Disability Resources
Are you an employer seeking resources to learn more about Disability? Below you will find tools and resources designed to assist your company in creating an inclusive workplace.
Disability in Canada
Research & Reports
A Way With Words And Images: Guide For Communicating With And About Persons With Disabilities
This guide supports communication with and about persons with disabilities in writing, speech and images. It aims to foster an accessibility- and disability-confident Canada. It is intended to support the federal public service and all Canadians to communicate accurately and confidently.
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/disability/arc/words-images.html
The Visible Minority Population with a Disability in Canada: Employment and Education
This infographic depicts the current work and educational environment for people within the visible minority population who have a disability.
Source: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2020086-eng.htm (2020)
Profile of Persons with Disabilities in Canada
Workforce Planning Hamilton created an infographic sharing from the latest Canadian Survey on Disability based on 2022 data from Statistics Canada.
Community Resources
Making Cent$ of Abilities Employers’ Resource to Hiring and Retaining Persons with Disabilities
A local initiative from the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin highlighting the economic benefits of employing persons with disabilities, how employers can recruit workers with disabilities and the available supports for employers in doing so.
https://www.workforceplanningboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Making-Cent-booklet.pdf
Training & Tools
Training & Tools
Coming Soon.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Research & Reports
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Learn about Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd
Business Case Study: Les Armoires Séguin
Les Armoires Séguin hired a young person who had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and recognized the potential of their employee, they made changes to their training processes and provided training other staff on working with a person who has ADHD.
https://www.odenetwork.com/case-studies/les-armoires-seguin-2019/
Community Resources
Coming Soon.
Training & Tools
Coming Soon.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Research & Reports
Fostering Inclusion: Exploring the Needs of Autistic Adults in Canada
This report explores the needs of adults in Canada who have autism and how we can better support the health and wellbeing including challenges they have finding jobs and getting enough support at work.
https://autismalliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024_EN_Adult-Needs-Assessment-Survey.pdf
Community Resources
Words Matter
A collaborative language and communication guide in the autism field. The theory behind person-first language is that it puts the person before the disability or the condition and emphasizes the value and worth of the individual by recognizing them as a person instead of a condition.
https://www.autismcanada.org/_files/ugd/890d7b_5b22c35327fd4d0e8314b17714ba3608.pdf
Training & Tools
Autism Workforce Development Hub
Prepare everyone for a successful employment experience with free training and consultation programs that bridge the gap between employers and neurodiverse employees.
https://www.autism.net/autism-workforce-development-hub
Blind and Visual Impairments/Disabilities
Research & Reports
Canadians with a seeing disability, 2017
This infographic describes important stats regarding Canadians who have visual impairments.
Source: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2019071-eng.htm (2019)
Blindness Myths and Facts
Learn some myths and misconceptions about blindness and people who are blind with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).
https://www.cnib.ca/en/sight-loss-info/blindness/blindness-myths-and-facts?region=gta
Community Resources
Coming Soon.
Training & Tools
Coming Soon.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Research & Reports
Canadians with a Hearing Disability 2019
This infographic describes important stats regarding Canadians who have a hearing disability.
Source: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2019025-eng.htm (2017)
Business Case Study: Rockwool
Rockwool collaborated with the Ontario Disability Employment Network and the Bob Rumball Canadian Centre of Excellence for the Deaf to provide changes to become more accessible to hire employees from the Dead community.
https://www.odenetwork.com/case-studies/rockwool-2019/
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth in Ontario: A Snapshot of Systemic Barriers and Gaps
This report identifies ten gaps and barriers among Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth communities and three solutions are offered to address these gaps and barriers.
https://silentvoice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EN_report.pdf
Hearing Loss 101
Learn about hearing loss from the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association.
https://chha.ca/hearing-loss-101/
Information Guide by Canadian Association of the Deaf
Learn more about the Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD) and their research that uncovered the rate of under and unemployment among Deaf Canadians.
https://cad-asc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CAD-ASC-information-guide.pdf
Community Resources
Coming Soon.
