Today, Canada's first Chief Accessibility Officer, Stephanie Cadieux made the following statement, following the release of her second report on the outcomes being achieved under the Accessible Canada Act (ACA):
"The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) has seven priority areas, including employment. While looking at overall outcomes under the ACA, this report places a special emphasis on what is happening with employment for people with disabilities, recognizing that progress in this area reflects progress overall.
"Until the number of people with disabilities increases throughout the workforce, our progress in other areas will be slowed as well. Not only will hiring more people with disabilities position them to help identify gaps and challenges in accessibility that others may miss, but we also know that inclusive workplaces are more innovative and productive. The business case is irrefutable. Everyone benefits.
"In spite of this, progress on employment for people with disabilities has been uneven and awareness and understanding of the ACA remains low. National surveys show that, despite minor improvements, many equity gaps remain. For example, people with disabilities are still less likely to be employed, to have a full-time job, or to have an income higher than $80,000. This is a significant loss, considering that more than 1 in 4 Canadians live with one or more disabilities, and that many of us, including those in the workforce, will experience a condition that affects our mental, cognitive, and/or physical functions at some point in our lives.
"Some sectors are making progress faster than others. Overall, we still have a lot of work to do. Far too many people with disabilities in Canada are highly qualified and eager to work but are prevented from doing so. Systemic barriers to employment persist, from the hiring process to organizational culture and retention. Not only does this reduce opportunities and quality of life for people with disabilities, but it comes at a high cost to our economy, stalling innovation and hindering our competitiveness in the global marketplace.
"This report includes four recommendations for action in key areas. It also includes testimonials from people with disabilities seeking work, or working in sectors from the service industry, to neurology, academia, law and the performing arts. Their reflections shed light on the undeniable value people with disabilities bring to their places of employment, clients, and the public as a whole.
"We need to recognize that people with disabilities are vastly, diversely talented and stop limiting our assumptions about what they are capable of and what kind of work they can do. Attracting labour and top talent has never been more challenging, but doing so is critical. We can solve the problem of excluding skilled people. There are excellent models in Canada and in other countries to look to as examples of how to do it. I know the will is there. We just have to move from words to actions.
Quick facts
- The role of Chief Accessibility Officer (CAO) was created by the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), which came into force in 2019
- As an independent adviser to the Minister, the CAO provides advice on wide-ranging accessibility issues, monitors and report on progress made under the ACA, and provides annual reports detailing outcomes achieved under the ACA, as well as systemic and emerging accessibility issues
- The Office of the CAO serves as a trusted source of information on accessibility, and supports the CAO in promoting a positive and productive dialogue between the federal government, disability stakeholders, national and international organizations
- This report was developed with information gathered, in part, by conducting targeted interviews with disability service providers, post-secondary institutions, international experts, federally regulated entities (FREs) in the public and private sectors, provincial and territorial government departments, disability experts/advocates, and representatives from employees with disabilities networks across the federal public service, as well as through an examination of Accessibility Plans and Progress reports, which are required by FREs under the ACA.
