“I have a hungry soul. I want to see and do and experience so many things but I feel limited in so many ways”, says Amber, who has been dealing with a perceived sense of limitation for over a decade.

Amber was in high school when, one day, she turned her head to look out a bus window and she heard a snapping sound followed by intense pain. That was when her trapezius muscle (new window) was severed and she began experiencing pain that would be with her for the rest of her life. No one is sure why the muscle severed that day, but Amber says she had two traumatic experiences, a car accident and a violent assault, that she thinks must have contributed to it.

Amber was referred to the Neil Society in 2010 by her worker at the Richmond Employment Centre.  At that time she had just completed the Kaleidoscope Program (new window) where she earned minimum wage while learning the basics of film production.

Although she was anxious to make money, she knew she didn’t want just another unsatisfying job. “I don’t want to work for minimum wage forever in a job that doesn’t challenge me just because I’ve been injured”, says Amber.

The Employ-Ability Program (new window) was “just what the doctor ordered” for Amber. What she learned in the Program about assistive technology really impressed her. “Some of it is so simple, like using a high backed chair with good lumbar support. Usually I can only sit for 20 to 30 minutes before my pain rises and I become drained of energy. It may seem trivial, but looking back it’s enough to make me want to cry. It was so wonderful to be able to sit in comfort.” She also used Ergorest arm rests to help take strain off her shoulders.

Since finishing the Program, Amber has been focused on getting involved in her chosen field, grief counseling. She was recently accepted into the Expressive Art Therapy (new window) course at Langara College (new window) starting in 2012. Until then she intends to gain employment related to that field.

Stay hungry, Amber!

If you would like to make a donation to support others like Amber, you may do so here.