Disability and Work in Canada 2021 Virtual Conference

Disability & Work in Canada initiative logo

DISABILITY AND WORK IN CANADA 2021

Achieving equality of opportunity and choice in careers, jobs and work 

Virtual Conference – December 1 & 2 and 6 & 7, 2021

The Disability and Work in Canada 2021 (DWC 2021) Conference was held virtually this year over four days in early December (December 1 & 2 and December 6 & 7) from 12:15 to 3:30 EDT. The theme for this year’s conference was the “Achieving equality of opportunity and choice in careers, jobs and work,” with subthemes for each day as follows:

  • Wednesday December 1, 2021, at 12:15 to 3:30 EDT – Fully including persons with disabilities in the COVID19 recovery
  • Thursday December 2, 2021, at 12:15 to 3:30 EDT – Making inclusive workplaces a reality
  • Monday December 6, 2021, at 12:15 to 3:30 EDT – Ensuring secure and comprehensive supports for persons with disabilities
  • Tuesday December 7, 2021, at 12:15 to 3:30 EDT – Moving forward together towards full inclusion in employment

As we all know, 2021 continued to be a challenging year, with ongoing challenges for the employment of persons with disabilities. The DWC conference focused on how to meet those challenges and continue to make progress on implementation of the Pan-Canadian Strategy for Disability and Work. 

DWC2021 CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE
Core DWC Steering Committee Members

Event Coordination & Administration

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  • Event Sponsors

    • Silver sponsors: CASE, CRWDP, CCRW

    • Bronze sponsor: CSA Group

 

The DWC Steering Committee Welcome Video for the DWC2021 Virtual Conference:

 

DWC Initiative

 

In 2021, the DWC Steering Committee was comprised of the following partner organizations:

Centre for Research on Work Disability Policy (CRWDP)

The Centre for Research on Work Disability Policy (CRWDP) is a transdisciplinary initiative on the future of work disability policy in Canada. Illness and disability touch most people at some point over their lifetime. CRWDP’s objective is to identify how people, when disabled, can be better retained and integrated into the Canadian labour market. CRWDP’s primary activities include: providing a forum for within- and cross-provincial and national dialogue on challenges and opportunities for improving the Canadian work disability policy system; identifying problems and challenges associated with program coordination and complexity; identifying relevant and favourable alternative approaches to system design and service provision through select comparisons with countries and small scale trials; mobilizing knowledge developed within and outside of the initiative in order to inform policy; and building capacity for research and knowledge mobilization on the topic of work disability policy and labour-market engagement of individuals with disabilities.

CRWDP contributions to the DWC Initiative include organizing the DWC annual conferences, organizing consultations to garner feedback on the draft strategy, and contributing to the development and revision of the pan-Canadian strategy on disability and work and supporting documents.

Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW)

The Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW) is a national registered not-for-profit organization committed to supporting and promoting the meaningful and equitable employment of persons with disabilities. CCRW’s mission is to promote and support meaningful and equitable employment of people with disabilities. CCRW helps persons with disabilities find a job or career, help employers hire persons with disabilities, and help employers support employees with disabilities. As innovators and agents of change, CCRW builds partnerships, develops skills, shares knowledge and influences attitudes.

CCRW contributions to the DWC Initiative include organizing the DWC annual conferences, organizing consultations to garner feedback on the draft strategy, and contributing to the development and revision of the pan-Canadian strategy on disability and work and supporting documents.

Ontario Network of Injured Workers' Groups (ONIWG)

Ontario Network of Injured Workers’ Groups (ONIWG) is a provincial voice for workers who have been injured or made ill on the job. They have first-hand experience of the WCB/WSIB system, knows it needs improvement and they take united action to make this happen. A democratically governed organization, ONIWG has been representing workers since 1991. ONIWG’s 18 member groups have strong community roots, working closely with other local groups and agencies to advance the interests of injured workers. These include labour councils and labour unions, and legal clinics who provide advice and support. ONIWG also works with the local Office of the Worker Advisor, their Members of Provincial Parliament, and in municipal governments.

ONIWG contributions to the DWC Initiative include organizing the DWC annual conferences, organizing consultations to garner feedback on the draft strategy, and contributing to the development and revision of the pan-Canadian strategy on disability and work and supporting documents.

DWC Partner Organizations: CCRW logo, ONIWG logo, and CRWDP logo