Training & Tools
Amplify Access Training Program for Employers
This program will introduce you to accessible strategies, tools, and technologies to transform your workplace into an inclusive and supportive environment. You’ll also deepen your awareness and sensitivity to the unique experiences and challenges faced by individuals with hearing loss and deafness in and outside the workplace.
https://amplifyaccess.talentlms.com/index
Deaf Learn Now
Deaf Learn Now is a tuition free, online literacy program run by George Brown College for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Adults who live in Ontario, Canada.
https://choices.georgebrown.ca/
Equitable Access Guide – A Guide to Using Interpreters
A guide to make your service accessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing consumers.
Developmental Disabilities
Research & Reports
Business Case Study: Aurora’s Pizza and Spaghetti House is Finding Success by Welcoming Diversity into the Family
Aurora’s Pizza and Spaghetti House finds success working closely with Community Living Algoma (CLA) and the value of hiring people who have a disability.
https://www.odenetwork.com/case-studies/auroras-pizza-and-spaghetti-house-2023/
Final Research Report: Advancing Equal Access for People with Intellectual Disabilities in the Workplace Project
Inclusion Canada, People First of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Citizenship and Inclusion researched employment barriers and the needs of people who experience intellectual disabilities.
Community Resources
Info Sheet: Equal Access at Work
Read the Info Sheet summarizing ways the Government of Canada can support equal
access at work for people with intellectual disabilities.
https://inclusioncanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/InfoSheet_23-03-30.pdf
Ready, Willing & Able
Ready, Willing & Able transforms and increases labour force participation of people who have an intellectual disability and those on the autism spectrum. It advances economic productivity and social inclusion. It is a national strategic partnership between Inclusion Canada, the Autism Alliance of Canada, and provincial bodies including Community Living Ontario. This is the most successful program of its kind in Canada.
Training & Tools
Real Xchange
Community Living Essex County created REAL Xchange with a vision to bring agencies together to share the information, tools and resources needed to best support people with intellectual disabilities.
Episodic Disabilities
Research & Reports
Episodic Disabilities in Canada
Centre for Research on Work Disability Policy (C.R.W.D.P.) research “Episodic Disabilities in Canada” was a three-phrase project that focused on hiring, retention, and progression in employment of people who have episodic disabilities.
IDEAL Community Consultations: Intersectionality, episodic disability and access to health services, community supports and employment in Canada
The focus of this document is an intersectional examination into the living realities and various aspects of access barriers to health services, community-based organizations and employment for people living with episodic disabilities in the Canadian landscape. The participating organizations serve communities that provided unique intersectional considerations of gender, racial identity, faith community, health conditions, sexual identity, and age with disability.
Workplaces REVAMPED (Workplaces REcognizing the VAlue of eMPloyees with Episodic Disabilities)
This report reviews the goals of the REVAMPED project, raising employers’ awareness of episodic disabilities and their impact on work through the development of a number of interactive and accessible education and awareness-raising activities.
https://www.realizecanada.org/wp-content/uploads/REVAMPED-Report-20230525-FINAL-2.pdf
Community Resources
Disclose and Accommodation Planning – What do we need to improve job retention for people who are living with a disability?
Presented by Monique A. M. Gignac, PhD at the 2022 Rethinking Disability Conference (RDC): Future of Work, explore how to improve the communication-support process for people living with episodic disabilities to enhance their ability to gain and sustain employment.
Training & Tools
Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT)
The Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT) helps workers with chronic and episodic conditions—and the workplace parties who support them—identify accommodations tailored to job demands that allow workers to successfully stay in their jobs.
Learning Disabilities
Research & Reports
Disclosure in the Workplace
James A. Cincotta, MA Ed shares about disclosing a learning disability in the workplace.
https://www.ldao.ca/introduction-to-ldsadhd/articles/about-lds/disclosure-in-the-workplace/
Understanding Learning Disabilities
Understand learning disabilities result from impairments in one or more processes related to perceiving, thinking, remembering or learning as well as different types of learning disabilities.
https://www.ldac-acta.ca/understanding-learning-disabilities/
Community Resources
Training & Tools
Coming Soon.
Mental Health Resources
Research & Reports
Infographic: Mental Disorders in Canada, 2022 (Stats Canada)
This infographic visually depicts important stats regarding Canadians who have a mental disorder.
