National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 

The NDEAM 2025 PR Kit is now available! Find it here.

Inclusive Employment Across Canada: Building a Workforce Without Barriers 

Every October, Canadians come together to celebrate the contributions of people who have a disability and to strengthen our workplaces through inclusion. It’s a time to recognize the contributions of people who have a disability, raise awareness of the barriers they continue to face, and take action to build a truly inclusive economy. 

Our 2025 theme, Inclusive Employment Across Canada: Building a Workforce Without Barriers, calls on all of us to reimagine workplaces where everyone can contribute, belong, and succeed. 

Why NDEAM Matters 

More than 1 in 4 Canadians (8 million people) has a disability, and that number continues to grow. Yet many workplaces are still not designed to fully include them. 74% of workers who have a disability experience barriers at work, and 67% encounter barriers before they’re even hired (StatsCan, 2024).

The cost of exclusion is high. Closing the disability employment gap by just one-third could add $50 billion to Canada’s GDP by 2030 (TD, 2019). But the benefits of disability  inclusion are even greater:

  • Disability inclusive companies experience 2.6x more net income, 1.6x more revenue, and 25% higher productivity(Accenture, 2023).
  • They are also 8x stronger in innovation, retention, and customer service (Deloitte, 2023).

Disability inclusion fuels performance, stability, and innovation, exactly what Canada needs to stay competitive in today’s economy.

Here’s the good news: Building a workforce without barriers doesn’t start with having all the answers. It starts with one decision. The decision to show up. There are resources and support ready to help every organization on their disability inclusion journey.

 

 

NDEAM PR Toolkit — available now!

The NDEAM 2025 PR Kit includes templates, social media graphics, and tools. Whether you’re hosting an event, posting on LinkedIn, or sharing stories with local media, these tools make it simple to amplify your impact. 

Light It Up for NDEAM!

On Thursday, October 16th, 2025, landmarks, buildings and businesses across Canada will shine purple and blue for Light It Up! for NDEAM™. This national movement brings awareness to disability employment inclusion.

You can participate by:

    • Requesting a local landmark to light purple and blue

    • Encouraging your staff to wear purple and blue

    • Sharing photos online with #LightItUpForNDEAM

How You Can Get Involved 

A young man with a developmental disability is dressed in a grocer's apron and grocery store uniform. He's smiling proudly and confidently at the camera, with his arms crossed. In the slightly blurred background is the produce section of a grocery store.

NDEAM is for everyone: Businesses, Employment Service Providers, and Community Stakeholders. Here are ways you can take part and show your support for building a workforce without barriers: 

For Businesses 

  • Celebrate NDEAM in your workplace with team messages, posters, and events 
  • Share your support on LinkedIn or Facebook using #NDEAM2025 and #WorkWithoutBarriers 
  • Attend the Work Without Barriers Event Series: Join virtual events throughout October featuring expert panels and discussions on disability inclusion in sectors like healthcare and tourism & hospitality 

For Employment Service Providers 

  • Share stories of disability inclusive hiring success in your community 
  • Participate in ODEN’s One Thing I Wish Employers Knew social media challenge: Share one message you wish more employers understood about disability inclusion 
  • On October 16th, take pictures of locations participating in Light It Up! for NDEAM™ and share on your socials using #LightItUpforNDEAM #NDEAM2025

NDEAM 2025 Mayoral Proclamations

Mayoral proclamations of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month enhance the annual recognition of the valuable contributions people who have a disability make to businesses and communities. They also add strength to the call for all businesses in all communities to be strategic and intentional about inclusive hiring.

If you have a Mayoral proclamation/recognition of NDEAM in your community that you’d like us to share and highlight, send us a copy. We’ll showcase it on our 2025 NDEAM Mayoral Proclamations page.

Questions about NDEAM?

For more information about National Disability Employment Awareness Month and our annual NDEAM campaign, contact Pawrnaa Perinpanayagam, Communications Strategist.

Email:  pperinpagayam@odenetwork.com

Office phone: 1-866-280-6336 ext. 118