On December 3rd the United Nations will commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities under the theme of fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress. There are many opportunities in health care to foster disability inclusivity.

In 2023 VPSA funded the VCH Medical Staff Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee’s Disability Working Group’s survey of physicians, medical residents, dentists and midwives to assess the unique experiences of medical staff living with disabilities who work within VCH. The project was done in consultation with Dr. Tal Jarus of the Faculty of Medicine’s Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Department. Twenty-one participants completed the survey and five of those people were interviewed.

“The goal of the project was to understand the workplace experience for medical staff living with disabilities,” said VCH Regional Medical Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Joy Masuhara. “While the sample size was small, the findings are still helpful align with the VCH Workplace Experience Survey results and the health-care literature on this topic.”

The survey results revealed three key themes:

1. Further steps are needed to enhance workplace accessibility.
2. People with disabilities often face bias and misconceptions.
3. Workplace barriers have a negative impact on our colleagues with disabilities.

The findings noted that health-care providers living with disabilities can draw from their own experiences to provide solutions and accommodations to patients living with disabilities. It also highlighted that workers with disabilities help develop other workers’ awareness regarding disabilities, improve workplace morale, and create an overall more inclusive work culture. Hiring medical staff with disabilities could benefit patients and clients by making our hospitals and clinics more inclusive and better places to receive care.

Survey participants recommended the following:

• Increase diversity and representation of people living with disabilities at all levels, including decision-making roles within VCH.
• Improve accessibility, accommodations, and support services for people living with disabilities within VCH.
• Increase awareness and education about disabilities, ableism, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and support people living with disabilities within VCH.
• Validate the experiences of people living with disabilities and value their lived experiences.
• Create new policies and procedures that promote accessibility, safety and support for medical staff living with disabilities.

“I encourage all our members to reflect on the vital contributions of our colleagues who live with disabilities and to consider the benefits their perspectives bring to the workplace,” said VPSA President Dr. Ka Wai Cheung. “In recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we also acknowledge the need to challenge assumptions, foster understanding, and ensure that colleagues who live with disabilities feel fully supported and valued in our community of care.”