Lynda works at a nursing home in Kelowna in recreation, with her duties including involving residents in activities like exercises, bus tours, and church services.

Lynda has hearing loss.

“I did not hear low speaking residents or co-workers when they spoke to me,” she explains.

• Read More

Zach is a journeyman electrician working in Squamish.

“I am mostly deaf in my left ear,” he explains. “It impacted my employment when being delegated tasks since my brains recognition to speech was slow. This increased my anxiety drastically, making it hard to focus.”

He had previously lost his hearing aid, and needed a new one. He had learned about the WorkBC Assistive Technology Services program from his mother, and decided to apply.

• Read More

Miranda works as an accounts payable administrator for an electrical company in Prince George.

“I am completely deaf on my left side and only have 30% hearing on my right,” she shares. “Not being able to hear at work was stressful.”

Her audiologist referred her to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for funding for new hearing aids. She applied and was quickly approved for new hearing aids.

• Read More

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.

• Read More

Michelle is a bank teller and account manager at a financial institution in Squamish.

“I am hearing impaired and have needed hearing aids since 2019. With COVID and people wearing masks and plexiglass between us, this created a roadblock in my job. It created anxiety for me as I have to be very accurate,” she explains.

• Read More

Freeman works as a church organist in Nanaimo. He is hearing impaired, and it was beginning to make his work understandably difficult.

The Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre referred Freeman to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for funding for hearing aids.

“[WorkBC Assistive Technology Services] provided the specialized hearing aids I needed and which I couldn’t afford to buy from retail outlets,” he explains.

• Read More

Joan works at a customer service desk in a retail store.

“My job is quite physical and involves a lot of lifting and a lot of moving around the store,” she says. “I have a spinal cord injury at the L1 level. I do not walk at all and use a wheelchair for my mobility. My shoulders, arms, wrists and hands where often in a lot of pain by the end of a shift due to overuse. Getting into my van after a shift was often very painful.”

• Read More

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.

• Read More

Marie works in a women’s treatment centre in Vancouver.

“My hearing ability had diminished drastically, and I was unable to function at my best. I do a lot of phone intake with women, this is one of the most difficult phone calls they make and not to be able to hear properly was unforgivable,” she explains.

• Read More

Eliezar works as a residential cleaner in Victoria, cleaning homes.

He has hearing loss, which has made his job difficult due to miscommunications that have occurred. As well, being unable to hear alarms or emergencies put Eliezar at risk of injury.

The Island Deaf and Hard Of Hearing Centre referred Eliezar to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services for funding for a pair of hearing aids. He applied and was quickly approved.

• Read More