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What is a disability?
What do we mean by accessibility and inclusion?
Why are accessible and inclusive communities important?
How many people in BC and Canada have a disability?
What is the business case for employing people with disabilities?

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A disability refers to impairments related to hearing, seeing, speaking, moving around, learning or coping. Some people prefer not to refer to themselves as having a disability, yet can experience limitations requiring certain adaptations and the need for accessibility and inclusion. Disabilities can be visible or invisible, short-term or long-term.
 

Consider accessibility as the means and inclusion as the end. Both should be approached at the same time to achieve the best possible outcomes. Accessibility refers to removing barriers to ensure people with disabilities can participate in their communities. Inclusion is the degree to which people with disabilities are engaged in and contributing to community life.

Fully accessible and inclusive communities require everyone to consider the access and inclusion needs of others. In the disability field, this is known as seeing through a “disability lens”. In other words, if you were a person with a disability, what would you need and want in order to fully enjoy your community? Considering the access needs of people with disabilities is important in municipal program and policy development, as well as in other community programs and activities.
 

Accessible and inclusive communities benefit everyone including seniors, people with injuries or other health issues, parents pushing baby carriages, people carrying heavy items, and tourists.

People with disabilities want to be active citizens who contribute their skills and talents to their communities. Through tourism, employment, volunteerism and other means, people with disabilities contribute to the social and financial well-being of their communities.

Some other reasons accessible and inclusive communities are important include:

• The population of seniors in British Columbia is expected to double by 2031; this population benefits from many of the same supports that people with disabilities of all ages do
• Ensuring homes, businesses and other public places are accessible when they are built includes everyone now and avoids expensive retrofits in the future
• Inclusive design, including simple things like wider doorways, well-placed grab bars, lower light switches and sidewalk curb ramps, makes a place welcoming to people of all ages including those with disabilities
• Communities that improve accessibility and inclusion will experience resulting social and economic benefits well into the future; these communities are at the leading edge of a global movement
• Accessibility and inclusion are directly related to a community’s economic and social sustainability
• Inclusion is the hallmark of a healthy community
• Accessible and inclusive communities allows people with disabilities, seniors and others to live in their community of choice, shop locally, and contribute to the community through many social and economic means

The numbers surrounding people with disabilities in both BC and Canada as a whole are as follows:

• 3.6 million Canadians have disabilities, which is 12% of the population
• 15% of British Columbians have a disability
• 1 in 7 British Columbians is over the age of 65; expected to double by 2031
• People with disabilities in Canada represent $25 billion in spending power
• Of the approximately 4.2 million seniors in Canada, 40% of people 65 and over identify themselves as having a disability; and more than 53% of people 75 and over identify themselves as having a disability

People with disabilities represent a large untapped source of skilled labour in BC. There are currently 400,000 working-age people with disabilities in British Columbia, with an employment rate of only 44%. People with disabilities have equivalent levels of education as the non-disabled working population, but many remain unemployed. With approximately one million job openings expected in the next 12-15 fifteen years in BC, people with disabilities are a viable employment option.

A 2006 BC Chamber of Commerce survey of businesses across the province indicated 69% of respondents would consider hiring a person with a disability. An overwhelming 79% of the respondents agreed with the statement "persons with disabilities represent a qualified, but largely untapped pool of potential job applicants".

According to a study conducted by the Minister’s Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities, people with disabilities are work-competent, reliable and hard-working individuals (http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/epwd/docs/AProfileofPWDreport.pdf). This study also indicated:

• 90% of people with disabilities rated average or better on job performance than their non-disabled colleagues
• 86% of people with disabilities rated average or better on attendance than their non-disabled colleagues
• 90% of employers had no change in their insurance costs when they employed persons with disabilities.
• 98% of persons with disabilities rated average or better in work safety than their non-disabled colleagues.
• Staff retention is 72% higher among people with disabilities, saving millions of dollars each year in recruitment and training costs

In response to these numbers, the Minister’s Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities is inviting communities and industry sectors to join the 10 by 10 Challenge to increase employment for people with disabilities in British Columbia by 10% by 2010. For more information or to register your business, community or agency with the 10x10 Challenge visit www.eia.gov.bc.ca/epwd/10by10/.

The Minister’s Council of Employment for Persons with Disabilities also provides support and information through Workable Solutions by linking people with disabilities who want jobs and employers looking for workers. For more information or to participate, please visit www.workablesolutionsbc.ca.