A person in a wheelchair has to be innovative just to get through the day. Imagine how that mindset helps a pod or team at a workplace – Alison Griffiths, “Six Reasons”
Workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities are not as expensive as many employers believe. A 2016 CIBC online survey found that 30% of Canadians with disabilities do not require any workplace accommodation. The average cost of accommodation for those who do is $500 or less.
Even given the well-documented barriers to an accessible education many still face, Canadians with disabilities are well-educated. 56% have completed post-secondary education.
Why should businesses make their employment practices more inclusive for people with disabilities? Quite simply, they cannot afford not to. Two major demographic pressures are affecting the Canadian labour force today: the aging workforce and the shortage of younger talent available to replace them – the Conference Board of Canada – 2014
About 1 in 5 people in Ontario have some form of disability; 70% of disabilities are non-visible
Many employers are not aware of the resources available to help them to attract, hire, accommodate and retain employees with disabilities. Also, there still remains many myths and misconceptions about hiring and integrating people with disabilities in the workplace.
EARN is made up of prominent employers and knowledgeable service providers, all focused on eliminating barriers to employment.
Available Workshops
This four-part learning series is designed to enhance skills and build confidence in shaping accessible recruitment and job retention practices. Given that persons with disabilities are disproportionately underrepresented in the labour market, these workshops will help employers understand the key elements in order to access this untapped talent pool. Participants will also understand how to develop long term strategies towards increasing participation of persons with disabilities in the workplace. This four-part learning series can be taken as individual workshops.
