My Top 10 Take Aways from 2024 that Impacted Canadians with Disabilities
Author: Max Brault
2024 has indeed been a landmark year for Canadians with disabilities. The landscape of accessibility and inclusivity in Canada has evolved dramatically, propelled by advancements in digital standards, increased media representation, shifts in workforce demographics, and evolving corporate and government policies.
Each of these developments underscores the critical areas where accessibility is either advancing or in need of greater attention, helping to frame the priorities for the years to come.
The following are the top ten achievements from 2024, each one highlighting a significant aspect of this journey. Some of these milestones reflect a renewed emphasis on enhancing daily life, expanding access to services, and improving opportunities for Canadians with disabilities. From the federal government’s adoption of the European Union’s digital accessibility standard (EN 301 549) to the unprecedented visibility of the Paralympics in prime-time media, Canada continues to evolve as an inclusive society.
But this is not the time to sit on our laurels! We still need to progress in the areas of workforce representation, accessible transportation, and the equitable integration of new technologies like Artificial Intelligence.
This summary not only explores each change but also considers how these changes have an impact on Canada’s trajectory toward a more inclusive and accessible future. These developments offer insights for executives, policymakers, and community leaders as they continue to drive and support initiatives that promote accessibility and inclusion for all Canadians.
Top 10 Impacts of 2024
1. Meeting the EU Standard for Accessibility
The Canadian Federal Government announced that Canada will strive to meet the requirements of the European Union’s digital accessibility standard, EN 301 549. While the existing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliance has already been embedded, the good news is that the EU standard already incorporates WCAG as one of its core principles.
In addition to ensuring that Canadian-made products are widely accepted on an international scale, meeting the EU standard makes these products more comprehensive. The EU standard covers a broader range of digital elements and accessibility applications, including advancements in technology such as Artificial Intelligence.
2. The Accessible Canada Act celebrated its fifth anniversary this June.
In their first five years, they have helped 42% of Canadian corporations make their accessibility strategies public, while Canadian government institutions have achieved a 100% compliance level. However, the majority of Canadian federal and provincial websites remain inaccessible.
We are still waiting for any announcement regarding the penalties for non-compliance. There have been no official announcements or reports that would paint a clear picture of progress to Canadians of the progress in implementing the Act. With only 15 more years to get this right before we reach the target date for achieving full accessibility in our society, we have no time to waste.
3. Did someone pop the Artificial Intelligence balloon in 2024?
Buzz about AI was everywhere at the end of 2023. But by 2024, there is no clear path on how to incorporate AI in our daily operations in our work environments and social lives. AI reminds me of when the internet first become mainstream—everyone was confused about how to monetize it. Are we experiencing the same thing with AI?
This is a golden opportunity for the federal government to seize the moment and launch a nation-building exercise. The goal would be to create a cohort of students with disabilities and collaborate with Canadian enterprises to ensure AI is fully accessible and that biases are carefully monitored.
4. More recognition for Canadians with disabilities
For many years, only 4.1% of the workforce with disabilities were recorded as having the combined work experience and skills needed for federal government jobs. This figure was based on an older statistical tracking method known as the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS). Canada relied on this data for over three decades. As it became clear that the data on Canadians with disabilities was never properly reassessed and remained around 4%, many people argued that the data was flawed and needed to be revisited—unfortunately, to no avail. On May 28, 2024, the game changed forever when Statistics Canada released the new demographic, employment and income profile of persons with disabilities. The population of individuals self identifying with a disability had increased to 27% in 2022. With one third of the Canadian population identified as having a disability, how does this impact the recruitment levels across the board?
5. The Impacts of Inflation on Accessibility
In a year when inflation pressures continued to impact everyday life, institutional inertia in accessibility and diversity initiatives began to creep in. A staggering 44% of Canadian corporations held back on their efforts to advance accessibility measures, citing an alleged lack of funding. Are we looking at a new trend of institutional inertia in accessibility and diversity initiatives?
But there is still hope! At the end of October 2024, the Bank of Canada announced that inflationary pressures are now near the 2% target. We can only hope that this inertia is short-lived.
6. Keeping Canadians in the Air
2024 was also the year when the Minister of Transportation called the Air Transport Summit. He invited key individuals from the community, as well as representatives from the Canadian air industry. The meeting was held with great fanfare and concluded with a firm resolution.
In the final days of December 2024, the House of Commons of Canada released the report Towards Accessible Air Transportation in Canada: Report on the Standing Committee on Transport, infrastructure and Communities. In this report, several witnesses spoke about various barriers faced by persons with disabilities when they travel by air in Canada. Discussions mostly centered on the barriers faced by people who travel with a mobility aid and those with a visual impairment.
