According to Statistics Canada, approximately 1.5 million people in Ontario have disabilities, about 13 per cent, and that is expected to increase to 20 per cent in 20 years, as the population ages. However, despite the fact that people with disabilities make up a significant portion of the population, barriers in various forms, be they physical or attitudinal, often prevent them from meeting their full potential.
Education
- Approximately 61 per cent of adults with disabilities have a high school education or less, compared to 52 per cent of adults without disabilities.
- Approximately 40 per cent of adults with disabilities have a post-secondary education, compared to 48 per cent of the non-disabled population.
(data from Statistics Canada's Participation and Activity Limitation Survey 2001)
Employment
- Over half (56 per cent) of working age adults with disabilities are either unemployed or not in the labour force, compared to less than a quarter (24 per cent) of working age adults without disabilities.
- The unemployment rate for people with disabilities (26 per cent) is over five times higher than the unemployment rate for people without disabilities (5 per cent).
(data from Statistics Canada's Participation and Activity Limitation Survey 2001)
Business
- By making Ontario accessible to people with disabilities, businesses will share in the considerable spending power of this community. According to a Royal Bank estimate, across Canada, people with disabilities have consumer-spending power of about $25 billion a year. The study also confirms that customers with disabilities influence the spending decisions of 12 to 15 million other Canadians. This is a market no business can afford to overlook. And it’s a market that’s growing.
- The U.S. hospitality industry estimates that implementing standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act increased annual revenue by 12 per cent.
Accessibility is a good investment. It will bring more customers through the door, encourage more tourists to Ontario, and remove barriers that keep skilled employees out of workplaces. Accessibility will be a strong part of the value that businesses offer their customers, hotels and restaurants offer visitors to our province, and employers offer to much-needed employees.