Judi Wannamaker wouldn’t describe herself as having a disability. But this spring, a debilitating case of carpal tunnel syndrome pushed her to seek out the Technology@Work program to find assistive technology that can help workers with disabilities overcome barriers to employment.

Like many workers, Judi spends most of her day on the computer. After opening a new small recruiting firm, she was putting in extra hours on her laptop to help build the business. The extra computer time and new workspace was causing pain in Judi’s wrists and tingling in her hands.

After months of sleepless nights due to the pain and a noticeable impact on her work, Judi was questioning whether she would be able to continue running her new venture. Finally, when she was prepping for an important business trip in April and still struggling to manage the pain, Judi realized she needed to find help.

Judi reached out to an occupational therapist and was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. She was then referred to the Technology@Work program with the Neil Squire Society. The Technology@Work program provides assistive technology to help employed, self-employed, volunteer, or imminently employed people with disabilities achieve their employment goals. For Judi, this meant meeting with the Technology@Work team to assess her needs and a workplace visit to identify technology that would allow Judi to continue working.

“Honestly, it was a life changing experience,” said Judi. Through the Technology@Work program, Judi was able to upgrade her workplace with an ergonomic office chair, adjustable keyboard tray, ergonomic keyboard, dual monitors and speech recognition typing software. Today, Judi is back at work typing reports, notes and other documents without causing pain in her wrists. “It’s amazing how much things have improved. I rarely wake up in the night and can work through the day – but now I know to take breaks!”

Since launching in May 2015, the Technology@Work program has served more than 75 people throughout B.C. and educated more than 400 employers on how to make their workplaces more accessible. “We serve people with a wide range of disabilities,” says Technology@Work occupational therapist Laura Bunn. “Our goal is to help remove the barriers that people with a permanent, temporary or episodic disability may face that can impact their ability to perform their job or volunteer tasks.”

On Sept. 10, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation Michelle Stilwell visited the Technology@Work lab at the Neil Squire Society to meet with clients and employers, and use the program’s assistive technology.

This September, the provincial government is highlighting the information and resources available to employers and employees with disabilities as part of Disability Employment Month. The Province has a goal to have more people with disabilities employed in B.C. than any other province in Canada by 2024, as part of its Accessibility 2024 10-year action plan.

Quick Facts:

• There are approximately 334,000 British Columbians aged 15 to 64 years who self-identify as having a disability.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome is numbness, tingling, weakness, and other problems in your hand because of pressure on the median nerve in your wrist.
• The Technology@Work program with the Neil Squire Society receives $3 million annually to provide assistive technologies to workers with disabilities.
• Workplace accommodations for a person with a disability cost $500 or less, on average.
• From April 1, 2015, to July 31, 2015, the Employment Program of BC provided personalized case managed services to more than 55,000 people, of which, more than 21,000 had identified themselves as having a disability.

Learn More:

For a photo of Technology@Work clients and employers: https://flic.kr/p/yELW18

To learn more about the Technology@Work program: http://www.neilsquire.ca/bctechatwork/

For information about carpal tunnel syndrome: http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthtopics/content.asp?hwid=hw213308

To learn more about Disability Employment Month: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2015SDSI0042-001401

Find WorkBC resources and information about hiring people with disabilities: www.workbc.ca/Accessibility

View a list of cross-government services for people with disabilities in B.C.: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/services-for-people-with-disabilities