Our team was recently featured on Speak Up, Listen Up, Act Upon on CJSF 90.1 FM, hosted by Charlotte “Sista C” Ferrell. Charlotte is a participant of our Computer Comfort program.

Staff members Nate Toevs, Curtis Larsen, Kakie Wong, and Heather Ritchie discuss our various programs, including Computer Comfort, Creative Employment Options, Hearing Solutions, and WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, all of which are aimed at helping persons with disabilities access assistive technology, employment, and digital literacy.

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Gloria is studying web development and design, learning everything from coding to Photoshop as she looks to pursue a career in the field.

“I have profound hearing loss due to work related conditions,” she shares. “As I’m unable to properly hear individuals in surroundings with competing noise, it’s important that I’m able to be self-sufficient with a career that allows me to do much of my work and communication online and remotely.”

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Neel is employed in the insurance industry as a Disability Claim Consultant. His job involves coaching and mentoring new case managers once they complete their formal training.

“My hearing loss made it difficult to interact with clients professionally,” he shares. “It was difficult to understand what they were saying to me.”

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Through WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, Roxanne, who works in childcare, received new hearing aids.

“For the first time in 15 years, I have two identical hearing aids providing me with 360 degree sound experiences and sound clarity. I am able to hear the child in my care from anywhere in the house, as well as cars or people that are not even in my vision yet. This gives me the confidence to know that I am able to provide better safety and care for the child in my care when we are out of the house. This is all thanks to the Assistive Technology Services Program approving me for funding. The application was straightforward and thorough, and the correspondence with the case managers were pleasant and informative,” she shares.

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Kelly works at a shipyard. He has hearing loss and needs to wear hearing aids.

When he needed new hearing aids, his audiologist referred him to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for funding help. He applied and was quickly approved.

“It was able to supply me with some funding in help in paying for a new set of hearing aids that were needed for my hearing loss,” he shares.

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Volodymyr is currently searching for work while attending classes to improve his English.

While working with WorkBC Employment Services to find employment, he was referred to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for funding to get hearing aids, which he needs for employment.

“[The] Assistive Technology Services program helped me improve communication with people. I currently received and am using a hearing aid, Phonak Audeo L-R/RT,” he shares.

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Yong Dan works as a Store Associate for a retail store. Her duties include greeting customers, working the cash register, restocking and organizing merchandise, and resolving customer complaints. She has hearing loss.

Through WorkBC Assistive Technology Services, she was able to receive funding for a new set of hearing aids.

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Anthony works for a non-profit that provides housing and shelter for people in need. At the building he works at, his many duties include helping clients with their daily tasks, security, dealing with conflicts, as well as answering phones. He has hearing loss, which can make it difficult to hear conversations.

For his hearing loss, he had hearing aids, however, they no longer worked as well as he needed them to. His audiologist referred him to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for help purchasing new ones.

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Sara works as a brand ambassador in gig-based promotional activations. She has autism and ADHD, and part-time roles allow her to be involved in the community, while also having time to recover and avoid burnout.

“I experience challenges such as sensory sensitivities to sound, the need for specific and structured tasks, and time to decompress after social activities to avoid overstimulation,” she shares. “These factors can make traditional work environments overwhelming, so I focus on roles that allow me to work independently on focused, repetitive tasks which align with my strengths.”

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Joanne is employed by a regional health authority, performing clerical and timekeeping processes. Her job involves working with many different departments.

“Over the last year, I developed a gradual hearing loss in both ears,” she shares. “This became noticeable when I had to ask colleagues to repeat themselves or I unintentionally didn’t respond to them. This affects communication and understanding as one of my duties is to interact with colleagues and employees and participate in meetings.”

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