Canadians with disabilities still waiting for greater inclusion in public and private sectors

More than six million Canadians will celebrate a pivotal moment in their personal lives this summer. On July 11, it will be three years since Canada committed to breaking down barriers for people with disabilities and put into force the Accessible Canada Act (ACA). As someone who lives with vision loss and Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, I have spent a big portion of my life feeling challenged, not only by my own limitations, but also by how far we still have to go to be truly inclusive and to shift mindsets. In 2022, it is time to adopt solutions to effectively address these challenges. Putting an accessibility lens on all economic, social, and jobs-related programs Caleb Piché-LaRocque works at Compass Rose in Ottawa. He is a national youth council member and adviser to the Canadian National Institute For The Blind. Photograph courtesy of Compass Rose The federal government deserves credit for enshrining its long-term goals for an inclusive, barrier-free country under the 2019 law on accessibility. And under Accessibility Standards Canada, the government is moving to implement accessibility standards in government departments and federally-regulated industries, as well as in businesses that supply services to the government. But the fact is, there are still gaps in support for people with disabilities, and government programs and accompanying communications need to be strengthened. Everyone involved must rigorously apply an accessibility lens on all economic, social, and jobs-related projects and programs. This means expanding on the idea of “nothing without us,” as Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough stated when introducing the act in 2019. Instead, we need to rise to the more inclusive commitment of “everything with us.” It’s crucial that we put the newer, wholly inclusive concept into practice now. Every organization, whether public or private, must realize that people with disabilities do not want to be singled out or treated differently. The accessible tools we need like screen readers or accessible software solutions should be available in the same way that employees are provided a cell phone or laptop. We just want the right tools to do our work, and it is well known that we can excel when given the tools needed to do the job. Leveraging existing support programs to make meaningful improvements The federal government has said it is committed to addressing these aspirations, but in the real world, the barriers are only coming down slowly, if at all. For instance, the government has tremendous leverage with departments’ purchasing power on goods and services. While federal officials are working on rules on how its private sector suppliers prioritize accessibility, the applicable legislation came into force nearly three years ago without a strategy to teach organizations how to be more inclusive. Enforcement of the law was left to various interpretations, resulting in a mixed bag of solutions. We need to foster results-oriented co-operation with achievable goals and solutions. There is also the matter of support for would-be employers, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises. They require timely incentives to make it affordable to purchase the equipment needed to engage an employee with disabilities. While I do not have this problem in my current role, I have worked for firms that could not afford the needed technology. So, direct financial support at the front end is vital. Take, for example, the federal Assisted Devices Program, which helps seniors access funds to support mobility or other personal lifestyle requirements. A similar program allowing people of all ages to access funds for assisted devices for home and employment use would be extremely useful. In the widest sense, the government should double down on its efforts to make businesses aware of the wide range of support programs available for employees with disabilities. Accessibility for all is an economic imperative We owe it to our fellow citizens to do more—and quickly. According to the federal government, only 59 per cent of Canadians with disabilities aged 25 to 64 are employed, compared to 80 per cent of Canadians without disabilities. People with disabilities earn less than those without disabilities (12 per cent less for those with milder disabilities and 51 per cent less for those with more severe disabilities) and are more likely to live in poverty. And, at a time of labour shortages, every effort should be made to improve accessibility to increase labour force participation, especially since people with disabilities have a higher job retention rate. In fact, the Conference Board of Canada estimated that better workplace access would allow 550,000 Canadians with disabilities to work more, increasing GDP by $16.8-billion by 2030. In Budget 2022, Qualtrough was allocated $272.6-million to implement an employment strategy to increase workplace participation by persons with disabilities. Let’s hope Canadian companies take advantage of this important initiative to step up co-operation with the government and ensure increased hiring and better workplace support for those with disabilities. People with disabilities have been impacted disproportionately by COVID for more than two years. As we chart a path to recovery, it is time to ensure that the evolved phrase “nothing without us and everything with us” is made a reality in Canada. Caleb Piché-LaRocque works at Compass Rose in Ottawa. He is a student at Laurentian University, a member of the Ontario Premier’s Council on Equal Opportunity, and a national youth council member and adviser to the Canadian National Institute For The Blind. He lives with vision loss and Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. The Hill Times

Canadians with disabilities still waiting for greater inclusion in public and private sectors

The federal government has said it is committed to addressing these aspirations, but in the real world, the barriers are only coming down slowly, if at all.

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Canadians with disabilities still waiting for greater inclusion in public and private sectors

The federal government has said it is committed to addressing these aspirations, but in the real world, the barriers are only coming down slowly, if at all.

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