Celebrating Accessibility and Inclusion

People with disabilities have the skills employers need, yet they often face barriers to finding and keeping a job. For many, the key to success is some accommodation to support them to search for employment or overcome challenges in the workplace.

WorkBC’s Assistive Technology Services (ATS) supports individuals who face a work-related barrier due to a disability or a functional limitation, providing equipment and devices to help these individuals thrive in the workplace.

ATS supports can include assistive devices like ergonomic desks, chairs, and keyboards, ramps, vehicle modification, communication and hearing devices related to work, and American Sign Language interpreting and captions.

Read about how ATS supports have helped a number of people achieve their employment goals or contact your local WorkBC Centre today for more information.

The right tools opened opportunities for Rob 

Rob is blind and has been looking for work as a writer. Searching through online job notices was challenging because his computer was failing, and he didn’t have the right software to allow him to navigate using his screen reader.

At WorkBC’s Assistive Technology Services, disability practitioners helped Rob find the tools he needed to succeed. With a new computer, screen reader software, headset - and training on his new tools - Rob’s all set. “The help I received in the training was essential, vital” he said. “I wish I had known about it earlier.”

With his new equipment and training, Rob is actively searching for work online and submitting writing to publishers. “It’s opened up totally new opportunities in writing for me,” Rob said.

“I am very happy with the service - extraordinarily grateful for the support I received and the training.”

Assistive Technology Services helps Kelly get to work

Kelly is a sales manager consultant at a car dealership. Along with appraising used vehicles for trade-in, selling wholesale vehicles to brokers and working deals with customers, Kelly manages the sales department and staff issues.  

While busy selling reliable vehicles to others – he needs one himself.  

Kelly is a quadriplegic and travels to work daily in a wheelchair accessible van. When his aging van became unreliable he visited an accessible van supplier who referred him to WorkBC’s Assistive Technology Services (ATS).

Support from ATS made it possible for Kelly to continue working.

“They covered most of the cost of the modifications that were needed to make the vehicle usable for me,” he said. “Without it, I would not be able to get to work.” 

Now that his transportation is secure, Kelly can put his energy into his busy job. “I highly recommend WorkBC Assistive Technology Services,” he said. “The daily drive to work is better knowing that my vehicle shouldn’t break down at any time.”

Andrea has the tools to work independently

Andrea has spastic cerebral palsy, which limits her ability to read, write, and requires her to have daily assistance. When she wasn’t finding a typical 9-5 job to suit her, she began training to start her own home-based business.

Determined to make her home-based business a success, she went to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services to find devices to help her work more independently.

Assistive Technology Services provided her an adjustable sit-stand desk and a high-speed laptop with software that allows her to type by dictation and search the web. “They also helped assist me with tech issues like my headset and suggested an external microphone as a solution which I use daily now,” Andrea said.

“I was able to acquire all the tools I need to work almost completely autonomously,” she said. “I am able to work independently — answering emails, searching the web, using documents, and printing on my own.”

Andrea is grateful for the support of Assistive Technology Services. “I am working towards job prospects that would have never been possible without this help,” she said.
 

Michael needed support to get back to work

Michael is the founder and general manager of a construction company in Kelowna – but was thrown off course with an anoxic brain injury which caused severe hearing loss.

When Michael was ready to get back to work, his audiologist referred him to WorkBC Assistive Technology Services (ATS) for support.

“I am just starting to ease my way back to work,” he said. “It is going to be a slow, long process. I am starting to get used to hearing aids and just focusing on my rehab and getting back to work without trying to over stimulate or overwhelm myself,” said Michael.

Michael says ATS has been “amazing to work with” and calls getting hearing aids “a life saver.”

“Without them I wouldn’t even stand a chance at getting back to work. Assistive Technology Services has helped me - tremendously - to start taking part in my business again since my accident. I am beyond grateful.”

Amy can communicate with her co-workers and patients

Amy is a chairside assistant and sterilization technician in a dental clinic in Grand Forks. “My hearing is impaired,” she explains. “Without hearing aids, it is very difficult to hear instructions, communicate with patients, and understand what is required of me.”

Her audiologist recommended WorkBC Assistive Technology Services (ATS) for support getting the hearing aids she needed for work.

Amy’s new hearing aids made a world of difference. “Communication is much better,” she said. “I am now able to hear coworkers clearly, communicate with patients as needed, and understand everything that is going on around me.”

Amy was grateful for the support and recommends ATS. She said, “Without assistance, I would not have been able to purchase new hearing aids. These have greatly improved my functionality at work.”