October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a chance to increase awareness and advance equal opportunities for people with disabilities. In Canada, one in five or 3.2 million workers experience some form of disability.1 Last year, the unemployment rate among persons with disability remained higher (7.6%) compared to those without disability (4.6%).2
Each week in October, we’ll profile a member of DisAbility at Coast, our employee resource group (ERG). This volunteer employee-driven network raises awareness and acceptance by organizing workshops, hosting guest speakers and holding panel discussions.
1 From Statistics Canada. Labour force status of persons with and without disabilities aged 15 years and over, by age group and gender. March 2024.
2 From Statistics Canada. Labour market characteristics of persons with and without disabilities, 2023. June 2024.
Meet Jennifer Miller (She/Her/Hers), Advice Skills Advisor
Why did you join the ERG?
I joined about a year ago after reflecting on my purpose at Coast and in my community. My desire to do more stemmed from a deep personal conviction rooted in empathy, advocacy, and the desire to promote inclusivity at Coast and in my personal life. My motivation comes from the recognition that individuals with seen and unseen disabilities face every day, whether physical, social, or emotional. I believe it is our shared responsibility to foster environments where everyone, regardless of ability, can thrive. In joining the ERG, I also hope to continue learning myself. I understand that I don’t know everything about the challenges faced by people with disabilities, and am eager to listen, engage, and grow through the experiences of others. Through our collective action and shared understanding, we can make a real difference, and I want to be part of that transformation.
What inspires your work on this topic?
Through education and awareness, I want to contribute to dismantling the misconceptions and stigmas associated with disabilities. I have witnessed firsthand, through personal connections and broader observations, how ignorance or lack of understanding can lead to isolation, discrimination, and the marginalization of disabled individuals. By joining this ERG, I seek to be an active participant in changing this narrative, helping others see the value and potential of every individual.
What misconceptions and beliefs do people have about disabilities (both in and outside of workplaces) that you’d like to dispel?
The focus should be on creating a more equitable world where accessibility is not an afterthought, rather a fundamental right, and is embedded in the design process. I want to advocate for policies, infrastructure, and cultural shifts that make society more accommodating for people with disabilities. What we need is a sense of fairness and the understanding that inclusivity enriches all of us. When we open spaces for diverse abilities and perspectives, we strengthen our communities and the people around us.
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Coast Capital takes a person-first approach to disability. We understand that disability is complex. It reflects an interaction between the person and the society in which they live. Physical and non-physical workplace barriers can limit an individual’s full and equal participation.
A disability can occur at any time in a person’s life. Some people are born with a disability while others develop a disability later in life. It can be permanent, temporary, or episodic. Disability can steadily worsen, remain the same, or improve. It can be very mild to very severe.
Coast Capital’s definition of disability builds upon how disability is defined in the Accessible Canada Act. It demonstrates that disabilities are socially constructed. Disabilities emerge from the relationship between the individual and society. At Coast Capital, this definition reminds us that it is our responsibility to remove barriers for persons with disabilities because barriers are created and reinforced by the ways we think and act as a society.
