Elana spends quite a bit of time volunteering, and in particular, with a cause that’s close to her heart — teaching a workshop on living with chronic pain.

Chronic pain from torn tendons in both arms and muscle tension in her neck make it difficult for her to work, so she volunteers as much as possible instead.

“With the ability of pacing and planning, and going slow, I am able to live as good a life as I can. I’ve kind of redesigned things so I am not sitting down and putting myself through so much pain anymore,” she explains.

However, with the COVID pandemic, the workshop she was passionate about teaching had shifted from an in-person class to a mostly virtual course. Elana found herself largely unable to volunteer.

“I did not have the proper hardware or software,” she shares. “I didn’t even use a computer.”

A friend she volunteered with recommended she check out Neil Squire’s Digital Jumpstart program to learn the computer skills she needed. Elana was particularly interested in learning how to use Dragon Naturally Speaking to use a computer with voice commands instead of having to type everything.

“[My goals were to] just to use a computer again and to get familiar with using a computer without having to strain my body and my arms and my neck,” she says.

Elana began working with Distance Training Coordinator Gordon Watt to get her computer skills up to speed, with a look at everything from a basic Google search to the intricacies of using Dragon. She enjoyed Gordon’s patient teaching style, and appreciated that the lessons were recorded allowing her to re-visit sessions and take more away from them.

“I learnt more than I ever thought possible,” she shares. “I was amazed at how much I was actually able to learn, and it really made my life easier.

“There were times when I was so happy when I was doing the program with Gordon that it almost brought tears to my eyes.”

Through Digital Jumpstart, Elana received a new laptop, laptop riser, a wireless headset, and a wireless mouse.

“I still have to sit in front of a computer, but I can use my laptop riser,” she says. “Just by using that, I’m able to move around my apartment, and I can change my computer screen height up and down, I can move to my kitchen table, that coupled with my headset, it’s made my life so much easier.

“I’m now able to do it without having great pain in my arms and neck, even getting through an hour Zoom is so much easier.”

Thanks to the skills and equipment she received through Digital Jumpstart, Elana has been able to return to the volunteer position she’s passionate about.

“[Digital Jumpstart] was fantastic from start to finish, and it gave me the skills and confidence and ability to help me overcome my fear of using a computer again. With guidance, patience, and excellent teaching skills, I am now able to use my laptop,” she shares. “I have nothing but good things to say about it, it’s really changed my life.”