Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Advisory Board has released recommendations aimed at removing employment barriers faced by people with disabilities in areas such as recruitment, retention, advancement, workplace accommodations and emergency preparedness.
The board’s Employment Standard Development Committee, comprising people with disabilities and other experts, developed the recommendations released on October 25. These will inform a new accessibility standard for employment, which will be shared publicly for comment.
“Every Nova Scotian deserves the chance to fully engage in the workforce. These recommendations will shape the standard regulations needed to make that a reality,” said Justice Minister Barbara Adams, Minister responsible for the Accessibility Act.
The board recommends that employers implement workplace accessibility policies to ensure recruitment practices are accessible, establish evacuation and shelter-in-place plans to protect employees with disabilities during emergencies, and provide reasonable workplace accommodations. A phased approach is suggested, potentially including exemptions based on employer size.
“Accessible employment is important because it ensures that all Nova Scotians can fully participate in our workforce, and employers across Nova Scotia are supported to prevent and remove barriers to employment faced by persons with disabilities,” said Max Chauvin, Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Board.
The development of the employment accessibility standard is part of Nova Scotia’s Access by Design 2030 strategy, which aims to make the province accessible by 2030. Employment is the third standard area being developed under the Accessibility Act, following the built environment and education.
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month. According to provincial data, 55.5 per cent of adults aged 25 to 64 with disabilities are employed, compared with 76 per cent of working-age adults without disabilities.