# data[].attributes.body
The Disability Inclusion Action Plan will help employers create better policies against disability discrimination at workplace. It will encourage employers make workplace more accessible and inclusive.

# data[].attributes.body
"The Action Plan is a blueprint for change to make Canada more inclusive of the more than 22% of persons – or 6.2 million people – that identify as having a disability in our country."

# data[].attributes.body
CBE faces $47-million deficit for vulnerable students | Calgary Herald
The Disability Inclusion Action Plan does not address the concerns regarding education for students with special needs. There has been a significant progress with policies related to inclusive education in the recent years. But there are barriers that students with special needs and their parents still face. The Disability Inclusion Plan Act does not address the concerns regarding education for students with special needs.

# data[].attributes.body
Including and collaborating with persons with disabilities will help in gaining a wholistic perspective from the lens of the targeted audience.

# data[].attributes.body
Improve financial security for persons with disability

# data[].attributes.body
The Canadian Disability Inclusion Act Plan will help in increase job opportunities for persons with disabilities.
This will not limit them with their career choices.
The act will also help them work comfortably at their workplaces by providing accessible resources.

# data[].attributes.body
Persons with disabilities are the ones who are facing discrimination at workplaces. They will benefit from the action plan as it aims to create a more accessible and inclusive environment. The action plan is created FOR people with disabilities. When the government and employers make strict polies and promote inclusivity, it will benefit everyone.

# data[].attributes.body
All employers need to implement policies that give equal opportunity to persons with disabilities.

# data[].attributes.headline
Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2022

# data[].attributes.subject
Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2022

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
On this page

Message from the Minister

Carla Qualtrough

Overview

Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan is a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to disability inclusion. It embeds disability considerations across our programs while identifying targeted investments in key areas to drive change. It builds on existing programs and measures that have sought to improve the inclusion of persons with disabilities, and establishes new and meaningful actions.

Guiding principles

Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan is guided by the principles laid out in the Accessible Canada Act, including:

"Nothing Without Us"

Persons with disabilities need to be involved in the development and implementation of all government systems, policies, programs and services.

Human rights-based approach

Human rights principles need to guide the development and implementation of our systems, programs and processes, including the principles of equality, anti-discrimination, participation, and inclusion.

Intersectionality

Government systems, policies, programs and services must take into account:

the different ways that persons interact with their environments and,

the multiple, and intersecting forms of marginalization and discrimination faced by individuals

Objectives

The Disability Inclusion Action Plan has 5 key objectives:

1. improve the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities

2. reduce poverty among persons with disabilities

3. achieve the Accessible Canada Act goal of a barrier-free Canada by 2040

4. develop a consistent approach to disability inclusion across the Government of Canada and make it easier for persons with disabilities to access federal programs and services, and

5. foster a culture of disability inclusion

Introduction

Welcome to Canada's first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan. This Action Plan was developed in dialogue with Canadians with a vision of an inclusive Canada. It is based on the understanding that disability inclusion benefits everyone.

Persons with disabilities represent a diverse and significant portion of the Canadian population. In 2017, 1 in 5 people in Canada aged 15 years and over―or about 6.2 million people―had at least 1 disability. There are different types of disabilities, and they can range from mild to very severe. Almost 1 in 3 Indigenous people have a disability-a much higher rate than that of the general population. Disability is also most prevalent amongst seniors-almost 2 in 5 of those 65 and over have a disability.

Persons with disabilities contribute to every aspect of our country. They contribute to the economy, to Canada's culture, and to the core of the nation. Persons with disabilities are trusted friends, neighbours, community advocates, and beloved family members.

However, persons with disabilities also face many challenges and barriers. These barriers create exclusion, and include:

In addition, persons with disabilities have higher costs that limit their ability to save for the future. The COVID-19 pandemic has only heightened the unique challenges and vulnerabilities that persons with disabilities face.

Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan strives to remove barriers and address these challenges directly.

The Action Plan focuses on actions, engagement, and outcomes. Disability is considered in all programs and services, including those that are not targeted to persons with disabilities. The Action Plan will evolve over time to respond to ongoing engagement with persons with disabilities. It will continue to reflect the realities of persons with disabilities in an ever-changing world.

Journey to the Disability Inclusion Action Plan

The Action Plan builds upon other foundational work to help build a more equitable society, such as:

the landmark Accessible Canada Act (2019)

the 2019 National Disability Summit, and

the creation of the COVID-19 Disability Advisory Group

In fall 2020, the Government of Canada announced it would create a Disability Inclusion Action Plan. In Budget 2021, the Government committed $11.9 million over 3 years to undertake consultations to reform eligibility processes for disability programs and services.

During summer 2021, the Government launched an engagement process to seek input on the Action Plan and the Canada Disability Benefit from:

disability communities

researchers

Indigenous organizations, and

other stakeholders

This engagement included an online survey that ran from June through September 2021, and received thousands of responses from persons with and without disabilities.

In addition, the Government is providing funding to support disability organizations and National Indigenous Organizations to engage their communities on the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the proposed Canada Disability Benefit.

