, he’ll play the guitar, he’ll do the percussion all at once, sometimes he’ll even throw in a harmonizer effect to create harmonies by himself.

Born blind in Clair, New Brunswick, Philippe started his musical journey at five years old, and he can play almost any instrument you can name. He learns songs by ear and adds his own flavour to them, and is a prolific songwriter himself.

WorkBC Assistive Technology Services Helps Brian Keep Working in Real Estate

a house with a for sale sign outside

Brian has about 40 years of experience as a realtor. Based in Victoria, he is passionate about serving his clients needs, and as a senior, wants to keep working.

“My most important duty is understanding the needs and desires of my clients, and then translating those needs into results,” he shares.

“My problem over the last few years has been mainly communication. My hearing has been deteriorating leading to embarrassing episodes where I have misheard my clients and had to have [them] repeat [themselves], sometimes several times. That is not conducive to trust and confidence.”

Disability Funding Sources in New Brunswick

a woman celebrating an achievement while going on the computer

In today’s e-bulletin, we’re going to talk about the major disability funding sources in New Brunswick, as well as a couple federally funded programs that are available to any student with disabilities in Canada. Not everyone is aware of these programs, but the potential funds granted can make an enormous difference in the life of any student or individual with a disability. These programs provide funds for school, equipment, training, tutoring, and more. The goal of this guide is to be as comprehensive as possible, so if you are someone with disabilities in New Brunswick and you’re looking for financial support programs, then this guide will be a good place to start.

“I Am Now Able to Work Effectively and Efficiently”

WorkBC Assistive Technology Services participant Vanessa in her wheelchair fitted with accommodations

Vanessa works seasonally with Community Living BC. Born with spina bifida, a left ventricular shunt, and a cognitive delay, she does workshops for high school students with disabilities looking for the next steps out of high school, as well as with families looking into their services.

Her occupational therapist referred her to the WorkBC Assistive Technology Services program.

Through WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, Vanessa received a power elevating seat lift, allowing her to reach things higher up at work. She also received the components to retrofit it into her current power wheelchair.

Five Tools to Search for Jobs Online in New Brunswick

a person browsing job search sites on their laptop

If you’re new to job searching, or maybe just new to job searching online, you might be surprised or even overwhelmed by how many tools there are available. And not only that, but you may not realize how important it is to explore all of the options available in order to increase the chances of finding that perfect position. Today, we are going to briefly explore five of the best options available for independent job searching online in New Brunswick. All of these tools can be accessed from any browser on PC or Mac for free, and many of them are even available as an app which can be downloaded via Android or iOS.

Randy Continues His Meaningful Work Thanks to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services

WorkBC Assistive Technology Services participant Randy

“Retirement was not for me, but I did not have necessary technology to enable me to be productive,” says Randy, who is blind.

Randy is a founding board member of the One in Spirit Healing Arts Society, a non-profit society facilitating transformative healing moments, rooted in First Nations teachings. He recently started work as the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Elder-in-Residence for the Nanaimo campus of Vancouver Island University, a job he credits WorkBC Assistive Technology Services helping him to get.

He had heard about the program on the radio and decided to apply.

Four Apps to Stay Organized at Work

a person looks at an electronic calendar on a computer, and their computer has sticky notes with reminders attached

It’s not always easy to stay on task during the workday, and with many of us working from home right now, staying focused on work can be a real challenge. Today, we’re going to look at four apps that are designed to help you stay organized and productive at work.

These apps are designed to help keep you on task regardless of whether you’re working from home or in the office, and even for students with a heavy course load, or for those who simply need a little extra help staying on task, many of the apps that we’re looking at today would be worth considering.

“I Know Now That I Can Face My Future With Courage,” WorkBC Assistive Technology Services Makes the Difference for Linda

woman smiling while standing near a whiteboard

Linda used to work as a pharmacist but had to stop due to severe pain in her hands and wrists.

“I live with chronic pain in my hands, feet, and hips from previous injuries. It is very difficult for me to use a mouse and keyboard, to use a pen to write, to hold and use my smart phone, to sit for prolonged periods of time or to stand for prolonged periods of time,” she says from Richmond. “As a result, working at a computer station is very difficult for me. For a long time, I was not volunteering or working as a result of these limitations.”

Three Apps to Digitize Math on the Go

a person looking at a phone while standing over a table, a person is on a computer in the background

Whether you’re a student, a working professional, or anything in-between, there’s a good chance that you’ve struggled with math at least once in your life. Now, imagine if you had the ability to instantly scan and solve the calculation that was in front of you and then have the necessary steps broken down and explained? For those who struggle with math, or for those who simply don’t have the time, these types of apps are an absolute godsend, but not everyone even knows this type of app exists! So, without further ado, we are going to look at three of the best math calculator apps that are available today.

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400 – 3999 Henning Drive
Burnaby, BC V5C 6P9
778 945 1215
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