Honoured to be featured in Calgary Journal's latest article, "Breaking Barriers: A Path to Inclusion in the Canadian Workplace." At Able & Available, we are committed to creating a more inclusive job market for individuals with disabilities. Thank you to Darlene Aquino for highlighting our mission and the importance of Disability Employment Awareness Month. Together, we can foster workplaces that truly embrace diversity and inclusion.
🔗 Read the full article here: https://calgaryjournal.ca/2025/10/01/breaking-barriers-a-path-to-inclusion-in-the-canadian-workplace/
Breaking barriers: A path to inclusion in the Canadian workplace
How a Calgary-based job board builds pathways to inclusion in Canada’s labour market
By Darlene Aquino
Today marks the start of Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM), highlighting the barriers facing Albertans with disabilities in the workplace.
The province’s initiatives aim to promote inclusive hiring practices and successes.
While many job seekers encounter stigma, underemployment and limited opportunities, one Calgary-based job board aims to shift the conversation.
A space for inclusion
Founded in 2023 by Cintia Lutz, Able & Available sets itself apart from traditional job boards by providing a more “filtered” space where every posting comes from an employer committed to opportunity and inclusion.
“You’re not just showing job seekers that you’re inclusive, you’re showing your own staff they are inclusive and that can create a better culture for everyone,” said Lutz.
The importance of this awareness makes DEAM life-changing for job seekers and employers, offering a connection that focuses on the overall well-being of those with visible, invisible, temporary and permanent disabilities.
Lutz says that she has seen companies close job posts within three days due to the success of applicants.
Breaking barriers in the job market
According to a 2022 Canadian survey on disability, 64 per cent of Canadians with disabilities aged 24 to 64 are employed, compared to 78 per cent of Canadians without disabilities. However, those with disabilities who are employed often work in lower-paying positions with less stability, fewer benefits and limited opportunities to advance.
In contrast, in 2024, Statistics Canada reported that the employment rate among Canadians with disabilities fell by 0.7 percentage points to 46.4 percent, within a broader trend of easing labour market conditions across the country.
Along with DEAM’s existence since 2010, the Government of Canada implemented additional action plans and goals on inclusion and accessibility, including the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and Accessible Canada Act. These approaches aim to make Canada “barrier-free” by 2040 through services, programs, and employment opportunities.
How are Canadians with disabilities responding to these approaches?
One Facebook user recently shared their frustration with the job market and how difficult it is to find a job as someone with a disability.
“The message this DEAM is simple: true inclusion starts by opening your doors—and the best way to do that is by ensuring your jobs are seen by the people who need to see them most.”
CIntia Lutz
“I’ve applied to over 200 jobs—everything from jobs at my experience level to entry-level work—and not one call back,” the user said. “I’m on [Assured Income for the Severely Impaired (AISH)], and it doesn’t even cover basic survival… We’re not lazy. We’re not freeloaders. We’re human beings fighting for our lives. You could be a minute away from being in our shoes.”
According to a survey released last year, 60 per cent of employed Canadians with disabilities are searching for new work because of underemployment and workplace ableism. Within that percentage, 44 per cent experienced acts of ableism.
Many job seekers hesitate to disclose their disabilities out of fear that it could hold them back, Lutz says: “[Job seekers] don’t know when and if they should share any disabilities… They were always afraid to share any information.”
As Canada’s 2040 barrier-free goal unfolds over the following years, Lutz hopes that Able & Available will continue to be a part of this nationwide change—collaborating with job coaches, seekers, and employers.