The Government continues to host roundtables with:

individuals with disabilities

national disability organizations

disability service providers

organizations representing racialized persons with disabilities, and

disability researchers

The roundtables seek views on key questions related to the design and delivery of the proposed Canada Disability Benefit.

Over the course of the engagement, persons with disabilities identified key priorities and areas for immediate action:

The Action Plan is the culmination of the views and input received and sets the current direction for the Government. It provides immediate investments and sets the course for more actions to come.

Government of Canada context on disability action

The Government of Canada and provincial/territorial governments each play a significant role in providing direct supports for persons with disabilities. The Action Plan is the Government of Canada's roadmap to consider persons with disabilities in all the systems and networks the Government operates in. While the Action Plan is focused on areas of federal responsibility, the Government will continue to work collaboratively with provincial and territorial governments, disability stakeholders, and persons with disabilities on its implementation.

Actions

In concrete terms, the actions are organised under 4, mutually reinforcing pillars of action:

Pillar 1 - Financial security

The reality today

Working-age persons with disabilities are almost twice as likely as their peers without disabilities to be in poverty (23% vs 12% in 2017)

In total, nearly 917,000 working-age persons with disabilities lived in poverty in 2017. Of them, more than 550,000 were living in deep poverty

The rate of poverty was particularly high among those with very severe (nearly 34%) and severe (just over 28%) disabilities

A 2020 crowdsourced survey from Statistics Canada found that just over 60% of working-age respondents with disabilities had difficulties meeting financial obligations or essential needs because of the pandemic

What we heard

We heard that improved financial security is the most urgent priority. Persons with disabilities struggle with the costs associated with living with a disability―costs related to housing, medical expenses and disability supports. We heard that people are paying for their medical equipment, prescriptions, supplements, and practitioner fees for medical services that are not government-funded. These costs are a significant burden for persons with disabilities already living on a fixed low income. Increased rent to live in an accessible building or in a neighbourhood close to medical services and amenities is another amplified cost.

We also heard that people simply do not have enough money to live a comfortable life. Many persons with disabilities report living well below the poverty line. We heard shared experiences of frustration with their current financial circumstances. We heard feelings of hopelessness, exhaustion and anger.

Actions

Develop a new Canada Disability Benefit to reduce poverty and improve the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities

Undertake research to better understand the additional costs of disability and how these costs impact the financial security of persons with disabilities

Update eligibility and improve access to the Disability Tax Credit

Pillar 2 - Employment

The Action Plan will help:

The reality today

59% of persons with disabilities are employed compared to 80% of persons without disabilities

The employment rate is lower for persons with disabilities

Employed persons with disabilities are more likely to work in lower-skilled jobs

There are an estimated 1.9 million persons with disabilities aged 15 to 64 who are not in school or employed. 852,000 of these persons have the potential to work

From 2009 to 2013, 84.3% of disability-related complaints received by the Canadian Human Rights Commission were about employment

What we heard

We heard persons with disabilities place significant importance on obtaining meaningful jobs that match their education, skills, career aspirations, and interests.

The opportunity to participate in skills training will help:

We heard that a supportive work environment is one of the most important ways to help persons with disabilities find and maintain a job. This includes workplace adaptions and other supports. We also heard that many employers might not be aware of the economic benefit of hiring persons with disabilities and creating a diverse workforce. Canadians highlighted the need to change the negative attitude and stigma of employers when it comes to hiring and retaining people with disabilities. We also heard that employers need resources and supports to ensure their hiring practices and work environments are as inclusive as possible.

Actions

Implement an Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities that will :

help persons with disabilities find and keep good jobs

help persons with disabilities advance in their careers or become entrepreneurs

support employers as they develop inclusive workplaces, and

aid organizations and individuals who support persons with disabilities in employment

Invest more than $270 million in new funding through the Opportunities Fund for persons with disabilities

Create a Disability Inclusion Business Council to advise the Minister and act as national champions for disability inclusion within the business community

Launch a National Veterans Employment Strategy with a goal of ensuring all Veterans, including those with disabilities, find meaningful work on release from the Canadian Armed Forces

Modernize the Employment Equity Act by reducing inequalities and barriers to employment in federal workplaces

Improve supports for Canada Pension Plan Disability beneficiaries in their attempts to return to work by designing a Return-to-Work Pilot Project

Embed disability inclusion within ESDC's existing labour market programs

Pillar 3 - Accessible and inclusive communities

The Action Plan will address physical, communication, and attitudinal barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in our communities and the economy, including barriers in:

The reality today

What we heard

Originally titled "disability-inclusive spaces", the name, focus and actions under this pillar were refined following feedback from our public engagement. This broader focus reflects feedback that disability inclusive spaces must go beyond physical access, and include communication, awareness raising, and inclusive system design.

We heard that the creation of more accessible community spaces is widely viewed as important. Persons with disabilities often feel like an afterthought in service provision and access to public space. Adaptations are needed for people to be able to participate. However, access does not equal inclusion.

