Author: Dean Askin

To borrow from the famous Bob Dylan song, “The times they are changing.” In 2022, that change is, disability inclusion is driving the future of work more than ever before. 
Like “disability,” “work” is a broad term. Both of these things are diverse. Which makes how and why disability inclusion is driving the future of work a diverse, broad topic.  

There is, for example, the angle of how disability inclusion can make a business an employer of choice now and in the future. One can dedicate an entire post to this aspect alone. The same goes for technology and how businesses need to make sure the technology they’re using is accessible, so all employees can succeed in their work.  

When it comes to the future of work, what we’re talking about here — more specifically — is how and why disability is changing the nature of the workforce; and hence the nature of work. And why you need to embrace this change.  

young man working freelance in laptop at home with prosthetic arm

Ep. 6: The HMD Project

Have you heard the term, Hidden Mobility Disabilities, or HMD, before? There are actually over 500,000 Canadians who live with HMD. It’s an aspect of disability that’s not obvious, and often overlooked. And it’s one that creates some significant obstacles to inclusion and accessibility.  In this episode of You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without a D,…

Dean Askin Filed under Disability Awareness & Confidence, Inclusive Hiring Youth of all abilities face several barriers and often lack a voice representing what it means to find meaningful employment. A project led by Re:Action4Inclusion is addressing these barriers. This Ontario-wide group has been in existence since 2008.  The movement “seeks to empower youth to…

The nature of work is rapidly changing and is creating opportunities for jobseekers who have a disability. But for the more than 600,000 employable Canadians who have a disability, many still face barriers to securing employment. 

Today, a majority of the job search happens online. The problem is mainstream job boards and recruitment sites take a one-size-fits-all approach. They’re not designed with accessibility and disability in mind. 

Ep. 5: Voices of Tomorrow

In this episode, we’re bringing some young voices into the show — Voices of Tomorrow. That’s both the name of a new report that’s the subject of this episode, and it describes our two guests. Sarah Julius is a first-year university student at The University of Windsor, Ontario. Natalia Ayala Giraldo is a Grade 12…

Dean Askin, Communications Strategist Filed under Disability Awareness & Confidence A few days ago I was analyzing statistics from ODEN’s Disability Myth Quiz, for an internal report about our National Disability Employment Awareness Month campaign. And the analysis was disturbing, to say the least. Over 200 people — 237, to be exact — did the…

If you’re at any point on a disability-inclusion journey in your business, be sure to catch the new episode that’s out today.  What a great conversation with John Robinson, the founder of Our Ability and Jobs Ability U.S.  Thanks to John for sharing so many business and personal insights about his journey creating Our Ability…

WHITBY, ON — Under an exclusive licensing agreement with Albany, NY-based Our Ability, The Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) today is launching a new division — Jobs Ability Canada, a new job-search platform built specifically for people who have a disability, using cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology. “This is an exciting day of growth for…

Dean Askin, Communications Strategist Filed under Disability Awareness & Confidence, Inclusive Hiring Second in a two-part series   In 2021, there’s more awareness, conversation and action on disability-inclusive recruiting and hiring of talent, than ever before. This is a good thing. For job seekers who have a disability; businesses; and the economy alike. Numerous research…

Whitby, ON — This year, the fall colours shining across Canada will be purple and blue, as communities nationwide Light It Up! For NDEAM™ the night of Thursday, October 21 to raise awareness about the importance of making sure disability-inclusive hiring is part of the business conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). “Light It…

3D Toronto sign lit purple and blue at night. Picture taken at sharp angle.