The Canadian Association for Supported Employment and Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) have come together in a joint effort to create a movement that ignites a conversation about disability inclusion and employment.

Watch this 2-minute video to learn more about NDEAM and how you can get involved.

Starting in September, use the event hashtags on social media #LightITUPForNDEAM

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations observed day celebrated on 3 December each year to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. This year’s theme is “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: The role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world.”

By acknowledging this important day, we can take action to remove barriers for the 1 billion people around the world and more than 6.2 million Canadians who have some form of disability and contribute to positive change in our workplace and in the community more broadly.

Did you know?

• Persons with disabilities in the world are among the hardest hit by COVID-19.
• Over 1 M working-age adults with disabilities lived below Canada’s Official Poverty Line.
• 1 in 5 has a disability, but 2 in 5 living in poverty have a disability.

This year The Raw Carrot will mark International Day of People with Disability by sharing information on our social channels and having conversations with our amazing Raw Carrot staff. We’re also encouraging the community to “look beyond” disability and celebrate people and their stories.

By listening to the experiences of people with disability, and recognizing their unique talents, skills and interests, we can challenge our own perceptions about disability and make positive changes in the community.

We encourage everyone to get involved and join the celebration! Together, we can all take action this December, and all year round, to challenge perceptions about disability, remove barriers and promote inclusive and respectful attitudes and behaviors in our communities.

For more information, go to our website or follow us on social media. You can also help spread the word and join the conversation online using #IDPwD.

• Honouring people’s differences
• Recognizing that disabilities are not just things you can see
• Understanding that many people have hidden disabilities like chronic pain and mental health
• Spreading the news about October’s Disability Employment Awareness Month and celebrating people for their different abilities

Read more about how we’re celebrating NDEAM!