Author Archive

Helperbird: A Browser-Based Reading and Writing Tool

A person smiles using a tablet.

Browsing the web can be a very inconsistent experience for anyone, but when you’re a person with disabilities, those minor inconveniences might actually become massive barriers.

Today we are going to look at tool that is designed to make reading on the web much easier for persons with disabilities, students, and essentially anyone else who reads content online. Helperbird is an accessible reading and writing toolbar that functions as an extension to virtually any browser. The app offers a variety of reading features including Reading Mode, Immersive Reader, Highlight Menu, and more. It also allows you to tweak and customize the look of the content you are reading, from fonts, to colors, to spacing, borders, and more.

The Stream Deck: Mainstream Technology as AT

A screenshot of The Stream Deck.

Today we going to look at something a bit different. Rather than our usual app review, we are going to look at a piece of hardware which has a ton of potential to be used as AT, even though it wasn’t originally designed as such.

The Stream Deck is a PC accessory that gives users an array of extra buttons that can be programmed to do virtually anything you want. Originally designed for streamers and YouTubers, this device can be used to automate virtually any task, which means it has a ton of potential for persons with physical disabilities.

Anthony’s New Hearing Aids “Help Provide the Confidence I Need to Have”

A man holds a house key on a chain.

Anthony works for a non-profit that provides housing and shelter for people in need. At the building he works at, his many duties include helping clients with their daily tasks, security, dealing with conflicts, as well as answering phones. He has hearing loss, which can make it difficult to hear conversations.

For his hearing loss, he had hearing aids, however, they no longer worked as well as he needed them to. His audiologist referred him to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for help purchasing new ones.

WorkBC Assistive Technology Services Helps Sara Be “More Focused” at Work

A woman wearing headphones watches the SkyTrain.

Sara works as a brand ambassador in gig-based promotional activations. She has autism and ADHD, and part-time roles allow her to be involved in the community, while also having time to recover and avoid burnout.

“I experience challenges such as sensory sensitivities to sound, the need for specific and structured tasks, and time to decompress after social activities to avoid overstimulation,” she shares. “These factors can make traditional work environments overwhelming, so I focus on roles that allow me to work independently on focused, repetitive tasks which align with my strengths.”

“Having These New [Hearing] Aids Enables Me to Continue Working In My Job”

A pad of graphing paper next to a pencil, paper clips, and a laptop.

Joanne is employed by a regional health authority, performing clerical and timekeeping processes. Her job involves working with many different departments.

“Over the last year, I developed a gradual hearing loss in both ears,” she shares. “This became noticeable when I had to ask colleagues to repeat themselves or I unintentionally didn’t respond to them. This affects communication and understanding as one of my duties is to interact with colleagues and employees and participate in meetings.”

DocsPlus

A person types on a laptop.

Writing Apps have evolved a lot over the past decade. Where previous apps tended to focus on one area of difficulty, most modern writing apps now offer a suite of functions designed to bolster your writing from start to finish. DocsPlus very much fits into the latter category, offering writing support from first draft to polished final product. Let’s take a closer look at these tools and how they could be useful for struggling writers.

WorkBC Assistive Technology Services Makes Dawn’s Workday Much More Comfortable

A woman looks over bills and uses a pencil to type on a calculator.

Dawn is a bookkeeper, having worked for the same employer for 15 years. She has Inclusion Body Myositis, an inflammatory muscle disease. She is losing the grip strength in her hands, has weakness in her legs, and has significant fatigue. This makes her job much harder, particularly because it involves a lot of typing, and affects her ability to get to and from work.

After learning about WorkBC Assistive Technology Services online, Dawn decided to apply for help. She received an ergonomic and assistive technology assessment to find assistive technology solutions to help her both in the office and to allow her to work from home.

Neil Squire Society logo
Solutions logo
400 – 3999 Henning Drive
Burnaby, BC V5C 6P9
604 473 9360 | 1 877 673 4636
solutions@neilsquire.ca
Refer today

 

Hearing Solutions logo
400 – 3999 Henning Drive
Burnaby, BC V5C 6P9
778 945 1215
hearingsolutions@neilsquire.ca
Refer today