We Have Solutions! – Episode 8: Back to School with Nakia Singh
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On episode 8, we are joined once again by AT researcher and life-long assistive technology user Nakia Singh. In this episode, we talk about some of our favorite back to school apps, making friends with AI, apps for math, and Seaver’s recent experiences in joining the partially sighted community.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Anchor, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.
Montessori Numbers
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We’ve looked at a couple math calculator and equation breakdown apps in the past, but today we are going to look at a math app that instead focuses on building mathematical foundations. Montessori Numbers is a visual math app designed for children aged 3-7, and it offers a wide range of guided math activities that are designed to conform to common core standards.
“I Feel More Confident Sitting Down With a Potential Employer,” Harry Boosts His Job Search With New Hearing Aids
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Harry is currently looking for employment with the help of WorkBC Employment Services in Osoyoos. He has severe hearing loss.
“[It] was extremely difficult to communicate with people in many situations,” he explains.
Harry was referred to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, where he received funding for a new set of hearing aids. The hearing aids have made a big difference in the job search process for Harry.
Speechify Text to Speech
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Text-to-speech apps allow users to quickly absorb articles, documents, emails, and virtually anything else found online. Of course, students and professionals aren’t the only ones who benefit from text-to-speech applications. Persons with disabilities including those with dyslexia, dysgraphia, visual impairments, and more, can all benefit from this alternative approach to reading.
“I Honestly Don’t Know How I Was Managing Before,” Vehicle Modifications Help Robyn Reduce Fatigue and Pain in Her Workday
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Robyn works part-time as a delivery driver for a pharmacy in Surrey, delivering patients their medicine.
Robyn was a passenger in a serious car accident that broke her back and caused kyphoscoliosis of her spine and other soft tissue damage. Emergency surgery for an abdominal injury resulted in her spine healing in the wrong position. This causes her extreme difficulty standing or sitting upright for almost any length of time.
South Korea National Research Project Researchers Visit Neil Squire
As part of the National Research Project on Assistive Technology Support & Service in South Korea, researchers visited our Burnaby office today to learn about our programs best practices. We provided a tour of our office and overviews of Solutions and Makers Making Change and we were happy to share our expertise in the area of assistive technology.
“We Have Solutions!” Episode 5: Pivoting for the Pandemic with Tracy Ryan
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On this episode, we are joined by our K-12 Coordinator for Assistive Technology Programs and Services, Tracy Ryan. Tracy brings with her decades of experience in the disabilities community, and almost 5 years serving as our K-12 coordinator here in New Brunswick.
We talk about what it was like to provide services and training to schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the challenges, successes, and lessons that went with it.
“We Have Solutions!” Episode 4 Featuring Nakia Singh
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Episode 4 of our AT Help Desk‘s podcast, “We Have Solutions!” has been released.
On this episode, we are joined by co-host Nakia Singh. Nakia brings with him decades of personal experience with assistive technology, computing, and much more. In this episode, we touch on home automation, transportation for the visually impaired, and PC vs Mac vs Linux.
You can listen on Anchor, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.
Aliakbar Overcomes Employment and Language Barriers With WorkBC Assistive Technology Services
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Since immigrating to Canada, Aliakbar has had a hard time finding employment. He faced a language barrier, a lack of Canadian education, and hearing loss.
“I used to work as truck driver for 20 years in my home country and need help to find a similar job here in Canada,” he shares. “I have profound hearing loss and it had significant negative impact in my job search activities and also my ability to learn a new language, English.”
New Hearing Aids Make a “Night and Day Difference” for Steve
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Steve works as a paralegal in the Lower Mainland. The job is front-facing and services-oriented — he is responsible for producing documents for lawyers that clients need, as well as interacting with clients.
Steve also has hearing loss.
“While the loss itself is relatively mild, it makes it quite difficult to hear others. As my job revolves around being able to listen to others, whether receiving instructions from co-workers or talking to a client, it is very important for me to be able to hear properly,” he shares.