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.

Through WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, she received Dragon Naturally Speaking, which allows her to use her computer through voice commands instead of typing, as well as training on how to use it. For the office, she got a headset, which works with both her computer and phone, an ergonomic chair, an optical magnifier, as well as winter boots with built-in ice cleats to prevent her from slipping during the commute. To help her work from home, she received a laptop, desk, and footrest.

“These accommodations improve my ability to answer emails with ease, saving my hand strength for programs that Dragon does not integrate with. It will also enable me to work longer as I will be able to work from home,” she explains. “[I] definitely feel more comfortable at work as I’m not getting as fatigued as quickly using some of these assistive devices.”

Dawn praises WorkBC Assistive Technology Services staff as “extremely helpful and supportive.”

She says, “I would hundred percent recommend the Assistive Technology [Services] program to others! And I have!”

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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, ergonomics, WorkBC Assistive Technology Services