According to Maureen Hahn, president and CEO of the Rehabilitation Labour Council of Canada, bringing your whole self to the workplace is beneficial for you and your coworkers, leading to a more inclusive workplace. Hahn has a unique understanding of the benefits of employing people with disabilities through her work focusing on equitable and meaningful employment for people with disabilities. “One of the key benefits of having an intersectional framework through the lens of disability in the workplace is a sense of belonging, which leads to a sense of a positive workplace for everyone,” Hahn said. “When we incorporate different experiences and identities into what we bring to work, it leads to more inclusive and comprehensive solutions to challenges.”
Yvonne Felix, an award-winning artist, entrepreneur, and intersectional disability and inclusion advocate, adds that in addition to being open-minded and creating an environment where conversations are encouraged, there also needs to be some nuance in the resources and facilities provided. “I want the workplace to be a place where I can go to work, work, collaborate and say, ‘This is what I need, and I need this to do this,'” Felix said. “I set up my own studio, a private space, because I wanted a space where I didn’t have to explain anything to anybody.”
Looking to the future, Hahn noted that it’s important to focus on skills and talents, not disabilities. “No one hires anyone because of their disability, and no one should hire anyone because of their disability. Hire people for what they can do,” Hahn said. “And when it comes to allyship, people need to hold space for others, but the people who are occupying that space have to leave when others come. So being an ally, being an accomplice, being a sponsor is all really great, but after that you need to move on. And stop speaking up for people who can speak for themselves. These are things that need to change.”