Source: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2023053-eng.htm (2022)
Mental Health in the Workplace: An Accommodation Guide for Managers and Staff
Mental Health in the Workplace: An Accommodation Guide for Managers and Staff was produced by Mental Health Works to help employers and managers understand how to assist a colleague with a mental health concern and appropriately accommodate them in the workplace.
https://www.mentalhealthworks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/CMHA_Mental-Health-Works-Guidebook.pdf
Mind the Gap: Addressing the Mental Health and Addictions “Echo Pandemic” in Ontario
Informed by robust consultations with mental health experts and its members, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is building on previous policy work related to mental health to investigate the interconnected impacts of the “echo pandemic” on SMEs, communities, and the provincial health care system.
Community Resources
Bounce Back Ontario
Bounce Back Ontario is a free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It is designed to help adults and youth aged 15+ manage low mood, depression, anxiety, stress or worry.
Your Health Space
A free workplace mental health program for Ontario’s health care organizations.
Smart Serve Cares
Smart Serve Cares is a program providing free mental health support and resources for hospitality in Ontario to those who possess a Valid Smart Serve Certificate.
Warm Line
Individuals can receive support by speaking on the phone, texting or chatting online. The Warm Line is available for anyone who is 18 and older, looking to connect when feeling lonely, isolated or in need a friendly chat.
Training & Tools
March of Dimes: Wellness Without Limits
A webinar series that offers employees practical strategies for improving their physical and mental health. The webinars are facilitated by two in-house experts – a registered psychologist and an occupational therapist who have extensive experience in the areas of mental health, disability in the workplace, and managing health conditions that impact functional abilities.
Working Towards Mental Wellness: A Toolkit for Employers by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Developed by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, this toolkit seeks to describe mental wellness in the workplace, outline the case for action, and provide resources for starting this conversation in your workplace.
http://occ.ca/wp-content/uploads/Working-Towards-Mental-Health-Interactive.pdf
Workplace Mental Health Playbook for Business Leaders by CAMH
This user-friendly playbook provides a path to more effective solutions and better outcomes for employees and businesses with 5 powerful recommendations.
Healthy Minds At Work
Healthy Minds At Work is a program provided by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety that provides resources to help employers better understand and address mental health in the workplace.
https://www.ccohs.ca/healthyminds/
Mental Health Works
An initiative by the Ontario division of the Canadian Mental Health Association that provides mental health guides to workplaces to build awareness and encourage healthy and safe workplaces.
https://www.mentalhealthworks.ca/resource/
Mental Health Toolkit
The YES WorkAbility (YWA) project is designed to assist employers in creating inclusive and accessible workplaces for people who have a mental health disability. Inside their complimentary Mental Health Toolkit, workplace leaders will have access to interactive courses, certificates, training modules and resources.
https://yesworkability.ca/tool-kit-access
Mental Health Structural Stigma in Healthcare eLearning Course
This course is offered in partnership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) to health system leaders and healthcare professionals who want to better understand and identify structural stigma in their organization and how it contributes to inequity and poorer experiences and health outcomes for those experiencing mental health and substance use concerns.
Mobility/Pain Disabilities
Research & Reports
Canadians With A Mobility Disability
This infographic describes important stats regarding Canadians who have a mobility disability.
Source: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2020085-eng.htm (2020)
Canadians with a pain-related disability (2019)
This infographic describes important stats regarding Canadians who have a pain-related disability.
Source: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2019078-eng.htm
Fact Sheet on Limited Mobility
A quick fact sheet describing how people who have limited mobility navigate their world. Supported by multiple statistics , this sheet also provides recommendations for accommodations.
Source: http://hmdproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Fact-Sheet-on-Limited-Mobility.June-2023.pdf(2023)
Community Resources
Coming Soon.
Training & Tools
Best Practices for Providing Access for Those with Limited Mobility
Hidden Mobility Disabilities provides best practices to providing access to those with limited mobility.
https://hmdproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Best-Practices-Regarding-Limited-Mobility.pdf
Framework for Limited Mobility Physical Accessibility Requirements
A framework to increase accessibility for limited mobility disabilities.