Disability Affects All of Us
According to Statistics Canada, approximately one in seven (3.8 million) Canadian adults report having a disability, and by 2036 it is estimated that the number will increase to one in five (between 7.7 million and 8.7 million) Canadians who live with a disability.
Globally, there are more than 1.3 billion people living with disabilities, already representing the largest minority group in the world – and the only minority group that any of us can become a member of at any time.
Disabilities can result from an accident, degenerative illness or a medical condition, or can be the natural outcome of growing older. Disabilities can be visible, invisible, permanent, temporary or episodic.
Research shows that when people living with disabilities are empowered to participate fully in societal life, the entire community benefits. Yet people living with these disabilities continue to face both visible and non-visible barriers. These barriers limit access and prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in, and contributing to, society.
The majority of Canadians are affected by disability at some point in their life, either personally or through experiences with family or friends. This creates a massive demand for universally accessible environments, where everyone can participate equally.
Organizations can no longer afford to dismiss the need to be accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities. How do you rate?