Bill’s Path to Employment Empowered by Assistive Technology

Bill's determination to pursue his goals led him to Easterseals Massachusetts’ Assistive Technology program. Having to continually adapt his routine after his diagnosis of macular degeneration in 2015, he increasingly found it difficult to maintain the level of independence he wanted. His vision loss became a barrier to driving, reading, and using household appliances.

Fortunately, Bill was referred to ESMA by his Career Services counselor at MassAbility. He sought assistance to help him adapt to his changing vision and regain control over his daily activities. ESMA AT Specialist Jessie completed his initial evaluation, and she and her colleague Victoria worked with Bill to identify and implement the right solutions for his needs. Bill’s primary goal was to use his computer effectively, allowing him to work again. To achieve this, he was introduced to built-in Windows accessibility features, a high-contrast keyboard with extra-large text, and ZoomText software, which magnifies the screen, enhances contrast settings, and provides a screen reader function. A 27-inch 4K monitor was also provided, offering a sharper image to help him navigate digital content more comfortably.

To help read physical documents, Bill received an iPad Pro with a 13-inch screen and a ScanJig stand to scan and magnify documents using the Seeing AI and Magnifier apps. In addition to reading text, these tools assist in identifying objects. He also learned to use many additional accessibility features on the iPad to navigate his surroundings.

By all accounts, meetings between Bill and ESMA are always fun and filled with laughter. “Jesse was great, and Victoria has been phenomenal,” said Bill. “I look forward to every meeting because I learn something new and can be myself and joke around." Bill has become a strong advocate for people with disabilities, especially seniors, and Easterseals. “Everyone needs to know about assistive technologies,” said Bill. When he meets people with disabilities, Bill shares his experiences to educate others about AT and encourages them to explore ESMA programs so they can achieve the same success he has. “Because of assistive technology, doors to employment have opened and I am a senior going back to work.” With the help of assistive technology and Easterseals Massachusetts, Bill has gained greater independence and confidence. He travels into the city, serves on the City of Boston’s Senior Advisory Council, and helps test systems for accessibility. Bill concluded, “I am extremely grateful to everyone at Easterseals. They are supportive and listen. The technologies they taught me have expanded my network and have made my life better.”