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Reducing employment barriers

Innovative assistive technologies for people with disabilities
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Image description: A man working on a machine in a warehouse. He is wearing a safety vest and is operating a packaging machine. The image prominently displays a quote about the impact of his work in the upper left corner.

Individuals who experience a broad range of challenges, including physical, cognitive, or mental health, face barriers to finding, maintaining or becoming independent in their work. Some individuals need customized assistive devices that meet their specific needs to succeed in the workforce. 

CanAssist has secured funding to develop customized assistive technologies that address specific barriers to gaining and maintaining successful employment at no cost to eligible individuals.

Apply here

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Image description: A junior barista at Coco Cafe, expressing gratitude for a device that helps him read specialty drink orders independently. The image displays a quote about the impact in the upper right corner.

CanAssist at the University of Victoria develops assistive technologies to support people of all ages and across the disability spectrum. They are known for creating technology solutions in niche areas where commercially available solutions are not an option. Their technologies are innovative, practical and designed to be used by clients as independently as possible.

They develop technologies that range from the very simple to the highly complex and can be based on mechanical, electrical or software solutions. They concentrate on addressing issues that people with disabilities face daily, such as finding and keeping a job.

Assistive technologies help users with disabilities complete tasks that might otherwise be challenging or impossible. In a workplace setting, the right devices can make a difference between someone being independent and achieving their goals and someone unable to work. 

Watch the video below for more information.

If you or someone you know could benefit from customized assistive technology in the workplace, we encourage you to apply here today and share this opportunity with your community!

To be eligible to receive customized assistive technology, participants must:

  • Be a resident of and legally eligible to work in British Columbia,
  • Be 16 years of age or older,
  • Face barriers to employment and identify as having a disability or functional limitation,
  • Need customized assistive equipment or devices:
    • To start work, self-employment, or volunteering related to a longer-term goal of employment, or:
    • To avoid losing or becoming independent in your current work, self-employment, or volunteering related to a longer-term goal of employment.
  • Not employed by a public sector organization.

For more information, please reach out to CanAssist at canassist@uvic.ca or visit our website at  www.canassist.ca.