Business Resources

2024

Trends Report 2024 | Shaping Tomorrow — New horizons: Intersectional insights on work and disability trends in Canada
(Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work [CCRW])

Unlocking Disability-Inclusive Leadership
(The Valuable 500)

Disability Equality Index 2024
(Disability:IN)

Bridging the Gap — Report on Disability Inclusion in Canadian Workplaces
(Canadian Disability Inclusion Business Council, November 2024)

Funding Employment Inclusion for Ontario Youth with Disabilities: A Cost-Benefit Model
(Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, ODEN and Chronicle Analytics, September 2024)

Tangled in Red Tape: Ontario’s Employment Transformation is Leaving Too Many Job Seekers Behind
(ODEN and Community Living Ontario, June 2024)

2024 Global Advertising Accessibility Index & Trends Report
(XR Extreme Reach global technology company, May 2024)

Nothing About Us Without Us | The path to sustained progress and accountability in inclusive disability representation
(The Valuable 500, January 2024)

2023

The Disability Inclusion Imperative
(Accenture, produced with Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities, November, 2023)

Small Businesses in Canada Hit Hard | The Big Financial Toll of Labour Shortages
(Canadian Federation of Independent Business, November 2023)  English version | French version

2023 Disability Equality Index Report
(Disability:IN and American Association of People with Disabilities, 2023)

2022 Canadian Survey on Disability
(Statistics Canada, December 2023)

New Data on Disability in Canada, 2022
(Statistics Canada, December 1, 2023)

Reports on Disability and Accessibility in Canada
(Statistics Canada, 2023)

The Disability Imperative
(Accenture/Disability:IN/American Association of Persons with Disabilities, November 2023)

Labour market characteristics of persons with and without disabilities in 2022: Results from the Labour Force Survey
(Statistics Canada, August 2023)

Workplace Accommodations: Low Cost, High Impact
(Job Accommodation Network/Office of Disability Employment Policy, updated May 4, 2023)

2022

Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities
(World Health Organization, 2022)

The Valuable Truth Report 2022
(The Valuable 500, May 2022)

The Employment Quality of Persons With Disabilities: Findings From a National Survey
Published study | Webinar recording | PDF of webinar slides
(Institute for Work and Health, April 2022)

2022 Disability Equality Index Report
(Disability:IN)

2022 HR Trends Report
(McLean & Company)

Access Ability: Strategy Report — Employers’ Lessons Learned in Hiring, Retaining and Advancing Employees with Disabilities
(Public Policy Forum, February 2022)

Making Your Business Accessible for People with Disabilities: Guide for Small Businesses
(Conference Board of Canada, 2022)

2021

Disability and Inclusion — Global and U.S. Findings
(Coqual, December 2021)

Hidden Workers: Untapped Talent
(Accenture/Harvard Business School, September 2021)

Innovation Unleashed: Building a Culture That Drives Sustained Growth
(Accenture, August 2021)

The State of Disability Employee Engagement
(Global Disability Inclusion & Mercer, March 2021)

2021 Disability Equality Index Report
(Disability:IN)

Inclusivity and Accessibility at the Core: Pathways to Employment in the Digital Economy for Albertans with Disabilities
(Information Communication and Technology Council, April 2021)

2020

Gig Workers With Disabilities: Opportunities, Challenges, and Regulatory Responses
(November 2020)

Design Delight from Disability — Summary Report: The Global Economics of Disability
(Return on Disability Group, September 2020)

Employment, Education, And Income For Canadians With Developmental Disability: Analysis From The 2017 Canadian Survey On Disability
(July 2020)

Survey of Employer Policies on the Employment of People with Disabilities Final Report
(Westat/U.S. Office of Disability Employment Policy, June 2020)

Getting to Equal 2020: The Hidden Value of Culture Makers
(Accenture, March 2020)

Enabling Change | Getting to Equal 2020: Disability Inclusion
(Accenture, 2020)

The ROI of Employee Engagement in 2020
(Decision Wise infographic, 2020)

Building the Business Case for Hiring People with Disabilities: A Financial Cost-Benefit Analysis Methodology and Example
Study      Infographic     Fact Sheet
(Canadian Disability Participation Project/McMaster University/Munster University of Applied Sciences, 2020)

2019

The Business of Accessibility: How to Make Your Main Street Business Accessibility Smart
(Accessbility Canada, August 2019)

National Diversity and Inclusion Benchmarking Study: Senior Leaders and Diversity Personnel
(Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, 2019)

