FR

The vast majority of adults with an intellectual disability can be competitively and inclusively employed; however, approximately only 25% are currently employed.

Given that:

The Canadian unemployment rate for adults with an intellectual disability is approximately 75%.

The workforce participation rate for people with an intellectual disability is approximately one‐third of the employment rate of people without a disability.

People with intellectual disabilities who are working earn less than half of people without a disability.

Women with intellectual disabilities are less likely to be employed than men with intellectual disabilities.

Many adults with an intellectual disability are living marginalized and impoverished lives.

Sheltered workshops and segregated employment for people with disabilities are an unnecessary violation of individual rights and a drain on resources, which stream people into environments that severely limit their ability to choose real, dignified, and meaningful employment.

Exclusion from the labour market negatively impacts individual economic security, well-being, a sense of purpose in life and belonging, and the broader economy.

A large percentage of adults with an intellectual disability remain reliant on provincial/territorial income support systems.

Obtaining paid employment often results in a financial loss for adults with an intellectual disability.

Youth with an intellectual disability are often denied an inclusive education and opportunities for transition-to-work supports, thus limiting their preparedness for inclusive employment as adults.

Access to inclusive post-secondary education is significantly limited across the country.



And with the understanding:

People with an intellectual disability can participate in the Canadian labour market at the same rates as people without disabilities and should be doing so.

The means to create and sustain inclusive and meaningful employment is well known and proven when governments commit to proper strategies, supports, and resourcing.

The tens of millions of dollars that governments commit to wage subsidies do not lead to sustained employment.

The business community and private employers have demonstrated a capacity and willingness to create meaningful employment and hire individuals with an intellectual disability.

Canadian governments have an expressed commitment to the economic well-being of Canadians and Canada.

Access to inclusive post-secondary education is a proven path to employment for approximately 80% of individuals with an intellectual disability who are included in university, college or poly-technic institutions.

When people have access to an inclusive education, employment supports when needed, and transportation, the result is meaningful and sustained employment.

Most people with an intellectual disability can be naturally supported in their jobs by co-workers and employers.

Inclusive employment provides increased income, expanded social relationships, heightened control of decisions and activities, and a life of meaning and belonging.

The proportion of individuals with an intellectual disability who are employed has not grown in decades. Additional resources and political will is required to change the current situation.



Inclusion Canada is of the view that Canadian policy and practice in the area of employment for persons with an intellectual disability must:

Commit to enabling employment rates and compensation for people with disabilities proportionate to that of people without disabilities.

Provide working-age people with an intellectual disability, regardless of level of disability, choice and opportunity to earn a living through paid inclusive employment in the open labour market.

Create meaningful employment opportunities with appropriate related supports and job accommodation as needed.

Ensure the transition from existing segregated vocational programs to inclusive competitive employment, resulting in the ending of segregated day programs.

Ensure the transition from existing segregated day programs to inclusive and meaningful community activity options, including ongoing support as needed, resulting in the ending of segregated day programs.

Establish a new federally funded strategic initiative that specifically enables youth with an intellectual disability to be supported in inclusive community employment during their high school years and outside of school hours.

Significantly limit the use of wage subsidies, except for temporary student jobs that apply to both youth with and without disabilities, and re-allocate these monies in known and effective strategies for securing and sustaining employment.

Demonstrate leadership within governments at all levels in their responsibility to be leading inclusive employers, through the increased hiring of persons with an intellectual disability.

Expand and maintain the federally funded Ready, Willing and Able national initiative, which has a proven track record of creating meaningful and inclusive employment for persons with developmental disabilities.

Expand inclusive post-secondary education opportunities to the extent that the rate of participation in post-secondary education for people with an intellectual disability is comparable to people without disabilities.

Ensure equitable access by persons with an intellectual disability to generic employment centers (not segregated or disability specific) where they receive appropriate and adequate counselling services to assist with training needs, issues of underemployment and career advancement, and transition between periods of employment.

At a provincial/territorial level, expand incentives for employment for people with a disability who receive social assistance benefits, including reducing the claw-backs on earned income.

Expand and support opportunities to pursue entrepreneurship and self-employment.

Watch the Our Take webinar!

Inclusion Canada’s Position on Employment

This paper is about work and jobs for people with an intellectual disability. This paper outlines what Inclusion Canada thinks and believes about work and jobs for people with an intellectual disability

What is the issue with work and jobs?

Most adults with an intellectual disability can work. They can have a regular job. But only about 25% have jobs.

Background Information

Many adults with an intellectual disability do not have jobs. About 75% are unemployed.

There are not many adults with an intellectual disability who work or have jobs. Only 33% are working or looking for a job.

People with an intellectual disability do not make as much money. When they have a job, they earn less. They get less than half of what people without disabilities earn.

Men and women with an intellectual disability have differences when it comes to being employed. Men are more likely to have a job than women.

Many adults with an intellectual disability are left out. They are not included in society. Many live in poverty.

Many people with an intellectual disability have to use income support programs.

Jobs that are only for people with disabilities go against their rights. Models like sheltered workshops go against people’s rights. These models use up resources. They put people into situations that limit their choice for real employment.

Not being able to get a job can have a negative effect. It can affect a person’s finances and security. It also has a negative effect on their well-being. It takes away a sense of purpose and belonging. It can have a negative effect on the country’s economy.

Getting a paid job doesn’t always mean more money. It can mean that adults with an intellectual disability will have less money after they get a job.

