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September is Disability Employment Month 2023
Selfadvocatenet.ca is in support of September Disability Employment Month 2023
September is Disability Employment Month, highlighting the significant role people with disabilities play in British Columbia’s workforce, while also promoting resources and tools employers can use to reduce barriers to inclusion and build better, more accessible workplaces.
In 2022, 24.7% of British Columbians aged 15 and over identified as persons with disabilities. The 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability revealed wide differences in income and employment outcomes of those persons with disabilities when compared with the rest of the population. Persons with disabilities in British Columbia had an average unemployment rate of 8.4% compared to persons without disabilities at 4.5%.
People with injuries, disabilities supported getting back to work
Victoria Wednesday, September 6, 2023 11:45 AM
In celebration of B.C. Disability Employment Month, people with disabilities or recovering from a physical injury or mental-health challenge will receive extra help in their recovery and safe return to work thanks to $4 million in funding to the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR).September is Disability Employment Month, highlighting the significant role people with disabilities play in British Columbia’s workforce, while also promoting resources and tools employers can use to reduce barriers to inclusion and build better, more accessible workplaces.
NIDMAR will design and develop a project that will provide early intervention through effective occupational rehabilitation for people who are unable to work due to injury or disability. This intervention could include healthcare support, ergonomic assistance, job coaching, medical exams, and other assistance needed to maintain employment.
“An inclusive B.C. means all British Columbians receive employment support if needed to find meaningful work,” said Susie Chant, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility. “This funding for NIDMAR supports employers in establishing and sustaining workplaces that are barrier-free, thus ensuring all British Columbians can be part of our workforce.”
People out of work due to injury, illness or disability need care and support on their journey back to their jobs. Through early intervention and effective occupational rehabilitation, NIDMAR will support approximately 500 people in their return to work over the three years of this pilot project. The project’s first sites will help people in urban and rural areas of Nanaimo, Vancouver, Kelowna and Prince George.
“After suffering a serious spinal cord injury in an industrial accident many decades ago, it was the commitment from the company and union which allowed me to return to work,” said Wolfgang Zimmermann, executive director of NIDMAR. “We very much appreciate the support of the Province, enabling us to develop new and innovative approaches designed to support employers and disabled workers in maintaining/regaining the all-important employment link.”
This $4-million provincial grant comes from the 2022-23 Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement. Under the agreement, the Province receives more than $300 million each year to fund employment services and supports, including those provided through the 102 WorkBC centres throughout the province.
“Disability Employment Month reminds us of the importance of a barrier-free society, where everyone belongs,” said Randy Boissonnault, federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages. “Organizations like NIDMAR empower persons with disabilities to succeed through their inclusive training programs. I look forward to seeing the benefits this project will bring to people across B.C.”
Investing in projects such as this with NIDMAR is part of StrongerBC’s Future Ready plan to make education and training more accessible, affordable and relevant to prepare British Columbians for the jobs of tomorrow, reduce poverty and help tackle the ongoing labour shortage.
Quotes:
Joan Phillip – MLA for Vancouver-Mountain Pleasant –
“This project benefits all British Columbians. With B.C. experiencing the effects of a nationwide labour-market shortage, we can’t afford to lose the talents and skills of people who became out of work because of injuries, illness or disabilities”
Kathy Hatchard, Adjunct Faculty Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences, Occupational Therapist –
“Having experienced acute mental illness and arduous recovery, my perspective is broad-based and evolving. The support I received made it possible to have a career. I am inspired by this project as it will focus on the individual’s needs, early intervention and guided recovery.”
Quick Facts:
More than 926,000 British Columbians over age 15 years live with a disability.
More than 80% of mental and physical impairments emerge during a person’s work life, and less than 1% will work again if they are not back within the first year after becoming disabled.
Why should your business hire people with disabilities?
Recruitment and retention challenges.
British Columbia employers face significant recruitment and retention challenges, and labour shortages are expected to persist for years to come. With the right support, job seekers with intellectual and developmental disabilities in British Columbia can meaningfully contribute their skills and experiences to the long-term success of a business.
By the numbers:
Staff retention rates are 72% higher among people who have a disability. (Job Ability Canada)
One in five Canadians have a disability (22% of the population). Over 6 million Canadians over the age of 15 have a disability. There are hundreds of thousands of Canadians with disabilities ready to hire. (Statistics Canada, 2017)
Hiring people of all abilities is good for business.
Employers are finding their workplaces, and bottom lines, are better off when they hire people of all abilities. Inclusive hiring leads to higher job satisfaction and employee loyalty, saving employers on the costs associated with high turnover and repeated recruitment.
How do we know?
Research by Deloitte has shown that companies with inclusive cultures are eight times more likely to have better business outcomes, two times likely to meet or exceed financial targets, three times more likely to be high-performing, and six times more likely to be innovative and agile. (Job Ability Canada)
Many employers report that hiring individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability has enhanced their teamwork and improved the dynamic of their workplace. (Ready Willing and Able)
Disability-inclusive businesses have 28 percent higher revenue and 30 percent higher profit margins than companies that aren’t, and twice the net income of other companies. (Accenture Report)
You don’t have to do it alone.
There are many supports available to employers interested in hiring a person with an intellectual and developmental disability. Employers can reach out to the Inclusion BC team to learn more about the supports available for making your workplace more inclusive.
We are also co-hosting a series of free events where you can learn how other employers are making inclusive hiring a success in their businesses. You’ll hear from community leaders about the benefits of including people with disabilities in the workforce and how they’ve received support in their community.
This page is made possible by Inclusion BC’s Employer Outreach Project, where we network with business owners and employers to promote inclusive workplace practices and their benefits.
This is on Inclusion BC website go to the link here
Canada govt Stats Employments with Disabilities
Earnings pay gap among persons with and without disabilities, 2019
