Exploring Intersections of Race and Disability in the Context of Canadian Employment Support Systems Through the Experiences of Job Seekers/Workers, Employers, and Service Providers.
Eakam Grewal, Evelyne Durocher, Stephanie Premji and 1 others
PMID 40279076WHAT IT FOUND
Participants described employment supports as inflexible and unable to address the compounding effects of race, disability, and poverty.
They requested immediate funding increases, employer education on bias, and service provider caseload reductions rather than long-term strategic planning.
Key findings
01Racialized disabled job seekers reported confusion navigating supports because services often addressed single disabilities rather than the full spectrum of intersecting health and social needs.
02Service providers stated they were restricted in their ability to help clients due to large caseloads and a lack of resources to address broader socioeconomic barriers like poverty and immigration status.
03Employers and providers identified a critical need for education to dispel ableist and racist biases, as many employers relied on negative assumptions rather than assessing candidate merit and capability.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was very small, with only 10 participants, which limits the transferability of the findings. The sample was relatively homogeneous in terms of race, disability, geographic location, and position, despite efforts for maximum variation. Specific geographical locations of participants were not recorded, preventing analysis of regional differences in employment services. Recruitment was challenging, and the findings reflect the perspectives of a few employment service provider organizations rather than the national system.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Inclusive Design for Employment Access Social Innovation Laboratory and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. No other conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that specific interventions work. This study describes the experiences of 10 people and highlights perceived barriers; it does not test solutions or prove that employer education or funding increases lead to better employment outcomes.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →