Using his knowledge of design and construction, Alfred recently started a business, Accessible Places, to help people with disabilities and seniors by assessing homes and buildings for accessibility, using Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification standards.

“Having had a stroke in 2016, I am trying to give back to my community by helping others have a more accessible and inclusive life at home,” he explains.

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Carissa works full-time with the student union at a college near her home in Cumberland, BC.

“I live with impaired hearing with sensory processing disorder. Sounds have a visceral effect on my body and experience. I am emotionally affected by sounds, and at times have difficulties deescalating from loud, unpredictable sounds,” she explains.

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Elizabeth has over 20 years of management experience in First Nations governance. She is currently in the interview process for a new position.

“I was having a great deal of trouble hearing,” she shares from Osoyoos.

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Gary has a way with computers and technology. He volunteers his time to various organizations on Salt Spring Island, including as a computer literacy instructor and with a library program helping people access books and assistive technology.

He is also looking to get back into the workforce, having enrolled in WorkBC Employment Services. He has been doing contract work as a computer technician with local businesses in the area, and WorkBC has been helping him work towards his self-employment goal.

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We were thrilled to welcome MLA, Brenda Bailey, Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation, to our head office yesterday in Burnaby. Ms. Bailey received a hearing evaluation in our fully accessible Hearing Solutions lab, demoed some assistive technology in our Solutions lab, and visited our Makers Making Change lab to learn about affordable open source assistive technologies.

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About five years ago, Anwar was working more than 50 hours per week in senior management at a large national organization, plus volunteering at an executive level at another 10 hours per week.

“One day, I could not rise from my bed, it took me over two hours to get up and out of bed, my vision was partially lost in one eye, and my entire body was in severe chronic pain,” they explain.

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Darren works as a transportation planner, writing reports for cities, analyzing data, and preparing conceptual drawings.

“I have a profound hearing impairment. It means that it is difficult for me to follow group conversations,” he shares.

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Marcie is a senior working full time in telephone sales. She works hard to sell appliance parts to both retail and wholesale markets, and follows up on requests for replacement parts.

“Hearing loss has limited my ability to interact with both customers and co-workers. It became necessary for me to ask people to repeat themselves several times in order to understand [them],” she explains. “Many times I would be unaware that I was being spoken to, especially if the person was behind me. It is easy to misunderstand instructions when you do not hear clearly.”

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Marlene is a certified education assistant at an elementary school in Salmon Arm. She works with students with articulation delays, behavioural needs, and in gym and music.

She has hearing loss and needs hearing aids.

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Kim is an office administrator and safety coordinator for a steel company in Vernon. Her duties are wide ranging, including sales, receiving inventory, customer service, billing, and accounting.

Severe ear aches as a child left Kim with hearing loss in both ears.

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