MOVING TO FULL INCLUSION: RESEARCHING THE EXPERIENCE OF CANADIAN MID-CAREER WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES

At present, there is a global focus on exclusion and inclusion of various equity-seeking groups. Yet, little is known about the specifics involved for full inclusion in the global workplace for workers with disabilities. Twenty-two percent of Canadians ages 15-64 have a disability, an estimated 6.4 million people. Many are of employment age, but they face lower employment rates and are more likely to be displaced in the current labor market. There is a shortage of online tools and resources to support mid-career workers with disabilities. These tools could build community and provide education for career progression. The present global pandemic has caused substantial shifts in unemployment and the knowledge that workers from marginalized populations are disproportionately affected by shutdowns.

A team of researchers from four universities and colleges in partnership with crucial disability advocacy networks in Canada are identifying issues for Canadian mid-career workers with disabilities. The research project has three phases. First, they have undertaken a rigorous scoping review of the literature on workers with disabilities in Canada and a secondary data analysis of the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability, focusing on mid-career workers operationally defined as respondents ages 35-49 years. From this reviews, key findings are emerging. Next, the research team has surveyed mid-career workers with disabilities for their perceptions of the marketplace and the supports that they are receiving. The quantitative survey data will be analyzed statistically using SPSS, and the qualitative using NVIVO. For the third phase, the research team has committed to undertaking a National consultation with mid-career workers with disabilities, Canadian employers and disability organizations and advocacy groups, meeting in both official languages. During the pandemic, this research continues but is occurring through online focus groups. The findings from Phases 1 and 2 will be compiled into a comprehensive report for governments, policymakers, and employers and will focus on what mid-career workers need to be successful in job searches and in maintaining employment.

Many workers have shifted to remote work or work from home and a plethora of new tools have emerged to help remote workers. Examples of these include shared authoring applications such as Google drive, project management apps such as Basecamp, file sharing apps (e.g., Dropbox), and messenger programs (e.g., Slack). Other apps improve online voice, such as Krisp. In addition, multiple assistive technology functions such as voice-to-text, live captioning, and live translations have emerged. The Phase 3 research involves the design of online tools and resources specific to mid-career workers with disabilities, followed by a review of the resources' effectiveness based on the user experience using mixed methods. In this paper, the authors report findings from Phase 1, including current data on Canadian mid-career workers with disabilities and the detailed scoping review's conclusions. The interim results from the Phase 2 survey will be reported, including preliminary findings from the national survey and interviews with employers, mid-career workers with disabilities, and members of advocacy groups. The findings hold the promise to improve opportunities for mid-career workers with disabilities.