in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
February 07, 2025
Photo by Marcus Aurelius
SPONSORED CONTENT — There are many opportunities throughout the year, to learn more about persons with disabilities, the disadvantages they face, the resources available to help them lead productive lives and how we can help. But really, the best time to start is right now.
Life Directions Employment is a great place to begin that journey. With locations in Flesherton, Hanover, Meaford, Dundalk, Markdale, Durham and Thornbury, you won’t have to travel very far, either. Their vision is for the realization of equitable, inclusive and diverse workplaces. Life Directions specializes in providing individualized, one-on-one employment supports to jobseekers facing barriers to employment.
27% of Canadians have a disability, so their mission is not insignificant. But studies have shown that businesses who hire people with a disability experience a 72% increase in productivity and inclusive businesses also grow profits up to 3x faster than their competitors.
This may be your year to realize these stats for your own business, or tap into the resources available to you at Life Directions, and there are many opportunities to do so. Here’s a breakdown of Canada’s Disability and Accessibility Awareness calendar for 2025:
National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) takes place every year starting on the last Sunday in May. This year, it will happen May 25-31.
It is a time when accessibility and inclusion is promoted across communities and workplaces and a time to celebrate the contributions of Canadians with disabilities. It is also an opportunity to recognize the efforts of Canadians who are actively removing barriers and ensuring persons with disabilities have an equal chance to participate in all aspects of Canadian society.
Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July. This month honours the history of the disability rights movement and recognizes the contributions and achievements of people with disabilities. The Disability Pride flag has five colours on a black background, each representing a different type of disability.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). It was first proclaimed in Canada in 2010 by the Province of Manitoba. Saskatchewan followed suit in 2011, and British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nunavut also secured proclamations in the ensuing years. Light it up! For NDEAM is a disability awareness lighting event that happens the third Thursday of every October. Any businesses wanting to participate by lighting up their building in purple and blue for for one unique night, should sign up now! By signing up, you’ll receive NDEAM community updates via email, as well as promotional tools and invitations to special webinars. Life Directions can even supply your business with a NDEAM kit that includes a 50 ft string of lights for the occasion!
Invisible Disabilities Week is October 19-25, 2025. Hosted by the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA), the week brings awareness, education and support to your family, friends, co-workers, community and around the world. Invisible disabilities include mental disorders or developmental disabilities, such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, addiction, dyslexia, autism, or schizophrenia. They are classified as invisible disabilities because they are usually not detected immediately by looking or talking to a person.
Since then, employment service providers, employers, and community organizations throughout Canada have brought disability employment awareness to life by organizing activities to engage employers, job seekers experiencing disability, and the public to promote the benefits of inclusive hiring.
November will mark Indigenous Disability Awareness Month — a great opportunity to celebrate the social, economic, and cultural contributions of Indigenous persons with disabilities in Canada.
To learn more about Life Directions, visit their website, email lifedirections@segss.com or call 519-378-5514.
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