Implementing Accessibility Standards Canada's Employment Standard

In this episode, we explore Accessibility Standards Canada’s Employment Standard, an implementation guide being developed by IDEA, and how they can help create inclusive workplaces. The standard is a flexible roadmap for proactive action and continual improvement—not simply a checklist. Organizations can implement it by involving employees and persons with lived experience, addressing barriers across the employment life cycle, and making progress that reflects their needs. We also discuss psychological safety, disability misconceptions, and measuring change over time.

In This Episode:

• The purpose of the Employment Standard and how it differs from legislation, regulations, and internal policies.
• Why national standards offer shared guidance while allowing organizational flexibility.
• How universal design and continual improvement embed accessibility into workplace systems.
• Identifying starting points, involving employees, and building on progress.
• The roles of leaders, HR, unions, and employees in implementation.
• Incorporating lived experience without creating additional advocacy responsibilities.
• Why privacy and psychological safety matter, including when employees choose not to disclose a disability.
• Misconceptions about disability, workplace supports, and inclusion.
• Measuring progress and recognizing opportunities missed when barriers remain.

Transcript: https://vraie-idea.ca/resources/podcast/implementing-accessibility-standards-canadas-employment-standard

Timestamps:

0:14 — Universal design: building accessibility in from the outset
0:43 — Why good intentions alone don’t create inclusive workplaces
2:42 — Meet the guests
4:31 — The purpose and structure of the Employment Standard
6:41 — The standard, legislation, and regulation
8:19 — Why a national standard matters
10:11 — Developing the standard through diverse perspectives
11:19 — A flexible roadmap, not a checklist
13:29 — Applying the standard through continual improvement
18:47 — Leadership, HR, unions, and employee participation
19:48 — Valuing lived experience without advocacy fatigue
21:59 — Inclusive policies and AI in the employment life cycle
23:36 — Accessibility in everyday practice
27:03 — Choosing a place to start
29:05 — Inclusion without disability disclosure
33:42 — Employment standards and the future of work
38:07 — Misconceptions, education, and representation
40:28 — A meaningful first step for organizations
41:58 — Measuring progress toward inclusive workplaces
43:51 — Closing reflections

Connect with our experts:

Andy Livingston — https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-livingston/
Peter Field — https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-field-892547b2/

Connect with our host:

Bridgette Sterling — https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgettesterling/

Resources & Links:

Accessibility Standards Canada’s Employment Standard — https://accessible.canada.ca/standards-and-technical-guides/standards-and-technical-guides-database/can-asc-112024-rev-2025-employment

Dexterity Consulting — https://dexconsult.ca/

IDEA|4DY — https://www.vraie-idea.ca/about-us/diverse-youth-4dy