Six lessons on disability inclusion in the workplace

“Leave no one behind.” It’s an important phrase, and one that is well known in disability advocacy circles. But during the global pandemic, this phrase took on greater meaning. COVID-19 taught us that we can be adaptable and resilient in the face of unthinkable challenges.

Today is the International Day of People with Disabilities, and we are reminded that disability inclusion is not just something we should do for individuals with disabilities, but for all of us. Canada is facing a skills shortage and our population is aging rapidly. It only makes sense to give everyone a chance to participate to their full potential.

Because of the circumstances in which they find themselves every day, persons living with disabilities have a specific set of skills — innovation, creativity and perseverance. These skills make them an asset to the workplace, and it’s time they be included in workplace diversity strategies. As the country’s largest employer, the Government of Canada is leading by example, intent on changing boardrooms and workplaces across Canada.

In 2018, we created the Office of Public Service Accessibility to make Canada’s federal public service the most accessible and inclusive in the world. The office is led by Yazmine Laroche, the first person with a visible disability to be appointed deputy minister in the federal government.

Here are six big lessons we’ve learned so far:

“Nothing without us.” We adopted the policy of “Nothing about us without us,” meaning persons with disabilities are to be involved at every stage. It is a fundamental part of our firstever Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada.

A strategy based on evidence. We created an accessibility strategy with targeted, measurable, achievable goals.

Don’t try to boil the ocean.

Ambition is important, but we also need to figure out what can be done quickly and efficiently, and what will have the most meaningful and lasting impact.

Learn from others. We looked at the private sector, the public sector, the non-profit sector and academia — both in Canada and internationally.

Revise regularly and highlight successes. A strategy cannot be cast in stone nor collect dust in a binder.

Allies are essential. Perhaps the biggest lesson we’ve learned is that we have to both be, and have, allies.

While we must include persons with disabilities as we work to eliminate barriers, it cannot fall solely on their shoulders to make it happen. We still have a long way to go, but we are making meaningful progress.

As president of the Treasury Board of Canada, I am committed to ensuring that public servants with a disability can fully participate and contribute to making a difference in the lives of Canadians every single day.

Remember, there is no “them,” there is only us. Today, there is no better time to ask yourself what you can do to help advance disability inclusion in your own workplace.