International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025
Disclaimer: The summaries and interpretations provided on this page are unofficial and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS).
Summary
- The International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025 theme is “fostering disability inclusion societies for advancing social progress”
- True progress happens when inclusion is embedded in everything we do, from designing spaces to shaping workplaces
- Joel Cersen’s 21-year government journey shows dramatic improvement in disability accommodation systems over time
- Early career accommodation struggles included extended probation periods and lack of proper support systems
- Modern systems now provide better frameworks for discussing accommodations with managers
- Disabilities can evolve over time - Joel experienced stroke-related paralysis at 28, then hearing loss at 40-45 due to childhood cancer radiation treatment
- The accessibility passport is a valuable tool for tracking changing accommodation needs and reviewing them regularly
- Having supportive managers is crucial for successful workplace accommodation
- Neurodiversity hiring initiatives in professional IT and finance roles represent significant progress
- The Employment Opportunity for Students with Disabilities program successfully places students in permanent positions
- Department-level disability networks and champions are essential infrastructure that was often missing in the past
- Advocacy and business cases to senior leadership can create systemic change (Joel’s $350 lunch meeting with DM)
- Kinda Joseph’s experience shows that 25 years in public service reveals employees with disabilities want to be active participants who excel at their jobs
- Paralympic sport participation requires accessible infrastructure, which remains a ongoing challenge in venues like curling rinks
- Accessibility Standards Canada serves as a model organization built on accessibility principles from inception
- Proactive accessibility measures include automatic sign language interpretation, captioning, accessible documents, and accessible meeting locations
- Meaningful inclusion means not having to fight for accommodations or prove why you need them
- True accessibility provides choice - being able to use any door, work in any preferred environment, without accommodation barriers
- Modern workplace accessibility goes far beyond parking spots to include ergonomic assessments, accessible desks, nearby accessible bathrooms, and comprehensive environmental considerations
Actionable Advice
- Use the accessibility passport system to document, track, and regularly review changing accommodation needs with your manager
- Schedule monthly reviews with your supervisor to assess whether current accommodations are working or need adjustment
- Create or join disability networks within your department if they don't already exist
- Make a business case to senior leadership when you identify gaps in disability support systems
- Consider applying for or promoting the Employment Opportunity for Students with Disabilities program
- Implement proactive accessibility measures rather than waiting for requests. Provide sign language interpretation, captioning services, and accessible document formats by default
- Design workspaces and meeting locations with accessibility as a foundational principle, not an afterthought
- Choose accessible venues for all meetings and events to ensure full participation
- Create accommodation processes that don't require employees to justify or prove their need for support
- Develop comprehensive accessibility beyond basic requirements - consider ergonomic assessments, accessible furniture, and convenient bathroom access
- Advocate for neurodiversity hiring initiatives in professional roles across IT, finance, and other departments
- Establish regular disability champion meetings and ensure all departments have representation
- Model accessibility practices that other organizations can learn from and replicate
- Provide tours and demonstrations of accessible workspaces to spread best practices throughout the public service