You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without a D

Ep. 23: The State of Accessibility in Canada (Part 2)

In part two of our series on The State of Accessibility in Canada, we go from the bird’s-eye view to a closer look at accessibility — in branding, marketing, advertising and social media content created by businesses in Canada.

This is an important conversation to have, because the accessibility of content for everyone can affect a business’s profitability and brand reputation.

Be sure to listen to this episode especially if you’re in marketing or advertising; or you’re a brand manager; or a social media manager; or a webmaster; or a graphic designer; or even a freelancer who does some or all of these things.

In Episode 23 you’re in for some insights into what’s right and what’s wrong about accessibility in all aspects of marketing, advertising, branding and social media from two people who specialize in helping businesses make sure what they’re creating is accessible.

An engaging conversation with guests:

• Kelly Thibodeau, Principal, Squarely Accessible
• Jolene MacDonald, Founder and Creative Director of Accessibrand

SHOW NOTES

• Get in touch with Kelly Thibodeau at Squarely Accessible
  • Email: kelly@squarelyaccessible.com
  • Website: https://squarelyaccessible.com

• Get in touch with Jolene MacDonald at Accessibrand
  • Email: jolene@accessibrand.com
  • Website: https://accessibrand.com
    
    
• Read the 2024 Global Advertising Accessibility Index and Trends Report
  
  
• Tip sheet: 7 Tips for Making Your Social Media Content Accessible
  English version(Accessible PDF)  |  French version (Accessible PDF)
  
  
• Episode 23 transcript (PDF)

Ep. 22: The State of Accessibility in Canada — Part 1

Accessibility is a single word that can have a lot of impact. Every day in Canada, indeed across North America and in countries around the world, many people — especially people who have a disability — face challenges in their daily lives because the built environment we all live in, generally isn’t all that accessible.

We mark National AccessAbility Week 2024 in Canada with this episode that’s part one in a two-part series on accessibility. When things are accessible, everyone benefits — emphasis on “when.”

It’s been almost five years since the Accessible Canada Act came into force, with the goal of making Canada totally barrier free by January 1, 2040. Just what is the current state of accessibility in Canada of products, of services, of places? And will we become a truly barrier-free country over the next 16 years?

That’s what we’re exploring in this episode — think of it as a report card on the overall state of accessibility in Canada.

For this high-level barometric reading, we turned to three of the top voices on accessibility in Canada.

Listen to this engaging conversation with:

• Stephanie Cadieux, Chief Accessibility Officer of Canada
• Brad McCannell, Vice-President of Access and Inclusion at the Rick Hansen Foundation
• Lawyer and disability advocate Lorin MacDonald, who is recognized as one of Canada’s disability leaders and is highly regarded by the human rights legal community

SHOW NOTES

• Everyone’s Business: Accessibility in Canada — Report from the Chief Accessibility Officer, 2023
• Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification^TM (RHFAC) Program
• Summary of the Accessible Canada Act
• Episode 22 transcript (PDF)

Ep. 21: Making Campuses More Inclusive

There are more than 200 universities, and more than 200 colleges and institutes in Canada. Certainly no lack of choice for young people looking to pursue post-secondary education.

But there’s a problem on campuses across this country. It’s one affecting students, staff and faculty alike — a lack of accessibility and disability inclusion.

Statistics show that about 27% of Canadians have a university degree. But about only 17% of Canadians who have a disability, have some kind of degree.

But change could be in the wind with a project at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. An award-winning research team of professors at U of M set out to break down barriers to inclusion for students and faculty at the university who have a disability. Their project is titled, Dismantling Ableism and Promoting Equity for Persons with Disabilities: Institutional Action and Accountability.

It was one of three recipients of the inaugural Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity. The $100,000 award is funded through the federal Canada Research Chairs program.

In this engaging conversation, project lead Tina Chen, and Professor Nancy Hansen, talk about the project, and the many facets of why universities aren’t inclusive, and how to change that.

Tina is the University of Manitoba's first Executive Lead, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Nancy is Director of the university's Interdisciplinary Master's Program in Disability Studies.

ODEN’s Dr. Jennifer Crowson, PhD, is guest co-host this episode.

 

SHOW NOTES

• Government of Canada — Canada Research Chairs — project page: https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/wahts_new-quoi_de_neuf/2023/dismantling-demantelement-eng.aspx
• Government of Canada — Canada Research Chairs — Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity page:  https://chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/equity-equite/Robbins-Ollivier/index-eng.aspx
• Episode 21 transcript (PDF)

 

Ep. 20: Disrupting Ableism in the Workplace

Ableism. It happens in workplaces, in communities and in society in general, every day. Maybe you have lived experience facing it. Or maybe you’ve practised it, without consciously realizing it.

