Accessible Switch Research Study
Our friends at the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation are recruiting Canadian subjects to test two new assistive switch designs. If you have ALS or Muscular Dystrophy and would be interested in participating, see below. Even if you are ineligible to take part in the research, there is an opportunity to help improve the designs, which will be released on the Makers Making Change library when the study concludes.
Eric Chau, MOT, CWCE, Reg. OT (BC)
Eric Chau, MOT, CWCE, OT
Occupational Therapist
Eric Chau received his Bachelor of Kinesiology degree in 2017 and Master of Occupational Therapy degree in 2019, both from the University of British Columbia. Prior to and during his work as an Occupational Therapist, Eric has been greatly involved in academia, including graduate level teaching, presentations at research conferences, and is published as a first author in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. His past occupational therapy experience includes working in private practice, performing functional capacity evaluations, worksite visits and return to work planning, ergonomic assessments and job demands analyses, work simulations, community rehabilitation, and case management. Eric is driven in his clinical practice to help promote maximum independence with clients by leveraging available assistive technology and innovative solutions to bridge gaps between functional ability, activity demands, and environmental affordances.
Claudia Maldonado, MScOT
Claudia Maldonado, MScOT
Professional Disability Practitioner
Claudia Maldonado completed her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Alberta in 1999. Claudia worked in public health care in the Fraser Health Authority and Island Health for the next for 18 years in various areas including acute care, acute neurology, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Orthopedics, and in two Intensive Inpatient Neurological Rehabilitation Programs. In 2017, Claudia started working in private practice providing occupational therapy services and case management to individuals with a variety of health conditions. Claudia joined the coveted Neil Squire family in 2019 when an office was opened in Nanaimo. Claudia thrives in assisting clients independently return to various productivity roles through the use of assistive technology and ergonomics.
MLA Brenda Bailey Visits Neil Squire
We were thrilled to welcome MLA, Brenda Bailey, Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation, to our head office yesterday in Burnaby. Ms. Bailey received a hearing evaluation in our fully accessible Hearing Solutions lab, demoed some assistive technology in our Solutions lab, and visited our Makers Making Change lab to learn about affordable open source assistive technologies.
How to Use ClaroPDF to Scan and Read Aloud (iPad)
Here is how you can use ClaroPDF to scan and read aloud on your iPad.
Microsoft To Do
Today we’re going to look at Microsoft’s free task management app To Do. Task management/list making apps can be useful to anyone, but they are especially helpful for those who struggle with executive functioning or other attention-based challenges. These apps are great for keeping people on track because they allow users to create simple categorized lists that can also integrate with Outlook calendars and contacts.
CAOT-BC Interview with Katrina Tilley
Occupational Therapist Katrina Tilley was named the 2020 recipient of CAOT-BC’s Outstanding Occupational Therapist of the Year.
The CAOT-BC interviewed Katrina about her career in occupational therapy. Read the article: cOnnecT with Katrina Tilley.
Neil Squire Solutions: The Video
Neil Squire Solutions is a team of healthcare professionals who specialize in using assistive technology and ergonomics to find the most effective individualized solutions to meet our clients’ needs.
5 Math Apps to Try in 2020
Whether you are a student, a teacher, or a parent, you have probably struggled with math at least once in your life. In the pre-internet days, if you were struggling in math, your only real option was to use a tutor. Of course, that was not always possible depending on where you lived or what your family’s financial status was. Today, we all have the benefit of having access to an incredible array of learning apps, with many of them being free.
Makers Making Change and COVID-19
Before the advent of the COVID-19 epidemic, it would have been hard to picture a scenario where small-scale manufacturers and makers would have such an important role to play in the health of our nation. But in this post-pandemic world, we are seeing restrictions on large-scale manufacturing due to the health concerns surrounding large gatherings of people. This unprecedented situation has presented the maker community with the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives by focusing on 3-D printed projects that impact the fight against COVID-19, as well as by continuing to safely deliver assistive technology to persons with disabilities during this pandemic.
