Challenges and Solutions

Challenges:

The prime employment barrier for people with disabilities is workplace access. Some employment locations are not physically accessible to people who use wheelchairs, who have limited vision or other disabilities that make reading signs, climbing stairs and walking distances difficult.

Another challenge remains public perception. Some people experience discomfort through inexperience with others who have disabilities and are unsure how to act and speak and subsequently avoid these interactions. Others regard a person with a disability physically incapable to complete certain jobs or get the education needed to qualify. Many focus on the disability rather than the ability.  Some people with disabilities are physically unable to work

Solutions:

Overcoming physical accessibility challenges requires indentifying the barriers and then understanding how to eliminate them. Will placing a ramp next to a staircase enable someone in a wheelchair or with a walker or on crutches to get to the door? There are organizations that specialize in solving such access issues.

Public perception is more difficult to identify and alter. Awareness of these barriers in perception and providing training for employers and employees on how to treat people with disabilities will give co-workers and leaders who are able-bodied the confidence to overcome their discomfort and improve communication.

Workplace accommodation is an employer obligation. Ask the person for whom the accommodation is needed what they require before assuming it will involve high expenses for your company. On average it costs less than $500 per person to accommodation an individual with a disability in the workplace. The Alberta Government, Employment and Immigration provides workplace supports to companies to help them accommodate an employee with a disability. Financial support of up to $10,000 for one employee or up to $40,000 for workplace modifications when there are at least 4 employees with disabilities.

The Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work is a good source of information for employers http://www.ccrw.org and supports the employment of persons with disabilities providing online expert assistance and these services, amongst others:

• WORKink® is Canada's most powerful online career development and employment portal for Canadians with disabilities,
• The Job Accommodation Service (JAS) helps employers with their workplace and job accommodation needs,
• The Disability Awareness Series (DAS) offers practical tools and resources for creating an inclusive workplace.

Most post secondary institutions have resources for students with disabilities and are an excellent source of information and candidates:

• University of Calgary Disability Resource Center: www.ucalgary.ca/drc/
• Bow Valley College, Learners with Disabilities www.mtroyal.ca/ProgramsCourses/FacultiesSchoolsCentres/HealthCommunityStudies/Programs/DisabilityStudiesDiploma/index.htm
• Mount Royal College, Disabilities Services: www.mtroyal.ca/AcademicSupport/ResourcesServices/StudentLearningServices/AccessibilityServices/index.htm
• SAIT, Disabilities Services: www.sait.ca/pages/studentservices/disablitysupportservices/

The Champions Career Centre is a partnership of agencies, employers and the Alberta Government connecting employers with candidates. It also helps employers identify and remove workplace and job barriers www.championscareercentre.org.

Viable Calgary links employers with the tools and resources for recruiting and retaining employees with disabilities. Services are available at no cost, and include individualized consultation, an informative web site, networking and learning opportunities, and Information/Career fairs providing a barrier-free environment for employers to connect with local service providers and persons with disabilities: www.viablecalgary.ca.

Myths and Realities