Clear communication can be a daily challenge for many individuals, especially for people with disabilities that affect writing, language processing, or fine motor skills. ClarifyAssistant on the Apple App Store is designed with this reality in mind, offering an integrated writing support tool that works directly within the iPhone and iPad keyboard.

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Andrew is self-employed, doing woodwork and renovations. In that capacity, his job involves everything from the actual fabrication and installation work to dealing with customers and billing. He has hearing loss, which has made it hard to find work.

“I have congenital bilateral sensorineural moderate to severe hearing loss which has made lifelong communication challenges in-person and on the phone. Word recognition is low in all environments, speech in noise is virtually impossible,” he shares, noting that while had a previous set of hearing aids, they were no longer effective for his hearing needs on the job.

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Not long ago, I was visiting an elementary school when a resource teacher asked me if I knew of a free math manipulative app that students could access on their iPads. I wasn’t sure what to recommend at the time, so I decided to do a little digging, and I discovered a great app that definitely deserves a mention.

Polypad by Amplify is a free virtual space where students can explore mathematical concepts using interactive manipulatives, models, and tools. Originally developed by Mathigon and now part of Amplify’s educational ecosystem, Polypad combines the flexibility of a digital whiteboard with a comprehensive collection of math resources.

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John (name changed to protect privacy) recently completed a skills training course for newcomers to Canada through WorkBC, and he is looking for work. He is also taking English courses. He has hearing loss.

Through WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, John received the hearing aids he needs for the job search.

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For many students, organizing information can be just as challenging as learning it. Between lecture notes, assignment deadlines, brainstorming sessions, and studying for exams, it is easy to become overwhelmed by scattered ideas and disconnected information. That is where the SimpleMind app can be especially useful. Designed as a mind mapping and visual organization tool, SimpleMind helps users turn thoughts into structured, easy-to-follow visual diagrams.

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Linda (pictured in the middle with WorkBC Assistive Technology Services staff members Joanna and Andleeb) works part-time as a visitation assistant at a funeral home.

“[I have] mild to severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss,” she shares. “[It] significantly impacts my ability to perform my job duties, communication, active listening, and safety as my main role is directly meeting with families in highly sensitive situations.”

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David has worked as a certified educational assistant for a school district for 20 years. His job has him in constant communication with both students and staff, and working out of an office space that’s often busy with students, it can be particularly difficult for him to hear.

“[I have] nerve damage in both ears. My struggle for the past couple of years has been able to hear clearly when someone is trying to speak to me, either in-person or over the phone. I have been constantly asking for them to repeat what they are saying,” he shares. “The other thing was I was not picking up on certain tones and having to have them repeat or even write down what it is. It has been very frustrating.”

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Cynthia is looking for work, in particular, a customer service or teaching role, or something else she can do from home. However, she faces many barriers that make finding employment more difficult.

“I was diagnosed with a severely enlarged heart which leaves me very weak and arthritis in my low back, hips and legs. I have poor circulation and swelling in my lower legs and am in pain all the time. Since my mobility has been severely compromised, I use a cane around my home for support and a walker when I am out. I am only able to walk for about five minutes until I need to sit and rest,” she shares.

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With funds raised by our sixth annual Princess Ball, our Prairie Regional Office has donated four Assistive Technology Resource Kits — each containing upwards of $1,800 worth of specialized assistive technology — to support students with disabilities at Regina General Hospital and Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan through our Solutions for Schools initiative.

Over the past several weeks, our Prairie Region Solutions team, Amanda LaRose and Chelsea Osiowy, have been hard at work. From researching and planning to carefully selecting tools, building kits, and delivering them into the community, their focus has been on one goal: creating meaningful, accessible learning opportunities for students who need them most.

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In this article, we’re doing something a bit different. Rather than our typical content that is normally written by a sole author (Seaver), we’ve invited our colleagues Rebekah and Louise to help us test out and give their thoughts on a variety of notetaking apps across a variety of devices.

Each of us will review three apps, and then we will give our opinions on what works, what doesn’t, where each app shines, and where each app struggles. We will be reviewing OneNote, Granola, Notability, Goodnotes, CollaNote, Mindgrasp, Genio (formerly Glean), Otter.ai, and Coconote. To test these apps, we will be using a wide variety of devices and tools, including laptops, iPads, iPhones, Microsoft Edge, and the Logitech pencil.

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