PK works in marketing and sales for a call centre in Kelowna.

“I have several medical conditions that limit me to work in an environment where standing or walking for long lengths of time is a job requirement,” she explains.

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Kevin is a veterinary technician at a veterinary hospital in Vancouver. His job involves providing nursing care to the animal patients — largely cats and dogs — with duties ranging from administering medication, monitoring vitals, and performing tests.

Kevin has moderate to severe hearing loss in both ears due to a hereditary condition called Alport Syndrome.

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Lynda works at a nursing home in Kelowna in recreation, with her duties including involving residents in activities like exercises, bus tours, and church services.

Lynda has hearing loss.

“I did not hear low speaking residents or co-workers when they spoke to me,” she explains.

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Zach is a journeyman electrician working in Squamish.

“I am mostly deaf in my left ear,” he explains. “It impacted my employment when being delegated tasks since my brains recognition to speech was slow. This increased my anxiety drastically, making it hard to focus.”

He had previously lost his hearing aid, and needed a new one. He had learned about the WorkBC Assistive Technology Services program from his mother, and decided to apply.

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Miranda works as an accounts payable administrator for an electrical company in Prince George.

“I am completely deaf on my left side and only have 30% hearing on my right,” she shares. “Not being able to hear at work was stressful.”

Her audiologist referred her to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for funding for new hearing aids. She applied and was quickly approved for new hearing aids.

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With over 20 years of experience, Troy’s career as a chef saw him traveling the world and operating a successful catering business in Vancouver and later Ottawa, where he now lives. And there were some nice perks.

“I worked quite a bit, and I loved it,” he says. “There were so many times, where it was like, ‘Hey Troy, come up to the cottage for the weekend and you can do all the cooking,’ and I’m like, ‘Sure, why not?’ Vacation and get paid, all right.”

However, about four years ago he began having seizures, losing his balance, and eventually becoming unable to walk. After a long process, he was diagnosed with ataxia, a rare neurological degenerative disorder which affects the body’s motor skills, causing difficulty in speech and movement.

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Harry is currently looking for employment with the help of WorkBC Employment Services in Osoyoos. He has severe hearing loss.

“[It] was extremely difficult to communicate with people in many situations,” he explains.

Harry was referred to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, where he received funding for a new set of hearing aids. The hearing aids have made a big difference in the job search process for Harry.

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Michelle is a bank teller and account manager at a financial institution in Squamish.

“I am hearing impaired and have needed hearing aids since 2019. With COVID and people wearing masks and plexiglass between us, this created a roadblock in my job. It created anxiety for me as I have to be very accurate,” she explains.

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Freeman works as a church organist in Nanaimo. He is hearing impaired, and it was beginning to make his work understandably difficult.

The Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre referred Freeman to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for funding for hearing aids.

“[WorkBC Assistive Technology Services] provided the specialized hearing aids I needed and which I couldn’t afford to buy from retail outlets,” he explains.

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Joan works at a customer service desk in a retail store.

“My job is quite physical and involves a lot of lifting and a lot of moving around the store,” she says. “I have a spinal cord injury at the L1 level. I do not walk at all and use a wheelchair for my mobility. My shoulders, arms, wrists and hands where often in a lot of pain by the end of a shift due to overuse. Getting into my van after a shift was often very painful.”

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