With the advent of the internet, our ability to independently learn and research has grown immeasurably. It’s almost hard to imagine today that students once had to rely solely on textbooks, books, or encyclopedias for research. And while that method might have worked fine for the majority of students, what about individuals with disabilities related to reading, learning, vision, or even mobility? These days we have the technology to ensure that these different learning styles can be appropriately addressed, and with a world-wide shift towards universally designed education and products, learning and studying has never more accessible.

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Robert is a self-employed civil engineer, contracted to undertake project work by local governments. He works from his home office in Courtenay, but also travels to various work sites and client offices.

He has adult onset limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and has been using a power wheelchair full time for over five years.

With the travel that his work requires, Robert needs a wheelchair accessible van — a big expense.

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Finding the right laptop can be a challenge for anyone, and especially when having to consider accessibility and app compatibility, that process tends to be particularly confusing to new users. Even though all new mainstream laptops are shipped with at least some built-in accessibility features, not all laptops are created equal, and some shine in ways that others do not. So, with all those options to consider, how can we be sure that we’re choosing the right tool for the job?

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Terry owns a contracting and consulting business, where he’s a man of many hats — acting as general manager, chief estimator, and senior project manager.

He has vision challenges. He had heard about the WorkBC Assistive Technology Services program from a family member and decided to apply.

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Notetaking is a critical classroom skill, but it’s also something that’s often overlooked or taken for granted. The idea of “taking notes” seems simple enough on the surface, but what does this process really entail? How do we know what information is relevant and what isn’t? This can often be difficult to determine, especially while being in the moment of capturing information. And for students that struggle with attention, writing, vision, hearing, or even mobility, taking legible and relevant notes in class is especially challenging.

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After experiencing the events of 2020, it’s hard to deny that technology has an essential role to play in maintaining personal wellness and mental health. After being faced with the particular challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve had to rethink the way that we communicate and share space with each other, the way we work, how and why we travel, how we take care of ourselves, and so many other considerations that we previously took for granted.

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Whether you’re a student, a teacher, or a working professional in 2020, you’re probably doing at least a bit of writing in your day-to-day life, and you’re probably doing it electronically. For those who struggle with writing, the digital approach opens up so many more possibilities for support, especially since tutoring can be costly, inconvenient, or downright impossible given the current lockdown conditions. And while many apps offer base level writing features such as spelling and even grammar checks, these features often lack context and accuracy, and may not be best suited for users who require a higher level of accessibility and support.

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Melanie is a specialized employment counsellor based in Campbell River. She helps people with disabilities and mental health impacts find sustainable employment.

“I believe with the right fit, technology, and natural supports comes great opportunities for meaningful employment for all people with disabilities,” she explains.

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To start off 2021, we are going took at some new features that have been recently added to Zoom. This free videoconferencing app has proved itself to be more than useful during the recent pandemic, and as we continue to rely on videoconferencing technology to connect with each other, apps like Zoom keep adding more features and improvements along the way.

Recently, Zoom released a series of updates and improvements designed to make the app more accessible, functional, and customizable, so let’s get into some of these new features.

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Dawn recently started a writing business from her home in Vernon, writing complaint letters for clients and focusing on dispute resolution.

She has hand tremors, as well as bipolar disorder, which makes a typical workplace difficult for her.

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