Each year during the last week of May, National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) invites Canadians to recognize the contributions of people with disabilities, as well as to promote disability awareness and the need for a barrier-free Canada.
National AccessAbility Week, May 26 – June 1, is a national call to action to identify and remove physical, social, digital, and systemic barriers that limit opportunity and inclusion for the more than 6 million Canadians living with a disability.
Nothing About Us Without Us: Road to a Barrier-Free Canada
In 2019, the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) came into effect with the goal of realizing “a barrier-free Canada by 2040.” Despite significant progress made by the ACA, accessibility is still treated as an afterthought in many communities and workplaces. The aviation industry, for example, presents unique challenges—from facilities and communication tools that exclude people with disabilities, to hiring practices that may unintentionally screen out qualified candidates.
Removing barriers to accessibility must begin with the people who are most affected by them. People with disabilities bring essential lived experiences that are critical to identifying gaps and to shaping solutions.
Too often, decisions about accessibility are made without input from those who navigate these barriers daily—leading to policies that are well-intentioned but ineffective.
Whether it’s designing inclusive hiring practices, rethinking service delivery, or updating physical spaces, inclusion starts with centering the voices of people with disabilities from the very beginning. This is why Nothing Aboout Us Without Us is a key principle of the ACA and at the heart of disability inclusion.
Rethinking Disability: A Collective Responsibility
National AccessAbility Week is a reminder that accessibility is a shared responsibility. Real change requires moving beyond compliance to cultivate a culture of genuine inclusion, where the contributions and rights of people with disabilities are not only acknowledged but prioritized.
The WCC team is here to support your accessibility journey. We implement aspects of accessibility into our content and are happy to accommodate any accessibility needs in our workshops.
Here are some additional ways to help us all prioritize accessibility:
1. Listen to lived experience
Engage people with disabilities early and often when designing policies, services, or environments. Their insights are essential to creating meaningful solutions.
2. Consult directly with people with disabilities
Don’t assume; ask. Meaningful inclusion starts by consulting those with lived expertise to shape decisions, processes, and priorities.
3. Use inclusive language
Language shapes perception. Use person-first or identity-first language based on individual preference.
4. Design with accessibility in mind
From physical layouts to websites and job postings, inclusive design benefits everyone—not just people with disabilities.
5. Challenge ableism in everyday life
Speak up against stereotypes, advocate for accessibility, and educate yourself and others about disability rights and justice.
