Businesses can learn and be inspired by the best practices of employers of people with disabilities in Rethinking disAbility in the Private Sector, a federal panel’s new report, available online. The panel consulted with businesses and organizations, including the Canadian Chamber, last fall and they heard that:

• Hiring people with disabilities makes good business sense.
• There are myths and misconceptions in the business community about the costs and risks associated with hiring people with disabilities.
• In half of the cases, there are no costs to accommodate a person with disabilities, but on average the cost is $500, an investment easily returned by a loyal and engaged employee. This is good for the bottom line.

You will find practical advice and compelling arguments in this report on why hiring people with disabilities makes business sense and how to proceed – starting with a self-examination of your capabilities to accommodate and hire and then
tapping into existing resources.

Despite an aging population and a looming labour skills shortage, this signifi cant talent pool is being overlooked.

This is good news for employers seeking talent, and for the approximately 795,000 working-aged Canadians who are not working but whose disability does not prevent them from doing so. Almost half (340,000) of these people have post-secondary education. Canadian business must find ways to engage with and employ these individuals so that communities can benefit from their education and skills.