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.

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For over a decade, smartphone cameras have been used to help blind and low-vision individuals connect with the world around them. We’ve looked at some of these apps before, including “Be My Eyes” and “Seeing AI”, and while those apps are still very much worth using, today we are going to take a quick look at a new entry in this space.

TapTapSee is an app for iOS and Android that is designed to help blind and low-vision individuals identify the world around them without the use of a third-party. This is an important distinction because unlike some of the visual assistant apps that already exist in this category such as the aforementioned app “Be My Eyes”, TapTapSee is designed to be used independently.

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Jamie works in administration for a company, handling duties in finance and human resources. She has profound hearing loss.

“[I have] constant anxiety going into meetings, if my phone rings, if someone comes to ask a question or talk to me,” she shares. “[I have] headaches, fatigue. I miss instructions on work projects and often have to ask for clarification. This causes delays in my work, and anxiety and embarrassment. I miss things in meetings and have to ask later.”

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Eliana works as a lead drafter for a construction firm in the Lower Mainland. Her job involves working with drafting software, as well as managing her team and communicating with the fabrication department.

“I was born with hearing loss in both ears and since the age of five, I wore hearing aids. Without the right hearing aids, I would not be able to hear and understand other people’s speech,” she shares. “Right now, I am gaining more responsibilities at work. I [was] in need of brand new hearing aids that enable me to hear properly during meetings, one to one conversation, and making phone calls.”

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Nand works full-time as a janitor. He has hearing loss, which can make it difficult to communicate with his co-workers. His audiologist referred him to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for funding for hearing aids.

“[Assistive Technology Services] helped me pay for hearing aids, which helps me keep my job,” he says.

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iOS 18 has recently been released, and with that release comes even more built-in accessibility features. Today we are going to look at those new tools, along with some new updates that were released to improve upon pre-existing tools. Let’s take a look!

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Kaeli works at a dog daycare, and she is also self-employed as a dog trainer. However, she has had hyperacusis — sensitivity to sound — all her life, as well as ADHD.

“I struggle to focus in busy environments at the best of times, and it was almost impossible for me to think clearly and maintain my composure in a noisy workplace with dogs barking all the time, not to mention my struggle hearing and communicating with my coworkers,” she explains. “By the end of a shift in that noise, I was exhausted — I was only able to work three days a week due to the fatigue.”

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Today we review some apps for students including Anki Flashcards and MyStudyLife. Then we review some exciting new AT hardware including the Palma 2 e-reader, and more.

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Paula is a homeshare provider, providing support for two adults with disabilities who live with her. Her duties include providing a safe and comfortable home environment, preparing meals, and taking the people she supports to medical appointments.

“I have a hearing impairment that was getting in the way of hearing the people I care for in my home, and also in interactions with medical professionals, day program staff, family, and other individuals and groups involved in their lives,” she explains.

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John is a small business owner, running a local retail store in Vancouver. As the sole employee, he manages all aspects of the business, including opening and closing the store, engaging with customers, and performing administrative and financial tasks.

“I have a moderate to severe hearing impairment that has progressively worsened over the years,” he shares. “This difficulty in hearing has hindered my ability to serve my customers effectively, which had a negative impact on my business. At times, my hearing impairment has also caused frustration and anxiety when interacting with customers.”

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