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.

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While receiving training for a career in human resources, Earl was referred to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for accommodations to help him with his studies and job search activities. Earl faces many employment-related barriers.

“I have physical, cognitive, and mental health related functional limitations that can affect comfort, concentration, processing speed, and stamina when completing tasks. Without appropriate ergonomic support and structured working conditions, it can be more difficult to stay focused for extended periods and to complete computer-based work consistently,” he shares.

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Theresa has been working as a public service assistant at a library for 10 years, helping people from all walks of life access resources at the library.

“I experienced gradual, age-related hearing loss that made it very difficult to understand conversations,” she shares. “I was constantly asking people to repeat themselves, and it was as frustrating to me as I am sure it was to anyone with whom I was attempting to converse, both patrons and colleagues.”

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Sophie works in education, helping children succeed in the classroom and reach their goals. She has severe to profound hearing loss.

Her local WorkBC Centre referred her to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for funding for the new set of hearing aids she needed on the job. “They were able to help me get new hearing aids,” she shares.

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Andrea works as a Senior Executive Assistant, and her job involves scheduling meetings, responding to inquiries from the public, and coordinating accommodations. Much of her work takes place over the phone, or virtually through Microsoft Teams.

“In my current role, I am responsible for a range of tasks that require clear, consistent, and often spontaneous verbal communication,” she shares. “I have bi-lateral, sensorineural hearing loss, which I have experienced since childhood. While I have developed coping mechanisms for personal and social situations, my hearing loss impacts my ability to perform job-related tasks efficiently and equitably.

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Aaron works remotely as a programmer. In addition to programming and systems administration tasks, his job also involves meetings. He has hearing loss in one ear along with severe tinnitus.

“The tinnitus makes concentration difficult, something I already am challenged by with ADD. This is primarily an issue with programming where I work alone and need to concentrate for long periods of time,” he shares.

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Susan is looking for employment as a career development practitioner. She has hearing loss.

“Hearing loss impacts my ability to clearly hear the spoken word. This is a drawback in interviews, as well as a liability on the job,” she shares.

Through WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, she received funding for hearing aids with Bluetooth connectivity. She now feels much more confident in the job search process.

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Carmen is currently receiving training for employment through WorkBC. She faces barriers in her search for employment.

“I have a series of medical issues that impact my ability to work: Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, POTS, Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety, PTSD, and Long COVID. I have a very low window of tolerance for physical tasks and find increased pain,” she shares, noting that she can only work a limited amount of hours and days during the week.

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Lorna works in healthcare administration, overseeing the day-to-day functions, patient and staff scheduling, and daily operations of a healthcare facility. She has hearing loss.

“This affects my ability to perform my job as my job is very public facing in a large and noisy environment,” she shares. “My work also involves attending and running meetings which I find challenging to keep up with the conversation.”

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Kathy is a support worker, providing day-to-day assistance and advocacy for individuals experiencing mental illness and homelessness.

“I help clients access community resources, support their personal goals, and promote independence and well-being. I also collaborate with colleagues and service providers to ensure consistent, person-centred care,” she explains.

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