BDO Canada, in partnership with the Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society (IRIS) and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), aims to improve accessibility and inclusion in the workplace for Canadians with disabilities. Based on a significant need for programs and initiatives to improve accessbility in workplaces across the country, BDO is investing in the partnership to fill critical gaps in the procurement cycle and remove barriers to accessibility in the workplace. 

BDO Canada and IRIS plan to co-design a first-of-its-kind audit tool that will set a baseline for accessibility in the workplace. This specialized Accessibility Engagement Audit Tool will help employers identify barriers and solutions to accessibility within their workplace. The project also includes the development of a Disability-Inclusive Employment Practices Audit Process, which will further support employers on their accessibility journey. Both the Accessibility Engagement Audit Tool and the Disability-Inclusive Employment Practices Audit Process are in development and are expected to be completed in late 2024. These are being supported through a generous financial contribution from a program offered through Employment and Social Development Canada called Workplace Opportunities: Reducing Barriers to Equity.

For further information about the partnership or to learn more about the tools, click here.