Madeleine works as a coach and personal trainer in Southeastern British Columbia.

“I love my job,” she says. “I get to interact with people of all ages, and help them feel fit and strong and capable of whatever goals they have.

“I am deaf in my right ear. I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember. As I grew older and more mature, [I realized] that I was missing out on a lot of conversations,” she shares. “It started to negatively impact my job situation when I realized I couldn’t hear clients if they needed help, if they were asking a question, if they wanted to point something out. I was missing that whole part of my job.”

While she had used a hearing aid in the past, Madeleine hadn’t owned one for a long time. A client of hers told her about WorkBC Assistive Technology Services to help get her a new hearing aid, and she quickly decided to apply.

“[WorkBC Assistive Technology Services] guided me through the process,” she says. “They helped set up appointments with the hearing loss clinic. They then were able to secure funding for me to alleviate the stress of paying for this device, which was a complete game-changer for me, to be completely honest. If there was not this financial assistance, I don’t think I would’ve been comfortably able to purchase this hearing aid at this time.”

Madeleine says it has “100%” increased her ability to do her job.

“I now have complete control of the room,” she says. “I can hear on both sides. If my back is turned to the class or a client, I am able to hear them and engage with them. I feel much more confident in going over to one side of the room, knowing that if something goes wrong or if someone needs me, I can hear them on the other side of the room. It’s been fabulous.”

She now feels more comfortable taking on bigger classes, not needing her classes to be quiet enough to hear her clients. Madeleine says she “absolutely” recommends WorkBC Assistive Technology Services to others in need.

“I couldn’t get over how flawless and seamless and quick and professional this whole program was. It was done with care and attention to detail and truly having my best interest at heart, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anybody who is in need of the services,” she says.

“Thank you so much for providing a piece of equipment that is truly life-changing for me, and that I did not think I would be able to have back in my life again. I am so grateful.”

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WorkBC Assistive Technology Services is operated by Neil Squire. Assistive Technology Services are available to individuals who have a work-related barrier due to a disability or a functional limitation. This may include barriers related to traveling to and from the workplace.

Questions about WorkBC Assistive Technology Services? Need help applying? Contact us: 1-844-453-5506 or info-ats@workbc.ca

Please visit www.workbc-ats.ca for more information about WorkBC Assistive Technology Services.

Tags: assistive technology, BC, Hearing Aids, WorkBC Assistive Technology Services