2019 Disability Equality Index Report
(Disability:IN)

AGR-LMI Program — current agriculture labour market assessment, future labour supply and demand projections
(Canadian Agriculture Human Resources Council, updated 2019)

Ontario Chamber of Commerce Ontario Economic Report 2019
(2019)

Canadian Survey on Disability 2017 Data Visualization Tool
(Statistics Canada, December 2019)

Canadians With Disabilities: Seizing the Opportunity
(TD Economics, October 2019)

We’re Hiring: Manufacturing Workforce Survey Report
(Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, October 2019)

Workplace Accommodations For Employees With Disabilities in Canada, 2017
(Statistics Canada, September 2019)

What companies gain by including persons with disabilities
(World Economic Forum, April 2019)

Why Diversity and Inclusion Has Become a Business Priority
(Josh Bersin, Bersin by Deloitte – 2015, updated March 2019)

Canadian Mining Labour Market 10-Year Outlook 2020
(Canadian Mining Industry Human Resources Council, 2019)

2018

To Affinity and Beyond: From Me to We — The Rise of the Purpose-Led Brand
(Accenture, 2018)

A Demographic, Employment And Income Profile Of Canadians With Disabilities Aged 15 Years And Over, 2017
(Statistics Canada, November 2018)

Getting To Equal: The Disability Inclusion Advantage
(Accenture, October 2018)

Labour Shortage: Here to Stay — Worker Scarcity In Canada And What Businesses Can Do To Respond
(Business Development Bank of Canada, September 2018)

The Business Case to Build Physically Accessible Environments
(Conference Board of Canada, February 2018)

The Diversity and Inclusion Revolution: Eight Powerful Truths
(Deloitte, January 2018)

2017

2017 Global Human Capital Trends Report
(Deloitte, 2017)

 

There are disability-inclusive hiring success stories across sectors — as you’ll read in these case studies. In each, the business goals and reasons behind intentional disability-inclusive recruiting are different. But the business benefits, outcomes and successes are similar.

About ODEN case studies

ODEN curates and develops case studies as real-life examples of success stories and positive employment outcomes.

Case studies are great knowledge resources for gleaning ideas and insights that people can apply in their own operations and with their teams. ODEN case studies are divided into five categories:

• Partnership & Collaboration
• Program Model & Promising Practices
• High Performing Employment Service Providers
• Inclusive Business
• Organizational Change Management

Each category provides valuable insights for employment service providers and businesses to enhance their capacity to achieve inclusive hiring for people who have a disability.

ODEN

First Edition compilation case studies (2023)
Compilation d’études de cas – Première édition (2023)

Community & Social Services Sector

UHC— Hub of Opportunity (2025)
High Performing Employment Service Provider

Community Living Algoma (2025)
High Performing Employment Service Provider

Pathways to Possibilities and George Brown College (2024)
A Successful Community and College Collaboration to Support the Employment Readiness and Access Needs of Students with Intellectual Disabilities

LEADS Employment Services (2024)
High Performing Employment Service Provider

Performance Plus Rehabilitative Care (2024)
High Performing Employment Service Provider

Community Living Algoma (2023)
An Inclusive and Welcoming Spirit Guides Success at Community Living Algoma

Food Service & Hospitality Sector

Crafty Corner Tea Room (2024)
Crafty Corner Tea Room Serves Up Heart-shaped Love in Downtown Woodstock — a National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2024 “success story”

Aurora’s Pizza and Spaghetti House (2023)
Aurora’s Pizza and Spaghetti House is Finding Success by Welcoming Diversity into the Family

Sodexo Canada (2019)
How Diversity Within Sodexo Canada Is Helping Its Business Inside And Out

Healthcare Sector

Halton Healthcare (2022)
Halton Healthcare Builds on its Strong Tradition of Serving Communities Through the Project SEARCH Program

University Health Network (UHN) (2022):
University Health Network Committed to Championing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Through Youth Work Program

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (2021)
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is Leading by Example to Foster More Inclusive Hiring Practices and Better Health Outcomes

Financial & Professional Services Sectors

EY Canada (2024)
EY Canada is Using Creative Practices to Source Creative People

Torys LLP (2022)
Torys LLP Advances Inclusive Training Opportunities for Youth Through Partnership

Fidelity Canada (2021)
Fidelity Canada Building on Company Success through Innovative, Inclusive Hiring Practices

