A new study by Canada’s Statistics department has shown that over 40 percent of people with disabilities between the ages of 15 and 24 have seen income loss which has had a major or moderate impact on their ability to get food and groceries.
According to the study by Stats Canada, 36percentt of people with a long term condition or disability reported temporary or permanent job loss since March.
“It wouldn’t hurt to find a job and make some extra cash, you know,” said Mohamad Nadi, who has also been on the job hunt throughout the pandemic.
While securing work has been a challenge for Nadi, he said he’s more concerned for others, who may be differently-abled compared to him. He added employers willingness to accommodate their employees continues to be a huge barrier for people with disabilities who are looking for work.
Mohamad Nadi has struggled to secure work throughout the pandemic and says ODSP provides just enough to get by.
“People with disabilities are disproportionately affected from an employment perspective, from several different categories… a lack of opportunity to a lack of, frankly, interest in education for people with disabilities as it relates to employment. So I’m ret surprised,” McShan, who is a disability advocate in Windsor, was quoted as saying in CBC News.
Before the pandemic, McShan was working for the Discover Ability Network as a regional ambassador, but like many, he now faces uncertainty when it comes to securing employment.
Kevin McShan says a common misconception many employers have when hiring an employee with a disability is that it will cost a lot. He says that’s why employment opportunities are even harder come by during the pandemic for people with disabilities.
Before losing his contract, McShan said he was working on a program that would better connect people with disabilities to employment opportunities with local businesses. However, those opportunities may now be more challenging to find, he said.
While some can access supports, such as The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), McShan and Nadi stressed that for many, that income is not enough.
“I’m able to provide for myself and my family through my ODSP, but it’s not enough, you know. I’m not trying to be ungrateful, because I appreciate ODSP and what it’s done and what it’s helped me with, but it’s not enough,” said Nadi.
McShan echoed Nadi and said accommodating employees with disabilities is key, but that it doesn’t necessarily mean expanding financially in a large way.
He said for the most part it can cost businesses less than $500 to accommodate disabled employees. He added that expanding opportunities is also a way forward.
“More opportunities need to be given in terms of showing or showcasing the abilities of people with disabilities,” he said.
