Posts Tagged ‘assistive technology’

“I Am Able to Work Faster and Am Making Fewer Mistakes”

Debbie at her workstation, using a large curved monitor in addition to her laptop.

Debbie is a media and marketing strategist, and the founder of her own company, which provides contract work to about 20 other freelancers across BC and beyond. Much of her job involves work on the computer — including doing spreadsheets, analyzing data, writing reports, drafting proposals, and engaging with the ad accounts of her clients social channels.

“I have a visual impairment that has made it very difficult to see fine detail on the screen,” she shares. “It slows down my work which limits how many clients I can bring on and how much work I can generate for my partners.”

“These Accommodations Allowed Me to Regain My Independence”

Patricia, in a wheelchair, in front of her wheelchair accessible van with a ramp leading into it.

Last May, after many years of volunteering in her community, Lynn began working her first paid job in 23 years as a library assistant at the local library in Fort St James. She has a spinal cord injury and uses a wheelchair, needing an accessible vehicle to commute to and from work.

“Earlier that year, my accessible vehicle was involved in an accident, which significantly impacted my independence. Without reliable transportation, everyday activities — including volunteering — became difficult and unsustainable,” she says. “I knew I needed to return to work in order to purchase a new accessible vehicle and regain my independence.”

WorkBC Assistive Technology Services Helped “Improve the Quality of My Work and My Self-Confidence”

Hearing aids.

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.

CanPlan Task Management

A young man helping an older man use a phone.

We’ve looked at task management and to-do list apps in the past, but we haven’t spent a lot of time looking at apps that are designed to promote independent living. CanPlan was designed specifically with people who have cognitive challenges in mind, offering a way to complete everyday activities by breaking them down into clear, manageable steps. The app was designed with a variety of individuals in mind, including those with brain injuries, dementia, Autism, Fetal Alcohol, Dyslexia, and a variety of developmental disabilities.

CanPlan is a step-by-step photo-reminder/planner app that pairs simple instructions with a variety of prompts. Users can choose from photos, text, and optional audio prompts in order to guide individuals through a variety of routines like making a meal, completing household chores, or getting ready to leave the house.

WorkBC Assistive Technology Services Helps Theresa Continue Doing a Job She Loves

A bookshelf in a library.

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.”

YouLearn.ai: An AI Learning Platform Designed for Accessible Study

YouLearn.ai is an AI-powered study platform that helps users learn from their own materials in more flexible and accessible ways. By allowing users to upload documents, lecture recordings, slides, and videos, YouLearn turns traditional learning content into summaries, quizzes, flashcards, and interactive explanations. For many learners, especially those with disabilities, this kind of adaptability can make a meaningful difference in how information is understood and retained.

Thanks to Her New Hearing Aids, Andrea Feels “Less Anxious, Less Fatigued, and More Confident” at Work

A person writes in a notebook.

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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400 – 3999 Henning Drive
Burnaby, BC V5C 6P9
604 473 9360 | 1 877 673 4636
solutions@neilsquire.ca
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Hearing Solutions logo
400 – 3999 Henning Drive
Burnaby, BC V5C 6P9
778 945 1215
hearingsolutions@neilsquire.ca
Refer today