Anna Neumann, RA, ATP

Assistive Technology Advisor

Anna graduated from the Capilano University Rehabilitation Assistant Diploma Program in 2015. Anna completed her final practicum at the Neil Squire Society and eagerly joined the team in 2016 as an Assistive Technology Assistant. She also graduated from the Applied Business Technology Diploma Program at the College of New Caledonia in 2013. Anna is enthusiastic about her work with the Neil Squire Society and finds it particularly gratifying helping clients live independent and meaningful lives through assistive technology.

Visit Anna Neumann’s profile page on LinkedIn.

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Nate Toevs

Employer Outreach Developer

Nate fills the role of Employer Outreach Developer at the Neil Squire Society. Utilizing his long standing background in Retail, Wholesale and Business to Business sales and marketing activities, he is tasked with educating businesses in BC about the program and how it benefits working and volunteering people in the province. Nate joined the NSS team in 2015 and loves the work in the community, and enjoys helping companies and people achieve all they can.

Visit Nate Toevs’ profile page on LinkedIn.

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Suzanne Wiens

Director of Communications

Suzanne Wiens studied film at Ryerson University in Toronto. She became a member of the Directors Guild of Canada in 1999 and enjoyed a successful career in television and feature film production in both Toronto and Vancouver. In 2005, an interest in non-profit work led Suzanne to the Neil Squire Society where she became a volunteer. By 2009, she was managing the Society’s Fundraising and Communications activities, including grant writing, donor stewardship, media relations, and social networking and website management. For two years, Suzanne served on Vancity’s Community Projects Grants Committee, and has also applied her expertise to other non-profit endeavors both locally and abroad. She currently leads the Communications team as the Society’s Director of Communications.

Visit Suzanne Wiens’ profile page on LinkedIn.

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Gordon Watt, BSc

Distance Training Coordinator

Originally from Scotland, Gordon relocated to BC in late 2008. He graduated from University of Paisley with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science in 1994. In addition, he has A+ Certification and a career of over 20 years in technical support. Gordon has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of numerous software packages and operating systems. Skilled in providing customer and end-user support and training, he can easily identify and resolve client’s technical issues and concerns.

Gordon also coordinates the Neil Squire Society’s Distance Computer Comfort program. This innovative online program gives adults with disabilities, located anywhere in Canada, the opportunity to learn how to use computers from comfort of the own homes, aided by volunteer computer tutors.

Gordon has been providing tutoring and technical support to the Solutions team, since 2011.

Visit Gordon Watt’s profile page on LinkedIn.

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A web designer, inventor, entrepreneur, advocate, and much more, Ean is a man of many talents. His company, ICAN Resource Group Inc., is just as diverse, with services ranging from medical assistive technology to multimedia development.

Ean has Muscular Dystrophy (SMA Type 2). He requires a power wheelchair and is ventilator dependant.

Based in Kelowna, BC, Ean is an advocate for independence through technology. With help from his father, he invented a retractable straw device to remove saliva from his mouth, as he is unable to swallow.

With so many projects, Ean is a busy man.

However, he needed a tablet to communicate his ideas to clients, as well as a Bluetooth module to interface the tablet with his chair.

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Being partially sighted and night blind, the commute home from work used to be a nightmare for Rod Tam.

“Night travel used to be a very stressful adventure,” explains Rod. “Being night blind, I always have to guess what is in front of me and around me when I am walking in the dark.”

Rod is a credit adjudicator at a financial institution. Working in Vancouver, but living in Coquitlam, Rod has to make the trek to and from work every day of the work week via transit. The bus loop on his way home is a wide open space and poorly illuminated.

“Finding the bus stop on my own was an impossible endeavour,” he says.

In August 2015, the assessor conducting a workplace accommodation assessment at his office referred him to the Neil Squire Society’s Technology@Work Program to help him overcome his barrier.

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“It’s absolute freedom,” Rahul Ray says about the hand controls installed in his car with funding through the Neil Squire Society’s Technology@Work program.

Technology@Work Participant, Rahul RayRahul was a partner at an environmental consulting firm ten years ago when he woke up with his right calf numb. A high level soccer player for many years, at first it seemed like it might just be a pinched nerve. But a few months later, he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis(MS).

“I was diagnosed almost to the day I became a partner at my firm. I asked what I am I supposed to do with this MS thing? Can I keep on working? After some research, I decided to stick with it, and became a leader and eventual owner of my company.”

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This short video by the Neil Squire Society’s Solutions team provides an overview of the best ways to sit in your chair and make adjustments to minimize stress on your body. Created by Brittany Wong and Sean Lee, practicum students for our Solutions program.

Click here to read the PDF summary of the tips shown in the video.

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Laura Bergstrom, one of our occupational therapists, wrote a helpful article on creating healthy working environments on the Small Business BC website. Click here to read it.

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