When Lisa was 23, she was in car accident that left her a C6, C7 incomplete quadriplegic. She has been using a wheelchair ever since. Now having just turned 60, she’s raised two grown kids with her “wonderful husband,” and has since re-gained the strength to drive and do most of the cooking and cleaning in her house. Lisa loves her life.

“[I] have a life that I just never imagined or dreamed that would happen,” she shares.

Lisa used to have an Apple computer, but it broke down and she couldn’t afford to replace it. At a Spinal Cord Injury BC (new window) coffee group in Vernon, she learned about Neil Squire, and before long, she was able to receive a laptop through Neil Squire’s Digital Jumpstart program, as well as a laptop riser, headset, wireless keyboard, and a trackball mouse.

However, it was a Microsoft Windows laptop, and she was not used to using Windows as a longtime Apple user. She joined our Distance Computer Comfort program and began receiving computer tutoring from the comfort of her home.

Lisa worked on learning the Microsoft Office programs. She enjoyed working with her tutor, Distance Training Coordinator Gordon Watt.

“Gordon was just the most excellent, patient, funny, informative [teacher]. He went through absolutely everything with Word, with Excel, with PowerPoint,” she says.

She particularly appreciated that the lessons were recorded so she could go back and review the materials.

“I would have a hard time remembering what we’ve learned, so we recorded it and then he made it really challenge free,” she explains. “So that when I was practicing what I learned, if I had forgotten one procedure or how to get to what I want, I would just go back and listen to what he taught me.”

Her favourite part was getting to use the skills she learned in PowerPoint to make a slideshow presentation, complete with music, from photos of her son during a recent rock-climbing trip he took.

Lisa says she “absolutely, without a doubt” would recommend the Distance Computer Comfort program.

“I have a lot more confidence with being on the computer,” she says.

She plans to use the skills she’s learned on the computer, in particular PowerPoint and Excel, with a local group she’s volunteering with.

“I just have learned so much and I’m looking forward to using all of that knowledge that I have with my volunteer positions,” Lisa shares.

“I’d just like to thank Neil Squire from the bottom of my heart. I just feel so privileged and grateful that this program was available for [me].”