October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). On the evening of October 16, we’re lighting up Town Hall in blue and purple to recognize and raise awareness for the importance of disability inclusion in our workplaces and communities.
- More than 1 in 4 Canadians (8 million people) has a disability — and that number continues to grow. Yet many workplaces still aren’t designed to fully include them.
- 74% of workers with a disability experience barriers at work, and 67% face barriers even before they’re hired (StatsCan, 2024). The cost of exclusion is high — but inclusion pays off.
- Closing the disability employment gap by just one-third could add $50 billion to Canada’s GDP by 2030 (TD, 2019).
- Disability-inclusive companies see 2.6x more net income, 1.6x more revenue, and 25% higher productivity (Accenture, 2023).
- They’re also 8x stronger in innovation, retention, and customer service (Deloitte, 2023).
Disability inclusion fuels performance, stability, and innovation — exactly what Canada needs to stay competitive. It all starts with one decision: the decision to show up. There are resources and support ready to help every organization build a workforce without barriers.