LET’S collaborated with Realize on the national INDEED (INvestigating the DEvelopment of Accessibility Standards in Canada and the Inclusion/Exclusion of Episodic Disabilities) research project, examining how people with episodic disabilities are often excluded from workplace accessibility frameworks and standards.
As a leader in Canada’s disability sector, a disability-led organization, and an advisory partner in the INDEED project, LET’S was uniquely positioned to lead community engagement rooted in the Disability Justice framework, lived experience, and community knowledge.
This research occurred as Canada was reviewing its employment accessibility frameworks. Recommendations include formally recognizing episodic disability in legislation, integrating lived expertise into accessibility governance, investing in training for employers, and equipping small organizations with practical tools and support.
Building flexibility, awareness, and equity into workplace culture strengthens the overall accessibility and responsiveness of Canada’s employment systems.
Live Educate Transform Society (LET’S) was 1 of the organizations hired to do community engagement.
The LET’S project team included:
Heather McCain (they/them), Crip Doula and Founder-Executive Director, Live Educate Transform Society.
Dr. Alfiya Battalova (she/her), Assistant Professor, School of Humanitarian Studies, Royal Roads University.
Bastion Marshall (they/them), a disabled, queer, non‑binary, a chronically underemployed (due to systemic ableism) neurodivergent researcher and diversity consultant with degrees in Sociology and Germanic studies,
Kale Gösen (they/them), Administration and Equity & Inclusion Educator, UBC Gearing Up Engineering Outreach.
Together, the team combined academic expertise, community leadership, and lived experience to push accessibility standards toward inclusion that reflects the complexity of real lives.
Here are some examples of what participants said in their research interviews:
“I have been so accustomed to being chronically under-supported in my life that I often forget to look and believe that there are resources out there for me.”
(Teacher talking about being an adult with ADHD) “Given so much information about mental health and neurodivergence for students but no reflection for how we talk about our own careers. It’s cool that we are learning about it for students but alienating to not have conversations about it for teachers. I can’t talk about how she can’t genuinely cannot keep up.”
“Have experienced racism and other forms of discrimination in disability spaces and trans spaces or BIPOC only spaces. Hasn’t been easy to find space where all of my identities can show up and be okay.”
(From a participant who has been both moderator and admin on Vancouver Queer Spoon Share): “Proud of how it has grown and how it helps people like me who have needs. The ways I meet people have ripples and connections and widen understanding of who I am.”
“As far as other identities, I believe that Fat or Person in a Large Body is relevant as I believe I have endured stigma and discrimination based on the size of my body and assumptions about my health in relation to body size in the workplace as well as within social services.”
“Trying to navigate any services with a doctor has been horrific. I’m exhausted”
“Without all this ableism, I wouldn’t be treated as a problematic, disordered, crisis that needs to be solved all the time.”
“I feel ‘non-compliant’ in the social service sector. My non-negotiable needs are seen as demanding. I am a limp and tired human.”
“I think things like higher wages, working conditions, work/life balance, and benefits are all so much more important than just “having a job” and all determine how long people like us are actually able to stay at the job.”
“Most people providing service to the community are burnt out.”
“A disabled group interview was up 2 flights of stairs, no elevators – they asked why I didn’t come and I explained the stairs and they said that never occurred to them.”
(Illustration of a person in a wheelchair in front of stairs.)
It was interesting to hear about the intersection between other identities and disability. As one research participant said, “Disability and queerness are still treated as 2 separate things but there is such crossover. When I saw this study, I was excited because the venn diagram came together.” LET’S has an ongoing relationship with Realize, and we will be updating about this project in future newsletters as more events happen to disseminate the findings of this research.