Increasing awareness and understanding of disability in the workplace

A research associate in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Dr. Jon Breen is on a mission to make workplace culture more welcoming and supportive for people living with a disability — both within the Faculty of Medicine and across Canada.

In 2023, supported by the Faculty’s Strategic Investment Fund, Dr. Breen teamed up with Dr. Susan Forwell, a professor of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, to launch a series of virtual interactive workshops designed to deepen understanding of disability and inclusion.

“The workshop gives faculty and staff a window into what it’s actually like to be a disabled person in the workplace,” says Dr. Breen, who is quick to point out that many disabilities and impairments are not obvious.

In fact, data from Statistics Canada show that in the workplace around 50 per cent of disabilities are invisible — including psychological and mental health conditions, as well as pain- and flexibility-related challenges.

During the workshops, participants from the Faculty not only received insights from researchers and individuals living with a range of disabilities, but explored research-based solutions, organizational strategies and resources to help build more inclusive workspaces.

While developing the workshop, Dr. Breen — whose career as a disability researcher and advisor in government, the private sector and academia spans over 40 years — was mindful of the fact that there’s a tendency for people to respond first to perceived limitations, pointing to his own experience as someone living with a disability.

“I use a wheelchair, and over the years, I have had people put money in my lap as I wheel down the street. I’ve been patted on the head, and heard people murmur about how brave I must be,” he says.

“When we react based on assumptions or emotions, even sympathetic ones, we can overlook the person and their abilities — and these misperceptions have a very real impact on people living with disabilities, in terms of employment, mental health, social integration and more.”

For Dr. Forwell, who recently co-authored a book with Dr. Breen on disability in the workplace, the workshops are not just about making the workplace more welcoming, but about increasing awareness and appreciation of the realities of disability.

“We’re creating an environment where faculty and staff feel comfortable engaging in conversations and, where appropriate, accessing available supports and accommodations,” she says.

Following six initial workshop sessions in 2023 and 2024, evaluation data shows that the workshops are helping to change attitudes towards people with disabilities in the Faculty of Medicine.

Drs. Breen and Forwell are now exploring opportunities to extend the virtual workshops’ reach — within the Faculty and across UBC — to ensure everyone has an opportunity to join the conversation and continue to change perceptions.

Drs. Breen and Forwell’s work is part of a broader commitment by the Faculty to build awareness and understanding of disability and inclusion, and create respectful and equitable learning and work environments free of discrimination, where all people are accepted, valued and empowered to thrive.