Inclusive hiring could open the door to a valuable workforce that many businesses have yet to consider. For employers struggling to find good staff, the next great employee may already be living in the community, waiting for someone to recognize their abilities.

That was the message award-winning accessibility advocate Yat Li brought to Fernie during a workshop hosted by Kootenay Employment Services (KES) at the Red Tree Lodge.

His presentation, Breaking Barriers: Overcoming Attitudinal Obstacles in the Workplace, challenged employers to reconsider how they recruit, hire and support people with disabilities.

Li, who was born Deaf and without external ears, knows firsthand how attitudes and assumptions can limit opportunities. Now a leader with Accessible Employers, he works with businesses and organizations across North America to demonstrate that disability inclusion is more than a social responsibility. It is also an opportunity to build stronger, more capable workplaces.

His central message is simple: “The barrier is rarely the disability. It is the attitude around it.”

A workforce hiding in plain sight

According to Statistics Canada, just 46.8% of British Columbians aged 15 and older with disabilities were employed in 2024, compared with 65.3% of those without disabilities.

That employment gap represents an opportunity to challenge the barriers that prevent capable people from participating fully in the workforce.

For Fernie businesses, the question is worth asking: Are we overlooking people who could become some of our most valued employees?

People with disabilities bring a wide range of skills, experience, perspectives and ambitions. Some disabilities are visible, while many are not. The mistake is assuming that a disability determines someone’s ability to perform a job.

Employers who look at an individual’s strengths rather than their limitations can discover talent they might otherwise have missed.

Build the bridge, don’t create another barrier

Li encourages employers to replace assumptions with conversations.

In his Inclusive Leadership Playbook, he identifies a question that can transform the relationship between an employer and an employee:

“How can I help you feel comfortable and excel in this role?”

It is a question worth asking every employee, not just those with disabilities.

A successful workplace doesn’t require everyone to work in exactly the same way. It requires people to have the tools, support and opportunities to do their jobs well.

Sometimes that means adjusting a schedule, providing written instructions, using assistive technology or reorganizing tasks around an individual’s strengths.

Li suggests practical approaches such as matching duties to abilities, pairing new employees with mentors and making small adjustments that can be reviewed and improved.

These changes don’t have to be complicated or expensive. They can also make workplaces better for everyone.

Kootenay Employment Services can help you hire

The most important part of Li’s message for Fernie employers is that they don’t have to figure this out alone.

Kootenay Employment Services works directly with employers and job seekers to create inclusive employment opportunities.

KES can help businesses identify suitable candidates, match people with positions, provide job coaching and training support, and identify workplace accommodations.

Its federally funded ADVANCE program provides additional assistance for people with disabilities and the businesses that hire them. Employer services include inclusive workplace training, management coaching, retention strategies and accommodation support.

Eligible employers and new hires may also qualify for wage subsidies, training funding and other practical assistance.

These employer services are available at no cost through KES.

That removes a significant barrier for businesses that want to explore inclusive hiring but aren’t sure where to start.

Be the employer who makes the difference

There is a powerful opportunity here for Fernie’s business community.

An employer who gives someone an opportunity can gain a capable employee, build a more committed team and contribute to a community where more people can participate and succeed.

Inclusion isn’t about lowering standards or hiring someone out of sympathy. It’s about recognizing individual abilities, providing fair opportunities and creating the conditions for people to succeed.

A great employee doesn’t have to fit a preconceived image of what a worker should look like.

Li’s challenge is one that every business owner, manager and hiring supervisor should consider.

Don’t wait for someone else to champion inclusion. Be the employer who builds the bridge.

Take the next step: Connect with Kootenay Employment Services

If your business needs staff, or you’re planning your next hire, contact Kootenay Employment Services and ask about inclusive employment opportunities.

You may discover qualified candidates you haven’t considered, along with professional support to help make the employment relationship successful.

Kootenay Employment Services – Fernie

Phone: 250-423-4204

Email: fernie.admin@kes.bc.ca

Connect with KES Employer Services and start hiring inclusively.

The employee you’ve been looking for may already be here. Sometimes, all that’s missing is the opportunity.