For those who aren’t aware, screen readers are apps that allow blind or visually impaired users to read the text that is displayed on the computer screen via speech or braille display. A few weeks ago, we learned about the NVDA screen reader, and we found it to be a great free tool that gets the job done at an unbeatable price. Today however, we’re going to look at a premium-priced screen reader that comes with a much bigger price tag, but also offers a much wider variety of functionality and features.

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Dinh Trinh works the graveyard shift as a waiter in Vancouver.

Hearing loss was making it difficult for him to hear his customers and the kitchen bell when it was time to bring out food.

His audiologist referred him to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services.

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We don’t spend a lot of time talking about Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) apps, and that’s for a couple reasons. First, AAC apps and hardware are typically recommended by speech-language pathologists. The other reason is that these devices are also highly specialized, and quite expensive, so it’s not always easy to get our hands on the latest and greatest AAC hardware.

Today however, we’re going to look at an AAC app that costs a fraction of the price of a typical piece of AAC hardware, while still providing users with what they need to effectively communicate with the outside world. Proloquo2Go is a symbol-based AAC app for iPad that is designed for persons with speech difficulties, autism, cerebral palsy, and other fine-motor based disabilities, as well as a wide variety of communication-based challenges.

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On episode 9, we are joined by FASD advocate Alicia Munn. Alicia is an LPN, a mother, and the operations Manager/Coordinator for the Fredericton Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disabilities Support Group.

In this information-packed episode, we learn all about FASD and the struggles that these individuals and their families face. Then, we explore some real-life scenarios and make specific AT recommendations! So if you’ve been wondering about to apps to recommend to persons with FASD, you won’t want to miss this one!

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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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Today we observe the second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

On September 30^th of each year, we honour the Survivors of residential schools and remember the children who did not return, as well as their families and communities. We take this day as a day of reflection to recognize and commemorate the harmful legacy of the residential school system in Canada.

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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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Our Hearing Solutions Grand Opening on September 15^th was an amazing success! We were blown away by the support from our community, with 80 people joining us to learn all about Hearing Solutions and to celebrate our newest social enterprise. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

We also want to give a big thanks to our sponsors: Starkey Canada, Starbucks Gilmore, and ALDS Canada. And of course, a big shoutout to our guest speakers: Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, Burnaby Board of Trade CEO and President Paul Holden, Neil Squire Executive Director Gary Birch, Starkey Canada National Sales Manager Marco Coletta, and former professional baseball player and Hearing Solutions client Tyson Gillies.

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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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For persons with visual disabilities, accessing the outside world often requires accommodations, strategies, and technology. And while strategies and accommodations can be relatively easily put in place, lack of access to vision-correcting technology is still an issue for many individuals. The reason for this is simple: cost. For example, there are wearable devices for blind users that provide real time color and product information, face recognition, and more. This device, called the OrCam MyEye is an incredible piece of technology, but with a price tag of around $5,000, this technology is not affordable for everyone. So then that begs the question, what’s out there that is actually affordable for persons with visual disabilities?

NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) is a free, open-source screen reader for Windows that has been in development since 2006. If you are not aware, a screen reader is a piece of technology that helps individuals with visual impairments access and interact with digital content like websites or applications via audio or touch prompts. Users control what is read by moving the cursor to the relevant area of text with a mouse or by using the arrows on a keyboard.

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