BDO partners with IRIS and CNIB on creating more inclusive workplaces

BDO Canada has partnered with two nongovernmental organizations – Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society (IRIS) and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) – on initiatives to positively impact Canadians with disabilities.

According to data from StatsCan, people with disabilities are underrepresented in the workforce because of obstacles at both the procurement and workplace levels.

BDO will work with IRIS to design an “Accessibility Engagement Audit Tool” that will help employer identify barriers and solutions to accessibility in the workplace. The tool’s development is being supported by a financial contribution from Employment and Social Development Canada.

“We're pleased to be working with BDO on designing a tool and a process that will support Canadian employers on their journey to creating a workplace that is accessible to everyone, including Canadians who live with a disability,” said Michael Bach, managing director of IRIS.

BDO will also partner with CNIB on a research project examining the accessibility of procurement processes utilized by the federal government.

“The Government of Canada is one of Canada's largest employers with the power to prioritize accessibility and influence change in our communities,” said Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai, CNIB's chief accessibility officer and VP of research and international affairs. “We hope that this pioneering research will highlight the barriers within the federal government's procurement framework and provide helpful recommendations to develop more accessible and inclusive practices for purchasing goods and services.”

BDO and CNIB expect the research to be completed by 2024, with a joint report being released publicly.

“BDO Canada is committed to its ongoing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) journey and to doing work that has a positive impact on the Canadian employment landscape, specifically for persons with disabilities and creating more accessible workspaces,” said Max Brault, VP of management consulting at BDO Canada. “These two partnerships demonstrate the firm's investment in helping to fill critical gaps in the procurement cycle and remove barriers to accessibility in the workplace.”