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The Business Case to Build Physically Accessible Environments The Conference Board of Canada, 64 pages, February 23, 2018 Report by Robyn Gibbard , Marc Desormeaux , Priya Persaud , Ruth Wright

The Business Case to Build Physically Accessible Environments

The Conference Board of Canada, 64 pages, February 23, 2018
Report by Robyn Gibbard , Marc Desormeaux , Priya Persaud , Ruth Wright

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Improving physical accessibility would dramatically improve labour force participation and consumer spending for the one in 10 Canadians with physical disabilities that impair their mobility, vision, or hearing, boosting the wider economy. Document Highlights There are 2.9 million Canadians living with a physical disability that impairs their mobility, vision, or hearing, representing 10 per cent of the country’s population. That number will rise by 1.8 per cent annually over the next 13 years, nearly double the pace of the population as a whole. Real spending by this group is set to rise from $165 billion in 2017 to $316 billion in 2030, increasing from 14 to 21 per cent of the total consumer market. Reasonable investments in workplace access would allow over 550,000 Canadians with disabilities to participate more fully in the workforce, increasing GDP by $16.8 billion by 2030. Physical accessibility is more than meeting legal standards or specifications—it also involves fostering a sense of inclusion so people with disabilities can flourish. Table of Contents Executive Summary Chapter 1—Introduction Chapter 2—Population of Canadians With Physical Disabilities Set to Swell Chapter 3—Workplace Upgrades and Management Practices Can Help Chapter 4—Economic Impact of Improved Accessibility Chapter 5—Canadians With Physical Disabilities—A Major Consumer Market Spending Patterns of People With Physical Disabilities Chapter 6—How Can Canada Improve Access? Beyond the Building Code—Universal Design Applying Universal Design to Create More Inclusive Spaces Embedding Accessibility Into Organizational Strategy and Values Leveraging Information and Resources Chapter 7—Benefits to Business: Case Studies of Companies That Have Improved Accessibility Flavelle OceanFront Development: Planning for Inclusion Makes Business Sense Sodexo: Quality of Life Is for Customers and Employees Toronto–Dominion Bank: Banking on TD’s Commitment to Accessible Employment Chapter 8—Conclusion Appendix A—Accessibility Audit 101: A Primer on Universal Design Vehicular Access Exterior Approach and Entrance Interior Circulation Interior Services and Environment Sanitary Facilities Signage, Wayfinding, and Communications Emergency Systems Additional Uses of Space Appendix B—Methodology Projecting Canada’s Population Over the Long Term Estimating Canada’s Long-Term Potential Output Estimating the Increase in Labour Market Participation and the Economic Impacts From Higher Labour Supply Appendix C—Bibliography

Improving physical accessibility would dramatically improve labour force participation and consumer spending for the one in 10 Canadians with physical disabilities that impair their mobility, vision, or hearing, boosting the wider economy.

Document Highlights

There are 2.9 million Canadians living with a physical disability that impairs their mobility, vision, or hearing, representing 10 per cent of the country’s population.
That number will rise by 1.8 per cent annually over the next 13 years, nearly double the pace of the population as a whole.
Real spending by this group is set to rise from $165 billion in 2017 to $316 billion in 2030, increasing from 14 to 21 per cent of the total consumer market.
Reasonable investments in workplace access would allow over 550,000 Canadians with disabilities to participate more fully in the workforce, increasing GDP by $16.8 billion by 2030.
Physical accessibility is more than meeting legal standards or specifications—it also involves fostering a sense of inclusion so people with disabilities can flourish.

Executive Summary

Chapter 1—Introduction

Chapter 2—Population of Canadians With Physical Disabilities Set to Swell

Chapter 3—Workplace Upgrades and Management Practices Can Help

Chapter 4—Economic Impact of Improved Accessibility

Chapter 5—Canadians With Physical Disabilities—A Major Consumer Market

Spending Patterns of People With Physical Disabilities

Chapter 6—How Can Canada Improve Access?

Beyond the Building Code—Universal Design
Applying Universal Design to Create More Inclusive Spaces
Embedding Accessibility Into Organizational Strategy and Values
Leveraging Information and Resources

Chapter 7—Benefits to Business: Case Studies of Companies That Have Improved Accessibility

Flavelle OceanFront Development: Planning for Inclusion Makes Business Sense
Sodexo: Quality of Life Is for Customers and Employees
Toronto–Dominion Bank: Banking on TD’s Commitment to Accessible Employment

Chapter 8—Conclusion

Appendix A—Accessibility Audit 101: A Primer on Universal Design

Vehicular Access
Exterior Approach and Entrance
Interior Circulation
Interior Services and Environment
Sanitary Facilities
Signage, Wayfinding, and Communications
Emergency Systems
Additional Uses of Space

Appendix B—Methodology

Projecting Canada’s Population Over the Long Term
Estimating Canada’s Long-Term Potential Output
Estimating the Increase in Labour Market Participation and the Economic Impacts From Higher Labour Supply

Appendix C—Bibliography