7. People with Disabilities on the Rise in Popular Media
It’s amazing to turn on my TV and see more portrayals of individuals with disabilities in the media. I’ve noticed an increase in representation in everyday commercials, featuring people in wheelchairs or using ASL.
Did you see the Echo series from Disney that featured characters with disabilities? Even in music videos, I’ve seen more individuals using wheelchairs, and some videos include ASL interpretation on the side of the screen. The British version of Traitors, a reality TV series, includes everyday folks with disabilities, and one of the contestants came very close to winning the top spot.
Why yes, I am waiting for the casting call for the Canadian version!
8. The Shocking Truth Behind the Electric Car
In December 2023, the federal government unveiled its plan for Canada to transition away from fully gas-powered cars towards electric vehicles, aiming for all sales of passenger cars, SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks to be hybrids or fully electric by the year 2035.
Although this is exciting news, rethinking how the industry can accommodate the demand for accessible vehicles is still in its infancy after-market modifications to these vehicles is more challenging due to battery placement and the complexity of the electric vehicle electronics.
The blind and visually challenged community is just one of the key demographics that are filled with new hope at the prospect of owning and operative these types of personal vehicles. To read more about this community, visit Tony Labillois article.
We look forward to exploring the path that can lead to making affordable electric vehicles for people with disabilities not only possible, but commonplace.
9. 2024 has truly become a Taylor Swift year
Prior to the pandemic, securing accessible seating for concerts and theater events online was relatively straightforward, appropriate, and reliable. However, as the world returns to in-person events, many people with disabilities are discovering that the protocols ensuring accessibility have largely been forgotten.
I worry that this is becoming a trend in the post-COVID concert ticket purchasing environment. In recent months, practices by ticket promoters, such as Ticketmaster/Live Nation, have become a growing source of frustration among concertgoers with disabilities. Imagine looking forward to an event, but then this happens:
To secure your tickets, you need to deal with rude staff who are untrained in how to accommodate your needs.
You find out that the venue is inaccessible to people with mobility issues.
You find out that the venue has no market value seating for people with disabilities.
Although you paid for the perks, you find out that your disability disqualifies you from taking advantage of them. Sorry, no refunds.
Enough is enough. These individuals are now raising their voices, calling out the unfair practices and unreasonable barriers they face when trying to purchase accessible seating for events.
Read more about these experiences in my article in A Journal of Musical Things.
10. Increased Coverage of the Paris Paralympics
2024 was the year that the Paralympics entered prime time. This year was the first time in my life that I saw daily coverage of the Paralympic games, and I found myself scheduling my days around the replays of the events.
Viewership increased by 153% compared to the Tokyo Paralympics, with 11 million Canadians tuning in to the games. This translated to 614,000 hours of Paris Paralympic 2024 content streamed digitally and on CBC/Radio-Canada. My only criticism would be that I had hoped to see more former Paralympians as television hosts and commentors.
Hopefully, this trend will continue into the upcoming Winter Paralympics. I know I’ll be glued to the TV, cheering the Paralympic athletes as they represent the best Canada has to offer.
Looking Back and Looking Forward
2024 has indeed been a defining year for advancing disability rights and accessibility across Canada. The progress we've seen in areas such as digital standards, workforce inclusivity, and media representation underscores a commitment to building a society that is more inclusive than ever.
However, these achievements also highlight areas where critical gaps persist, especially in ensuring equitable access to employment, accessible transportation, and the seamless integration of accessibility in both digital and in-person experiences.
As we look forward to 2025, it is essential that corporate and government leaders recognize accessibility as a core strategic priority. Prioritizing accessibility is both a moral imperative and a business advantage, and aligning policies and practices with this commitment drives innovation, fosters diverse talent, and enhances customer engagement.
Together, we must work to create a Canada where every individual, regardless of their ability, has the opportunity to thrive and fully participate in our society. This year’s progress serves not only as a testament to what we can achieve, but also as a powerful reminder of the work that lies ahead. Now is the time to double-down on our collective efforts and ensure that accessibility remains at the forefront of our agenda.
A brief note about the author
Max Brault joined Nīewe Consulting in 2024 to lead the Accessibility Consulting practice. As a person with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and a bilingual leader in legislation and policy with nearly four decades of experience, Max focuses on advancing employment equity and workplace accessibility. His work has made significant contributions to the development of progressive accessibility legislation for the Government of Canada.
Understanding Accessibility
At Nīewe Consulting’s Understanding Accessibility, we are dedicated to helping people understand the needs of persons with disabilities. The Accessible Canada Act, as well as provincial legislation around accessibility, aims to remove barriers and enable full participation in society for people with disabilities.
Click Understanding Accessibility to visit our site to explore new ideas, new points of view, gain insight from our thoughtful, innovative leaders in our communities on how to tear down barriers, spread education, and deepen understanding.
