Matt Dierckens

Technology Coach, Blind/Low Vision

About me.

I have always enjoyed working with adaptive technology. ever since I got my first computer in
2000, I wanted to explore and learn how it all worked. I probably drove my parents and teachers
nuts figuring things out. This love of technology inspired me to start doing private training, and
now that I am with LearnStyle I love to see that success of everyone I work with.

My Hero

I would have to say my hero is Louis Braille. Without him and his Braille system, I would not be
able to succeed as an adult, let alone spell.

My Passion

My passion is for teaching others. I get so excited when training, whether it’s a device or skill
that I have a great deal of familiarity with or one that I have never used before that I get to do
some research on and teach the student to use the equipment.

Phone

1.866.324.9155

Email

matt.d@learnstyle.com

Favourite Food

My favourite food is pasta. Any kind with chicken, mushrooms and peppers is great.

Favourite Book

I love the Harry Potter series. I read them once a year.

Favourite Type of Music

I am a huge jazz fan. I have been playing piano since 1995 and I really enjoy when the jazz artists play a big piano solo.

Growing Up

When I was I born I stayed in the hospital for around 3 months in an incubator. I don’t remember when I lost my sight, but I have been totally blind all of my life. I was in a mainstream public school and high school until grade 11. I went to the W. Ross Macdonald School in Brantford for grade 12 and my fifth year so I would be able to do communications classes as well as co-op. It was in this co-op where I got my first shot at doing some technology instruction and writing some documentation.

Graduation

I attempted to study the radio broadcasting program at Fanshawe college in London however I was unable to continue to the second year of the program due to accessibility issues. I did go to an
independence training program at the Colorado Center for the Blind After I graduated from the centre I obtained my assistive technology certification.

More about me.

One of my favourite pastimes is playing the piano. From the time I was quite young I always had a keyboard around the house. I had a lot of keyboards over the years. I went from an old Casio to
a couple of Roland workstations and now use an M Audio USB MIDI controller with my Mac with Logic Pro.