Deloitte (2019)
How Inclusive Hiring Makes Deloitte Canada Stronger

CIBC (2019)
How An Inclusive Culture Is Helping CIBC Build A Relationship-Focused Bank For A Modern World

Manufacturing Sector

Tru Earth (2025)
Disability-Inclusive Business

Onward Manufacturing (2021)
Onward Manufacturing Company Limited Is Serving Up Some Sizzling Examples of Inclusive Hiring

Cristina’s Tortina Shop (2021)
Cristina’s Tortina Shop is Baking Up a Fresh Perspective on People With Special Needs

Les Armoires Seguin (2019)
Small Skilled Trades Businesses Recognizing Talent

ROCKWOOL (2019)
How Accessible Recruiting Helped ROCKWOOL Succeed

Retail Sector

Michaels (2024)
Michaels’ Makers Like Me is a Meaningful Disability-Inclusive Hiring Initiative

Loblaw (2019)
How Loblaw Is Leading The Retail Sector In Inclusive Hiring

Vos’s Your Independent Grocer (2019)
Vos’s Your Independent Grocer Uses An Untapped Labour Pool To Avoid Turnover Troubles

Agriculture Sector

Fieldless Farms (2023)
From Farm to Career Field: How a Burgeoning Business is Breaking Down Barriers for People with Disabilities

Municipal Government

City of Ottawa (2024)
Inclusive Municipalities as Businesses: A Case Study Showcasing the City of Ottawa

City of London (2019)
The City Of London’s Internship Program Builds Diversity And Better Service

• Ontario’s new framework for advancing accessibility
• Accessibility in Ontario: information for businesses — a one-stop micro-website for businesses, launched by the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility in October 2019.
• Learn what’s involved in making Ontario’s Accessible Employment Standard
• Learn about accessibility laws and standards for all businesses and organizations in Ontario
• A Way with Words and Images / Suggestions for the portrayal of people with disabilities — A people-first disability terminology guide produced by the Government of Canada. (PDF download also available.)
• Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (Western Canada)
• Employment and Social Development Canada

“7 Tips” Series

7 Tips for Building Connections with Employment Service Providers
English version (Accessible PDF)  |  French version (Accessible PDF)

7 Tips for Making Your Social Media Content Accessible
English version (Accessible PDF)  |  French version (Accessible PDF)

7 Tips for Taking Great Photos at Night (for Light It Up! For NDEAM)
English version (Accessible PDF)  |  French version (Accessible PDF)

7 Tips for Ensuring Disability is Part of the DEI Conversation in Your Business
English version (Accessible PDF)  |  French version (Accessible PDF)

7 Tips for Making Sure Your Business is Disability Inclusive
English version (Accessible PDF)  |  French version (Accessible PDF)

7 Tips for Creating Highly Effective Job Postings
English version (Accessible PDF)  |  French version (Accessible PDF)

Recruiting Guides

Guide to Accessible eRecruiting
English version (Accessible PDF)  |  French version (Accessible PDF)

This step-by-step guide will help you in the review and enhancements of your accessible online recruiting, interviewing and onboarding processes, to make your eRecruiting efforts more successful.

eRecruiting Checklist
English version (Accessible PDF)  |  French version (Accessible PDF)

For HR professionals and hiring managers, eRecruiting is “business as usual.” But is your eRecruiting accessible, so you can effectively reach and attract candidates who have a disability? Follow our eRecruiting Checklist.

Disability Awareness and Confidence

Ask the Person
English version (Accessible PDF)  |  French version (Accessible PDF)

There’s a “Golden Rule” you should always follow when you’re on the journey of making you business disability inclusive: Ask the Person. This tip sheet will help you navigate the nuances of disability inclusion.

• Conference Board of Canada — Employer’s Toolkit: Making Ontario Workplaces Accessible To People With Disabilities
• March of Dimes Canada — Accessibility Awareness Toolkit / Increasing Accessible Employment In The Information And Communications Technology Sector
• Retail Council of Canada — Enabling Retail For Accessible Employment: Under The Accessibility For Ontarians With Disabilities Act

• Humber College — Inclusive Language In Media: A Canadian Style Guide. A guide to using respectful language about disability in any written business or media communication.
• Monsido — free scan to test your website’s accessibility under the AODA.
• National Center on Disability and Journalism — NCDJ Style Guide. The only comprehensive style guide on disability terminology in North America. For both journalists and businesses.

Quizzes
Disability Myth Quiz