William works for the BC Wheelchair Sports Association (new window) as a coordinator for their Bridging the Gap (new window) program in the Interior and Greater Okanagan region. Bridging the Gap aims to introduce persons with disabilities to wheelchair sports and recreation opportunities, through events like Have a Go days, youth sports camps, as well as working with rehabilitation centres and community organizations.

William is a C6, C7 incomplete quadriplegic, making typing a challenge for him. He had gotten used to using Siri on his phone to dictate emails rather than using a computer. As well, having used Mac computers a lot when he was younger, he was not used to the Microsoft Windows laptop he uses for work.

“It has been probably 10 years since I really had to use the computer for work or anything like that,” he says. “It’s not like I have a ton to do on the computer, but it was just the factor of having to type everything out was a challenge for me and it was something that deterred me from wanting to put those extra efforts into that.”

When he explained some of the barriers he faced to his employer, they referred him to their BC Spinal Cord Injury Network partner, Neil Squire, for help upgrading his computer skills.

He joined Neil Squire’s Distance Computer Comfort program and began working with his tutor, Jody, on basic computer skills, as well as learning how to use Dragon Naturally Speaking to use and navigate his computer using his voice.

“It was mostly just having to utilize something to help me type to just save time and energy,” William explains.

“I really enjoyed working with Jody. She is really good at what she does, she has a lot of passion for it. And it seemed like she just put in the extra effort to purposely try to find ways where the programming may not work or how to go around different dilemmas that you may run into,” he shares. “[She was] extremely patient and easygoing.”

William appreciates that the lessons were recorded, so he can go back and re-watch them when he needs a refresher on certain skills. He also liked that the lessons worked around his schedule, and that he could ask for help on anything that he was struggling with on the computer.

“The biggest [impact] is that I just feel more comfortable using the laptop,” he says.

Through Neil Squire’s Digital Jumpstart program, William also received a laptop riser, a headset, a keyboard, and a mouse.

“I definitely appreciate everything that you guys did.”