Solutions for Schools Kit Donation: École Monseigneur De Laval
Our Prairie Team visited École Monseigneur De Laval in Regina yesterday and donated a French language Solutions for Schools kit. The kit contains upwards of $1,200 worth of assistive technology, allowing students to access and trial a wide variety of low- and high-tech solutions. The school’s Grade 6 class was super engaged and had lots of great questions for our team.
New Hearing Aids Help Bonita Thrive Professionally
Bonita works as a registered foot and hand reflexologist, and she also creates organic soap, which she sells at retail stores and farmer’s markets. For both, her listening skills are vital, whether she is working one-on-one with a reflexology client or talking with customers in a busy market.
“The loss of my hearing is significant with regard to both my professions and has a dramatic impact on how I am able to perform in a reflexology setting, where the client frequently shares vital health and/or personal information, and regarding my organic soap when I am selling in a market setting. Customer feedback is vital to the creation of an organic product which people use on a daily basis,” she shares. “[It’s] frustrating and limiting.”
Neil Squire Solutions, Makers Making Change, Place Aux Compétences, and École Anna-Malenfant Collaborate to Design Custom Assistive Technology for a Client
English Version — la version française suit
A successful collaboration between Place aux compétences, École Anna-Malenfant, and Neil Squire‘s Makers Making Change and Solutions programs resulted in the creation of a simple yet effective 3D-printed adaptation for a Neil Squire client preparing to return to work with pain and limited left arm mobility.
WorkBC Assistive Technology Services Helps Michael Hear His Clients
Michael is a counselor and trauma therapist, working with clients who have anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other sorts of difficulties in their life. His job involves working with individuals, couples, and whole families.
“I am hard of hearing in both ears,” he shares. “This has made my work particularly difficult with clients who are in distress and their voice modulation is not particularly being attended to. You can imagine how awkward it would be to ask a client to please speak up after sharing something vulnerable. Also, there are times where clients just are soft spoken. It has been very difficult repeatedly asking clients to speak up.”
Connie’s New Hearing Aids Bolster Her Job Search
Connie, who has hearing loss, is looking for work. Her local WorkBC Centre referred her to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services (ATS) for help funding the hearing aids she needs for the job search process and for her future employment.
“Having this assistance has been life changing for me! I never knew how much I was actually missing not being able to hear properly. Being able to hear clearly what is being said to me both one on one and in larger conversations is going to assist me in my career more than I actually realized,” she shares.
Prairie Regional Office Donates Solutions for Schools Kits to Yellowknife Schools
In October, our Prairie Regional Office donated Solutions for School assistive technology kits to six schools in Yellowknife Education District #1. Each kit contains upwards of $1,200 worth of assistive technology, allowing students to access and trial a wide variety of low- and high-tech solutions.
WorkBC Assistive Technology Services Gives Coralee Confidence in the Job Search
With the help of WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, Coralee, who has hearing loss, got the hearing aids she needs to find a job and thrive in her future workplace.
“These new hearing aids are giving me more confidence to look for work,” she shares.
Almoneda’s New Hearing Aids Help Her Hear Customers and Co-Workers
Almoneda works as a pharmacy assistant, and her job includes filling prescriptions and answering phones. She has hearing loss, and she found that she was often having to ask customers and co-workers to repeat themselves.
Through WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, Almoneda received funding for the hearing aids she needs for work. She’s seen a big difference in her workday, now able to hear conversations with much less effort.
WorkBC Assistive Technology Services “Made My Job a Lot Easier”
Alaa, who has hearing loss, works as an employment counsellor. Thanks to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, she was able to get the assistive technology she needs to thrive at work.
“WorkBC Assistive Technology [Services] generously funded my hearing aid. [My] case manager was supportive and the whole process didn’t take much time,” she shares. “I am able now to communicate effectively with my colleagues and clients.”
Director of Audiology Heather Ritchie Receives Canadian Academy of Audiology Rising Star Award
Congratulations to our Director of Audiology, Heather Ritchie, on receiving the Canadian Academy of Audiology (CAA) Rising Star Award today at the CAA Conference in Blue Mountain, Ontario.



