Celebrating Inclusion: International Day for Persons with Disabilities - Insights from the Ask Me Anything Series

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Celebrating Inclusion: International Day for Persons with Disabilities

On December 11th, 2024, the Ask Me Anything event celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, emphasizing that inclusion means everyone. Co-hosted by Samantha Moonsammy and Sarah Francescutti from the Diversity and Inclusion Office, Materiel Group, National Defence, the event featured heartfelt stories from Michel Marcelin and Jeffrey Stark, leaders in the public service. Michel, a Health Canada employee with 20 years of service, and Jeffrey, the principal advisor for the Accessibility Accommodation and Adaptive Computer Technology Program at Shared Services Canada with 25 years of service, were key presenters.

The panel discussed their experiences and explored ways to create a more inclusive workplace, focusing on accessibility, inclusion, and advocacy for people with disabilities. Key messages included the importance of asking, "Is this accessible?" and listening to understand others' realities.

Participants were encouraged to take actions to make workplaces more inclusive, such as asking about accessibility in daily tasks and fostering open communication. Jeffrey highlighted the role of technology and community initiatives, such as the Lending Library Service pilot from Treasury Board, in creating inclusive environments. He emphasized the critical role of engaged management and communication, sharing his experiences as a manager accommodating a wide variety of disabilities.

Advice for Managers

Managers were advised to balance person-centric and task-centric ideologies, practice active listening, and engage in one-on-one discussions. Employees were encouraged to support managers with disabilities through participation and feedback. Jeffrey also stressed the importance of networking and mentoring for career success and sharing best practices.

Promoting Understanding of Accommodations

Sarah discussed the shift from a medical model to a social model for accommodations, emphasizing open communication and sensitivity to individual needs. She explained that the accessibility passport facilitates conversations about accommodations without necessarily needing a medical note. The need for new medical documentation depends on the nature of the disability, the manager's comfort level, and departmental policies.

Resources for Accommodation Assistance

Resources for accommodation assistance were provided, including contacts at the Department of National Defence and Health Canada. Managers at the Department of National Defence can reach out to the Office of Disability Management for civilian employees or a Transition Center for military employees. At Health Canada, the Accessibility Service Center provides caseworkers to assist with disability management and function as intermediaries in discussions with management. Employees are encouraged to reach out to their HR departments to explore available support.

Michel stressed the importance of creating an environment of trust and collaboration between managers and employees. He highlighted the need for self-compassion and continuous learning from mistakes to foster a supportive and inclusive environment. Michel also shared his use of the WorkRave tool to manage stress and maintain mindfulness, emphasizing the importance of understanding diverse accommodations and the barriers created by assumptions and preconceptions.

The event underscored the collective effort needed to create more inclusive and accessible work environments across departments, reminding us that inclusion truly means everyone.