We heard that we should make accessible design the primary design. For example, ramps should be the primary access mode, instead of placing them on the side of buildings. We also heard that creating inclusive spaces means more than making physical accommodations. It means making sure that design addresses the needs of people whose disabilities are not always visible, such as:

providing calming spaces and quiet areas, or

providing written information in large print

We heard that many persons with disabilities do not feel understood or appreciated. We heard this is exacerbated when community spaces and services are not accessible and inclusive. Persons with disabilities do not always feel welcome, and feel like an afterthought. We heard that there is a need to communicate and raise awareness about the value of persons with disabilities in the community and workplaces.

We heard that inaccessibility makes completing daily tasks out of reach for many people. We heard that these accessibility struggles in public spaces are frustrating and further add to stigma.

Actions

Provide funding to support the production of alternate format reading materials through the Centre for Equitable Library Access and National Network for Equitable Library Service. This funding aims to improve access to reading materials for persons with print disabilities

Create a new Equitable Access to Reading Program that will launch in 2024 to 2025. This program will permanently improve access to alternate format reading materials for persons with print disabilities. Prior to its launch, persons with disabilities will be engaged on the programs' design

Develop new regulations under the Accessible Canada Act based on existing or new standards, related to the priority areas under the ACA, such as information and communications technology

Implement the Federal Data and Measurement Strategy for Accessibility (2022 to 2027)

Undertake a review of the accessibility of shelters for victims of gender-based violence

Improve accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities in communities and workplaces through renovation, construction, and retrofit projects under the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF). The EAF aims to make spaces more accessible

Pillar 4 - A modern approach to disability

Government of Canada programs and services contain differing definitions of "disability" and the processes for applying and being deemed eligible for those programs can be very confusing and difficult to navigate.

Desired outcome and goal

The Action Plan will address the challenges that persons with disabilities face in accessing federal programs and benefits. It will also ensure that the needs and perspectives of persons with disabilities are reflected in the Government's policies and programs.

The reality today

What we heard

We heard that a move towards single window access to government services would help persons with disabilities navigate the complexity of programs and services. We heard that what you tell the Government about your disability experience should be more important than the medical documentation currently required as proof of disability. The need to repeatedly prove disability, or qualify as having a disability for the purposes of one program, but denied for another is seen as unreasonable. We heard strong support for a simplified and central application process. A process where persons with disabilities do not have to consistently reapply and repeatedly prove their disability. We also heard that many persons with disabilities do not know what is available to them. Information is located on different websites and is the responsibility of different departments. Some individuals may need help completing the application process. Many disability programs are not accessible to qualified individuals because of the barriers in the application process. We heard that people feel they are not seen or understood in the process. The process should be made easier for applicants to share their lived experiences.

Actions

Adopt a modern approach to disability across the Government of Canada

Work across government and with the disability community on how a common definition of disability could be used across the Government of Canada

Establish governance structures across the Government of Canada that will help drive actions forward and embed the involvement of persons with disabilities into government systems and processes

Involve persons with disabilities in developing, implementing and monitoring the Action Plan. This will be done by providing funding to support disability organizations and National Indigenous Organizations so they can engage persons with disabilities on the Action Plan

Fill disability data gaps and develop indicators to measure progress of the Action Plan. This will be achieved by developing a Disability Data Improvement Strategy in collaboration with the disability community

Implement a Disaggregated Data Action Plan to support data collection on diverse populations

Bring federal partners, Indigenous partners, regulated entities, the private sector, academia, the disability community and provincial/territorial partners together at events that promote inclusion such as the Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion

Move forward with the Implementation of the Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada. This includes the commitment to hire 5,000 employees with disabilities in the public service by 2025

Publicly report on the Action Plan's impact and progress

Related links

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
disability; inclusion; plan; pillars; financial

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Employment and Social Development Canada

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan - Canada.ca

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An overview of Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan, with four pillars of key action areas and cross-cutting measures to support the Plan.

# data[].attributes.headline
Equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities

# data[].attributes.subject
Equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities

# data[].attributes.body
"According to the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability, one in five Canadians aged 15 years and over – 22% of the population or about 6.2 million people – had one or more disabilities. The same survey found that employment rates of persons with disabilities are much lower than those of Canadians without disabilities —59 per cent versus 80 per cent".

# data[].attributes.headline
Leadership roles for persons with disabilities

# data[].attributes.subject
Leadership roles for persons with disabilities

# data[].attributes.body
The Disability Inclusion Action Plan has elaborated on equal employment opportunities. But what about leadership roles for persons with disabilities. Any individuals who are qualified and capable of carrying out the duties of the job deserve the right to be promoted. But the Disability Inclusion Action Plan has not addressed regarding Leadership roles for persons with disabilities.

# data[].attributes.body
The Action Plan has four pillars-
1. Financial Security
2. Employment
3. Accessible and Inclusive Communities
4. A modern approach to disability

# data[].attributes.body
The government plays a huge role in ensuring equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. By implementing strong policies for persons with disabilities, the government will be taking one step against disability discrimination.