Lena works as an ESL teacher. Her duties include helping the students practice pronunciation, providing guidance and feedback, and managing the flow of class, all in a noisy and fast-paced environment. She has hearing loss.

“Without my hearing aids it was extremely difficult for me to communicate efficiently with my students, understand their comments and questions, as well as help my students become confident while speaking, because they were not sure if they made any mistakes every time I could not hear them,” she shares.

Needing new hearing aids for work, her audiologist referred her to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for help funding them. She applied and was quickly approved.

“I was helped to purchase my hearing aids,” she says. “[It] was a great financial relief for my family and myself.

“I also received substantial support [. . .] in the process of completing my application, filling out forms, and following the steps properly.”

She has noticed a big difference at work.

“I can now communicate much more easily with my students; understand their questions and identify their mistakes, as well as making them feel more comfortable when interacting with me and with each other,” she explains. “The class flows more easily and I now have better communication with my peers as well.”

Len says she “definitely would” recommend WorkBC Assistive Technology Services to others.

“I would like to thank the Assistive Technology Services program [. . .] for helping me improve the quality of my work and my self-confidence. I believe this is a very helpful initiative that benefits us all.”

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WorkBC Assistive Technology Services is operated by Neil Squire. Assistive Technology Services are available to individuals who have a work-related barrier due to a disability or a functional limitation. This may include barriers related to traveling to and from the workplace.

Questions about WorkBC Assistive Technology Services? Need help applying? Contact us: 1-844-453-5506 or info-ats@workbc.ca

Please visit www.workbc-ats.ca for more information about WorkBC Assistive Technology Services.

Tags: assistive technology, BC, Hearing Aids, WorkBC Assistive Technology Services