Grants and Contributions:

Real Pay-Meaningful Work: Addressing Employment Barriers for Marginalized d/Deaf and Disabled Women/Gender Diverse Peoples

WP230497

$771,144.00

Jul 10, 2024 - Mar 31, 2027

Through this 33-month project, the Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society (IRIS) will help advance women’s economic security and prosperity by addressing systemic barriers to employment for Indigenous, Black, racialized, non-status-refugee women and gender diverse d/Deaf and disabled people, with a focus on intellectual and mental health disabilities, in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Montréal, Toronto, St. John's, and Iqaluit. To do so, IRIS will carry out a literature review and an environmental scan, and hold Listening and Learning Circles to understand the gender-based intersectional barriers and conditions that prevent affected communities from acquiring and maintaining employment, and to identify solutions. Videos and tools will be developed for knowledge-sharing workshops with federally regulated organizations (FROs) and affected populations to foster the implementation of strategies enabling safe and discrimination-free working environments and the use of The Accessibility Exchange (TAE). TAE is a virtual platform offering the opportunity for people with disabilities and d/Deaf people to be hired and paid as consultants by FROs to contribute their expertise in development of accessibility plans and adjustments to hiring practices, as mandated by the Accessible Canada Act. An external evaluator will measure and assess the impact of the systemic change project with a decolonial, Indigenous and anti-racist lens, and the evaluation results will feed the development of a sustainability plan.

Women and Gender Equality Canada

Women and stakeholders have access to supports to address issues relating to equality between women and men.

Toronto, Ontario, CA M3J 1P3

001-2024-2025-Q2-00179

Contribution

Grants and Contributions

Not-for-profit organization or charity

Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society (IRIS)

Women's Program

The purpose of the Women’s Program is to advance equality for women in Canada by working to address or remove systemic barriers impeding women’s progress and advancement. The WP supports the Government of Canada’s goal of advancing gender equality in Canada. It is consistent with Government of Canada priorities related to economic prosperity, and supports Canada’s international commitments related to gender equality.