Research form the Conference Board of Canada shows that failing to create accessible workplaces to accommodate people with disabilities could cost Canada billions of dollars in lost economic growth. Nearly 3 million people in Canada have a physical disability and that number is expected to grow to 3.6 million by in the next 12 years.
“The Conference Board says consumer spending from that demographic currently contributes about 14 per cent to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product but adds that figure could be much higher if people with disabilities faced fewer barriers to participating in the workforce.”
If businesses were to make their work environments more accessible and adjusted attitudes in the workplace towards being more inclusive towards people with disabilities, the economic impact for Canada would be huge.
