Our economy and the job market are in turmoil due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and no one knows for sure what it will look like when it's all over. 

For most of us, life will get back to normal quickly.  For others, it may be much more difficult.  For many of us, it may require working from home for many more months or years to come.  

As of December of 2020, the rate of unemployment in BC is around 7%.  Much better than what it was back in April and May but still much higher than the pre-pandemic times.  

Almost a million (926,100) British Columbians have some disability, according to Nate Toevs, the Marketing Manager for Neil Squire, an organization that has worked for persons with disabilities for 37 years.   And persons with disabilities are 50% likely to not have the same employment opportunities, though they have a higher education than the average.

Many of the persons with disabilities do not have generous health insurance or employee benefits that cover the costs of equipment and devices that could help them in workplaces.  Especially for those who are self-employed, work part-time or in student employment situations. 

WorkBC Assistive Technology Services (WorkBC ATS) seeks to fill the gap.  Toevs has been holding weekly webinars online to educate and raise awareness of the program and the Korean Canadian Self-employed and small business employees could benefit from knowing more about the program and accessing them as necessary.  

Under this program, a ”disability" is defined broadly.   For example, “someone suffering from chronic pain from a car accident 3-5 years ago, who's doing ok but continues to have a lingering pain that could last until they get to 100%.  Their condition will improve with an ergonomically designed chair and keyboards, but couldn't afford the full price.”  WorkBC ATS will step in to fill the gaps for individuals like these.

The program also helps those who need modifications to their vehicles for travelling to work and from work. Or those who need hearing aids for their work.   Depending on the means tests, the program would cover a large percentage of these costs.

The key is that the individuals have exhausted the mainstream process such as ICBC, Work Safe or other employer or private insurance benefits.   WorkBC ATS will act as the funder of last resort.  

The program does not cover treatment and therapies or daily living costs.  They will work with employers and landlords if needed to improve the workspace.  Access modifications like buttons to open the door, ramps, accessible washrooms can be made available through WorkBC ATS, and Neil Squire will work in collaboration with the employer or building owners in a cost-sharing model.

One of the unforeseen "positives" of Covid-19 is that "the employers worldwide have seen that people can work from home," according to Nate Toevs.   WorkBC ATS is available to cover the costs of minor adjustment in the workspace for those with disabilities so that they can continue to work at home.

The work-related assisted technology assistance under WorkBC ATS is based on individual work situations.  Once approved as a client, individuals are assessed by Occupational Therapists from the WorkBC ATS with extensive training on assistive technology.

If approved, applicants are brought into the lab office for assessment in person or online.   

Neil Squires has a state of the art lab in their Burnaby office. They work as a “project manager” on a project by project basis, and works with the client until whatever is necessary (e.g. a new ergonomic chair) is ordered, delivered and set up.  

This program also helps with "community attachment" activities like volunteerism because volunteerism is often a path to employment. 

To ensure that as many people are made aware of these programs, Neil Squire looks to health care practitioners like Occupational Therapists, Message Therapists and Acupuncturists who treat people with chronic injuries to refer their clients to the program. Learning about the program through the medium like the Korea Daily Vancouver is another way. They hope the word will spread within the Korean Canadian community so that more people will become aware of the program and access them.  

Other organizations like Job Accommodation Network  provides an exhaustive list of all assistive technology available to people as well. 

When 70% of people are tied to a desk in their work life, good ergonomic chairs, keyboards are essential.  But so are working with the CNIB on low vision assistive equipment.  Western Institute for deaf and hard hearing that can assist with Caption services.   Hearing aids where hearing is integral to the job, all of these requirements can get referred to WorkBC ATS through Neil Squire.

To apply for this program, people interested should visit the website, WorkBC.ca.  Click on "Employment Services" and then look for "Assisted Technology Services."  It takes about 15-minutes to go through the application process.

The standard questions involve information on the person's background and how the disability or barrier impacts their employment-related, activities.  

In these times of economic uncertainty, every little bit helps those in need.  WorkBC ATS program run by Neil Squire is one of them.