An inclusive education is not easy to get. Many young people with an intellectual disability don’t have the chance to get an inclusive education. They do not have the opportunity for supports that will help them get a job. They are not being prepared for inclusive jobs as adults.

There is not enough access to school after high school for people with an intellectual disability.

Information that we know to be true:

Most people with an intellectual disability can work. They can have a regular job. They should be employed at the same rates as people without disabilities.

There is a lot of research and proof on how to make and maintain inclusive jobs. The Government needs to commit to proper plans, supports and resources to do this.

Government funding for wages does not lead to long term jobs.

Employers are ready to hire people. They are willing to create meaningful jobs. They want to hire people with an intellectual disability.

The government of Canada wants the economy to do well. It wants all people to be part of the economy.

Access to education after high school can help people to get a job. About 80% of those who get an education after high school also get a job.

Other factors help people to get and keep a job. This includes being able to get an education. It includes being able to get employment supports. It also includes being able to get transportation.

Most people with an intellectual disability can be supported in their jobs. This can be done in a natural way. It can be done by co-workers and employers.

There are a lot of benefits from inclusive jobs. People have more money. They have increased social contact. They have more control over their decisions and activities. They feel like they belong and their life has meaning.

The employment rate of people with an intellectual disability is very low. It has not gone up in a very long time. There needs to be more resources to change this situation. Governments need to be involved to change the current situation.

Inclusion Canada believes that work and jobs must change to include people with intellectual disability

Inclusion Canada believes that work and jobs must change so people with an intellectual disability can be included. This can happen by taking the following actions.

  • Be committed to equal opportunities to have a job. Make sure employment and pay rates are the same as those of people without disabilities.
  • Make sure there is choice and opportunity to get a regular job. The level of a person’s disability should not affect this.
  • Increase and support the opportunity for regular jobs. Make sure there are suitable supports. Make sure there are accommodations as needed.
  • Make sure that people can move from segregated job programs to regular jobs. This will also help to end segregated day programs
  • Make sure that people can move out of segregated day programs. Make sure they can move to inclusive activities. This includes providing ongoing support as needed. This will also help to end segregated day programs.
  • Make a new federal program that helps youth with an intellectual disability. The program would be for inclusive jobs. This includes having an inclusive job during high school. This would be outside of school hours.
  • Limit the use of wage subsidies. Use subsidies only for student jobs that are for youth with and without disabilities. Use the money from the subsidies to help youth get and keep a job.
  • Governments need to be leaders at all levels. They need to hire more people with an intellectual disability.
  • Increase and maintain the Ready, Willing and Able program. This is a national program with federal funding. It creates inclusive jobs for people with an intellectual disability.

Watch the Our Take webinar!

Inclusion Canada’s Position on Employment

In 2019 the Government of Canada passed a new law called the Accessible Canada Act. The Accessible Canada Act’s goal is to create a country without barriers for all people – especially people with disabilities. The law applies to programs and services that the federal government controls. The law focuses on barriers in seven main areas. One of these areas is employment. 

Having a law is the first step to creating an accessible Canada. The next step is to create Accessibility Standards. Accessibility Standards are rules that help organizations find and remove barriers. The federal government gave funding to community groups to help them with this work. For the past 3 years, Inclusion Canada, People First of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Citizenship and Inclusion have been researching employment barriers and the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. We’re excited to share what we’ve learned with the Government of Canada and with you! 

Read the Research Report we prepared for the Government of Canada. It talks about barriers and best practice for accessible employment for people with intellectual disabilities. The report is available in English and French


Read the Plain Language Executive Summary of our research report. This summary is available in Plain English and Plain French.  

See the Infographic of interesting facts we learned through this project. This accessible infographic is available in English and French

Read the Info Sheet summarizing ways the Government of Canada can support equal access at work for people with intellectual disabilities. This accessible info sheet is available in English and French

Watch an animated video highlighting ways the Government of Canada can support equal access at work for people with intellectual disabilities. This video is available in English with ASL and in French with LSQ.

Watch a self-advocate led video discussing recommendations from the project and ways that employers can create inclusive and accessible workplaces. This video is available in English and in English with French captions.

We gratefully acknowledge that this project was funded by Accessibility Standards Canada.

PRESS RELEASE: FEDERAL BUDGET EXPANDS READY, WILLING AND ABLE ACROSS CANADA

For Immediate ReleaseApril 8, 2022 OTTAWA, ON – Federal Budget 2022 commits a $20 million investment to the Ready, Willing, and Able program (RWA). RWA is a national employment program jointly sponsored by Inclusion Canada and the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance (CASDA) for persons with an intellectual disability or on the autism spectrum. This … Continued

PRESS RELEASE: Accessible Canada Act & Enhancement to Opportunities Fund Offers Significant Progress for Persons with an Intellectual Disability & Their Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 21, 2018 Toronto, ON – Inclusion Canada is greatly encouraged by the introduction of the Accessible Canada Act (Bill C-81). The Bill has many promising components, and Inclusion Canada looks forward to participating in the legislative review to ensure strong and effective legislation that makes real progress in building an inclusive … Continued

PRESS RELEASE: Zero Project Highlights Canada’s Ready, Willing & Able Initiative as a 2017 Innovative Policy on Employment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 2017 VIENNA – Canada’s Ready, Willing & Able Initiative has been awarded as an Innovative Policy on Employment, Work and Vocational Education and Training. The Award was presented by Martin Essl, Founder of the Zero Project and Alexandra Wandel, Director and Vice-Chair, Management Board, of the World Future Council, in the United … Continued