Neil Squire Foundation

Description

About Us
The Neil Squire Society is the only national notforprofit organization in Canada that has for over twentyfive years empowered Canadians with physical disabilities through the use of computerbased assistive technologies research and development and various employment programs Through our work we help our clients remove barriers so that they can live independent lives and become active members of the workplace and our society Specializing in education and workplace empowerment the Society has served over 20000 people since 1984

The Neil Squire Societys headquarters are in Burnaby British Columbia with research and development labs in both Burnaby and Vancouver British Columbia Regional offices are located in Regina Saskatchewan Ottawa Ontario and Fredericton and Moncton New Brunswick

Mission
We use technology knowledge and passion to empower Canadians with physical disabilities

Principles behind the Mission
We are committed to social inclusion economic equity and a productive
society that includes people with physical disabilities and gives them equal
opportunity to contribute and participate

We know people with disabilities well we know the value they bring to our
society and the barriers they face we serve them and their future
employers filling gaps in services and expertise until government and
industry can directly pursue the benefits of a diverse society and workforce

More than a service organization we facilitate innovative technology
solutions to improve productivity for people with disabilities

We are client and participant driven

We work for social and economic independence for people with disabilities

We are client and participant driven

We work for social and economic independence for people with disabilities

People who are most marginalized by having a disability benefit from our
work and remain our first priority

We value diversity

Our innovative fundraising strategies never involve exploitation of people
with disabilities

We respect every team member

We value everyones contribution

We achieve our goals through excellent planning and teamwork ensuring that
every individual effort is captured for the benefit of our clients and
participants

We value freedom and autonomy while upholding service quality and
accountability

We are aspiring to offer multilevel and multilingual programs

We ensure effective and appropriate use of technology

Vision
Economic and social inclusiveness for all people with disabilities

History

When Neil Squire a 24 year old medical student and basketball star at the University of Victoria hit black ice in 1981 and crashed he awoke in a new world He had become a brainstem quadriplegic unable to move his legs or arms and unable to speak

Bill Cameron a relative was overcome with the limited new world surrounding Neil and other young adults and began dedicating himself to opening doors for people who have significant physical disabilities It struck Bill there was no device for Neil to communicate so he put his engineering background to use

Bill wheeled a teletype machine into the Intensive Care Unit ICU at Shaughnessey Hospital and designed and installed a machine to register sips and puffs through a straw These sips and puffs were translated to dots and dashes Dots and dashes were translated to Morse Code and Neil was taught Morse Code He was able to find his voice again

Neil literally spoke through a quotsip n puffquot machine using Morse Code and this code appeared as letters on a computer screen These letters formed Neils words and sentences and thus began the link to technology for people with disabilities

In no time the teletype was replaced with a home computer and a bevy of volunteers including electrical engineers and occupational therapists began working with Neil on a regular basis They envisioned a time when technology would allow quotpeople who just happen to be in wheelchairsquot to have the same choices opportunities and quality of life as any other person

In 1984 as this enthusiastic group around Neil was looking for an appropriate name for their activities he died unexpectedly and the Neil Squire Society was born

Bill and the dedicated workers and volunteers at the newly formed Society had the vision and foresight to understand that computers were a key to independence They understood the power of this quotnewquot device and the Society set its sights to linking people with disabilities to technology

The world of computers became the flagship of the Society and they developed a program called Computer Comfort People with significant physical disabilities were able to communicate some of them for the first time since the onset of their disability

The Society team was continually developing innovative mechanisms devices that gave people with limited movement full access to activities The Research and Development arm of the Society had established itself as a leader in innovative technology inventing among other items a Jouse a mouth activated mouse to move the cursor on the computer screen

Then another program was implemented Consultation and Assessment Services Made up of professionals who assessed applicants abilities this group continues to analyze work stations for people with disabilities who are working and who want to work to ensure their workstation is suitable to their needs

The federal government has been a program funder and in 1987 Human Resources Development Canada supported setting up three offices in Vancouver Regina and Ottawa New Brunswick not to be ignored was given a presence as well

20 years have gone by and we are more committed than ever to continue our work to improve the lives and opportunities of people with physical disabilities We encourage you to join us in our goal