Disabilities

About Disabilities:

The disability community is the only minority group that anyone can join at any time.

Many disabilities are invisible. Disabilities can be categorized in four types:

• PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
• SENSORY PERCEPTION DISABILITIES
• COGNITIVE AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
• MENTAL ILLNESS

In 2017, one in five (22%) of the Canadian population aged 15 years and over – or about 6.2 million individuals – had one or more disabilities.*

Disabilities related to pain, flexibility, mobility, and mental health were the most common disability types.

Among those aged 25 to 64 years, persons with disabilities were less likely to be employed (59%) than those without disabilities (80%).

Among those with disabilities aged 25 to 64 years who were not employed and not currently in school, two in five (39%) had potential to work. This represents nearly 645,000 individuals with disabilities.

Working With Disabilities:

Of employees with disabilities aged 25 to 64 years, more than 1 in 3 (37%) required at least one workplace accommodation to be able to work. This represented just over 772,000 Canadians.

The most commonly required type of workplace accommodations were flexible work arrangements (27%), workstation modifications (15%), and human or technical supports (6%).

Of those who required workplace accommodations: 59% had all of their needs met, 19% had some of their needs met, and 21% had none of their needs met.

Of those with at least one unmet need for workplace accommodations: 69% said that they did not make the request for them to their employer or supervisor. Of these, 36% said their employer or supervisor was already aware they needed them.