This year, the United Nations theme, “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” puts front and centre the messaging generated at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, where world leaders reaffirmed that social progress is impossible without the full inclusion, participation, and leadership of persons with disabilities.

The Doha Political Declaration is unambiguous: disability inclusion is not charity, nor an optional add-on to national planning. It is a precondition for poverty reduction, decent work, strong economies, and equitable societies.

And yet, across all regions — including here in Canada — persons with disabilities continue to face systemic barriers that undermine autonomy, dignity, and opportunity.

People with disabilities remain disproportionately affected by poverty. They encounter gaps in social protection, limited access to decent work, lower wages, and persistent obstacles in the care and support systems meant to enhance — not restrict — their agency. Accessible environments and assistive technologies remain out of reach for many. These inequities are not inevitable; they are the direct result of policy choices.

Episodic disabilities — including disabilities related to conditions such as HIV, multiple sclerosis, long COVID, mental health conditions, and other fluctuating illnesses — add an additional layer of complexity to these barriers. Unlike static disabilities, episodic disabilities involve periods of wellness interrupted by unpredictable episodes of illness, making access to stable income, employment, housing, and benefits uniquely challenging. People with episodic disabilities routinely fall through the cracks of systems designed around permanence: they may be deemed “not disabled enough” for supports during periods of stability yet face economic insecurity and job loss when symptoms return. This unpredictability undermines autonomy, disrupts workforce participation, and exposes people to heightened poverty and social isolation. Any meaningful vision for disability-inclusive societies must fully recognize episodic disability — and redesign programs and protections to reflect the realities of fluctuating health.

At a time when economic uncertainty has the biggest impact on public policy, Canada cannot afford to sideline 27% of its adult population. Yet the Federal government’s Budget 2025 offered little clarity for people with disabilities, aside from a handful of administrative adjustments that may ease access but fail to substantially improve material conditions.

There was no commitment to strengthening the Canada Disability Benefit, no timeline for delivering an adequate, fully funded program, and no expansion of eligibility beyond those who already qualify for the restrictive Disability Tax Credit. Meanwhile, major federal departments, including those that oversee disability-related programs, were directed to achieve significant savings without specifying where cuts will be made — introducing risk where stability is urgently needed.

You cannot jumpstart an economy while shutting out more than a quarter of your workforce, your innovators, your caregivers, and your consumers. Disability inclusion is not only a social obligation — it is an economic imperative.

While national commitments remain uncertain, Realize continues to drive practical, community-led solutions that model what disability-inclusive progress can look like.

Our upcoming 2026 Annual National Summit on Episodic Disability and Employment will convene leaders, advocates, employers, and people with lived experience to discuss the Future of Work, addressing topics such as: 

• The impact of ‘return to office’ mandates for people living with episodic disabilities 
• The impact of Artificial Intelligence on work and disability accommodation 
• Shifting employer perspectives in response to long-COVID and other emerging conditions.

The Realize Podcast: Nurturing Potential, Inclusion and Belonging has been amplifying voices that are too often excluded from national conversations, bringing stories from people with lived experience of episodic disability directly to policymakers, service providers, and the public.


Programs like the BRIDGE project (funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada, WAGE) will initiate systemic change in Canadian workplaces by addressing harmful gender norms and attitudes toward women living with episodic disabilities, leading to increased understanding, enhanced employee support systems, opportunities for employment, and career advancement. 

Realize’s workplace trainings continue to equip employers across Canada with the tools and knowledge needed to build equitable, accessible, inclusive work environments where people with episodic disabilities can thrive.

A disability-inclusive society is not created by statements of intent, but by action, investment, and accountability. Realize remains committed to driving that transformation—through research, advocacy, training, storytelling, and the leadership of people living with episodic disabilities.

Together, we can build a Canada where inclusion is not aspirational – but expected.