In this episode, we get a perspective on disrupting ableism in the workplace: Why it’s happening, its many forms, its impact and what can, and needs to be, done about it.

Our two guests have many powerful insights on ableism. Listen to this conversation with Sree Nallamothu and Fran Odette.

Sree Nallamothu is the Co-Executive Director of Toronto Neighbourhood Centres. She’s also a documentary film-maker, a passionate story teller and an advocate for social change.

Fran Odette has more than 25 years of experience in disability advocacy, activism and education. She co-designed and co-teaches a critical disability studies course titled, Disability Discourse: The Experienced Life, at George Brown College in Toronto.

Their insights in this episode will get you thinking more consciously about ableism.

ODEN’s Dr. Jennifer Crowson, PhD, is guest co-host this episode.

 

SHOW NOTES

• Episode transcript: https://www.odenetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/TranscriptEp20DisruptingAbleismInTheWorkplace-19April2024_otter_ai.pdf
  
  
• Maytree “Five Good Ideas” webinar on Disrupting Ableism in the Workplace transcript link: https://maytree.com/five-good-ideas/five-good-ideas-for-disrupting-ableism-in-the-workplace/
  
  
• “The Biggest Challenge is Ableism, Not My Disability” — United Nations Africa Renewal e-magazine 2021 article by Franck Kowanu;  interview with Haben Girma: https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/august-2021/‘-biggest-challenge-ableism-not-my-disability’
  
  
• Ableism 101: https://www.accessliving.org/newsroom/blog/ableism-101/
  
  
• Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital “Dear Everybody” campaign to end ableism against youth who have a disability: https://deareverybody.hollandbloorview.ca/?utm_campaign=DearEverybody21&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=textpost&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw7-SvBhB6EiwAwYdCAayqMMB4GA_2TYPstJ6-KZfDLTcWUGOImL86p1L21TITBUyiHw_5bRoCwioQAvD_BwE
  
  
• United Nations Geneva Disability-Inclusive Language Guidelines: https://www.ungeneva.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/Disability-Inclusive-Language-Guidelines.pdf
  
  
• Disability Discrimination: Everything Canadian Employers Need to Know: https://www.peninsulagrouplimited.com/ca/resource-hub/discrimination/disability-discrimination-canadian-employer-guide/

Ep. 19: The IDEA Initiative — A Year One Update

In our Season 5 opener, the two guests who were with us on our 2023 season opener, are back to give us an update on year one of the Inclusive Design for Employment Access initiative, or IDEA for short.

A quick recap: IDEA is a six-year research project being done with $9 million of federal funding under Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund. IDEA is reimagining how Canadian workplaces can be more inclusive for people who have a disability.

It’s been almost a year since IDEA officially launched in May 2023, and we wanted to find out what’s been happening since then.

Listen to this great year one update conversation with Dr.Emile Tompa and Dr. Rebecca Gewurtz, who lead the IDEA initiative.

 

SHOW NOTES

Find out more about the IDEA initiative:

• Website: https://vraie-idea.ca
• Government of Canada page about IDEA: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/stories-histoires/2022/inclusive-design-inclusif-eng.aspx
• Institute for Work and Health page about IDEA: https://www.iwh.on.ca/projects/inclusive-design-for-employment-access-idea-evidence-synthesis

Connect with and follow the IDEA initiative on social media:

• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/vraie_idea
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vraie-idea/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vraie_idea/
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@vraie_idea
• Mastodon: https://mstdn.ca/@vraie_idea

Get in touch about getting involved in the IDEA initiative: info@vraie-idea.ca

Listen to the original conversation about the IDEA initiative (Episode 8): https://youcantspellinclusionwithoutad.podbean.com/e/idea-—-the-new-six-year-initiative-that-s-reimagining-canadian-workplaces-for-disability-inclusion/

Season 5 Trailer

We've got another great season  lined up. It starts April 9. Stay tuned for a lot of insight-packed conversations coming in the months ahead. Here's an idea of what's coming in 2024, in season five of You Can't Spell Inclusion Without a D.

Ep. 18: Disability in the Media, Pt. 2 — Disability Representation & Inclusion in Canada’s Film/Television/Modelling Industry

Canada is known as “Hollywood North.” That’s because so many television shows and series, and theatrical and television films have been, and are filmed, in this country. They include Supernatural, Schitt’s Creek, Hudson and Rex, Deadpool, Star Trek Beyond, Star Trek Discovery and Hot Zone: Anthrax.

