GLENROSE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION  |
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To my kids, I’m just a 
mom, love is what 
matters.
About the I CAN Centre for 
Assistive Technology 
The I CAN Centre for Assistive Technology helps people 
living with complex physical or cognitive disabilities 
use assistive technology to participate more fully in 
everyday life. From technologies that support reading, 
writing, and communication to specialized mobility 
equipment and power wheelchairs, the Centre helps 
people find tools that promote greater independence 
and make everyday activities more accessible.
– Jenna Hoff
“As an occupational therapist, my goal is to see 
patients being as independent as possible. At I CAN, 
individuals have access to assessments, technology 
trials, education, and support they need to find success 
in their everyday lives. Every day, we see the impact 
of creative problem-solving on people’s lives, whether 
it’s a patient driving to an appointment in their power 
wheelchair, someone talking to their partner with their 
AAC device, or an individual beating their therapist 
at a switch-adapted game. Each of these moments 
represents opportunity and independence.”
“The I CAN Centre strives to help patients and families 
use assistive technology in their everyday lives for the 
tasks that are important to them,”
says Corinne Tuck, occupational therapist 
at the Glenrose.
“Life-changing is the best way to describe how the I CAN Centre and its 
staff have impacted my life,” Hoff says. “My life has so much more colour 
and ability because of them and I will be forever grateful.”
With her AAC system, she began volunteering with 
organizations that support refugees and newcomers to 
Canada, eventually leading English conversation classes. 
She discovered that her clear, synthesized voice was 
particularly effective for English language learners, both 
free of accents and easy to understand. She returned 
to academic spaces, participating fully in meetings and 
asking questions alongside her peers, while also resuming 
work as a writer and editor and joining advocacy 
committees.
At home, AAC transformed everyday moments: coffee 
with friends, family gatherings, and conversations around 
the dinner table. Moments where she could finally 
participate. 
That ability became especially important as her family 
grew. With the support of AAC, she and her husband 
navigated the complexities of the adoption process, 
meeting with social workers, educators, and medical 
professionals as equal partners. Today, she is an 
active advocate for her children, communicating 
with teachers and specialists, speaking up for them in 
classrooms and hospitals, and showing her children 
that difference is not something to hide, it’s part of 
who we are. 
“To my kids, I’m just a mom,” she shares. “Love is what 
matters.”
In recognition of her extraordinary perseverance 
and positive outlook, Hoff was recognized with the 
Glenrose Hospital Foundation 2022 Courage Award, 
a fitting tribute to her journey. 
But she is quick to redirect praise. She points instead 
to the people at the I CAN Centre who helped her 
discover what was possible — the therapists, clinicians, 
and staff who looked beyond her diagnosis and saw 
a whole person with dreams and a life ahead.

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