According to figures from the Motion Picture Association, film and television production in Canada employed over 240,000 people in 2021/2022. That includes everyone from acting talent and extras, to sound editors and technicians, to camera operators, to makeup artists, to set carpenters.

But of all the people who work on all these productions in all these capacities, how many are people who have a disability? What exactly is the state of disability representation and inclusion in the film, television and modelling industry in Canada? And how is disability portrayed in it?

That’s what we explore in this second and final part of our series on disability in the media.

Our three guests have some powerful industry-insider insights.

• Katie MacMillan, Founder and Director of Operations, Kello Inclusive agency
• Actors Natasha Urkow and George Alevizos, who both have a disability

Show notes:

• Learn more about Kello Inclusive, the only talent agency in Canada representing only disability talent: https://www.kelloinclusive.org
• Find out about the CBC Television series, PUSH: https://www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/program/push
• Learn more about ACTRA: https://www.actratoronto.com
• Listen to part 1 in this series: https://youcantspellinclusionwithoutad.podbean.com/e/ep-17-disability-in-the-media-pt-1-—-disability-coverage-in-the-media/

Ep. 17: Disability in the Media, Pt. 1 — Disability Coverage in the Media

Disability is the world’s largest minority group — one that all of us will likely join at some point in our lives. According to World Health Organization figures, 1.3 billion people globally have a disability.  

People who have a disability are just regular people, living their every-day lives one day at a time...like all of us. Celebrating triumphs in life, and coping with life stresses...like all of us. But that’s not necessarily the message that comes across in media stories about disability. 

Myths and misconceptions about disability are still prevalent. And journalists and the media play a critical role in how people who have a disability...how disability itself...is perceived...and the level of disability awareness among the general population. 

That’s what we’re exploring in this episode, part one in a two-part series on Disability in the Media.  

Beth Haller teaches Disability Studies and Media Studies at Towson University in Maryland. Gus Alexiou and John Loeppky are both freelance journalists who have a disability.  

Our three guests have some powerful insights into the state of disability coverage in newsrooms, and disability-related stories produced in them. 

Ep. 16: ”Making the Journey” – Ep. 1 – A One-on-One Conversation with Joe Hoffer About the Disability-Inclusive Hiring Experience at Cohen Highley, LL

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. So we thought, what better time to launch a new, occasional series we’re calling, Making the Journey.  

It’s a fitting title for this series. Because when a business leader or owner makes the conscious decision to become intentional about disability inclusion in their organization, it really is a long-term journey. 

In Making the Journey, we talk one-on-one with business leaders about the twists, turns, challenges, awkward conversations, successes and lessons learned along the way in their disability-inclusive hiring journey.  

For the first instalment of Making the Journey, we talk with Joe Hoffer. He’s a partner at Cohen Highley LLP in London. And he’s an ODEN Business Champion.  

Cohen Highley forged a disability inclusion path for other businesses in Southwestern Ontario to follow...and they are. This is an insight-packed, engaging conversation. 

 

Show Notes: 

– Learn about the ODEN Business Champions League: 

https://www.odenetwork.com/businesses/business-champs-league/ 

– Business resources: 

https://www.odenetwork.com/businesses/business-resources/ 

– Business benefits of disability-inclusive hiring: 

https://www.odenetwork.com/businesses/business-benefits/ 

– Tip Sheet: 7 Tips for Making Sure Your Business is Disability Inclusive: 

https://www.odenetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ODEN_7_Tips_Disability_04-FINAL-EN-FINAL-ua.pdf 

–Tip Sheet: 7 Tips for Ensuring Disability is Part of the DEI Conversation in Your Business 

https://www.odenetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/EN_7_Tips_BIZ_02-FINAL-FINAL-ua.pdf 

Ep. 15: The Global State of Disability Innovation

If you’ve never heard about some of the disability innovation things happening around the globe....like Africa’s first Assistive Technology Accelerator project called Innovate Now....or StreetCo, a pedestrian GPS app developed in France to help people with reduced mobility safely navigate city streets....or the World Health Organization’s first official collaborating centre on assistive technology....you’re probably not alone. 

Disability innovation is happening around the globe...but is it truly happening *globally* in the collaborative sense of the word? 

That’s the question we’re exploring in this episode with our three guests: Professor Jutta Treviranus (OCAD University); Valarie Wafer (Chair of the Rotary International Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force); and Christine Hemphill (Founder and Managing Director of Open Inclusion).

Have a listen to this engaging conversation about the global state of disability inclusion.