Melissa Egan
Co-Director, National Programs, Realize
August is Episodic Disability Awareness Month and Realize is encouraging workplaces to better understand how to accommodate employees with these conditions.
Disabilities are often associated with visual indicators. For the over two million Canadians who live with episodic disabilities, this simply isn’t the case. Episodic disabilities are chronic and invisible, yet their impacts fluctuate, characterized by periods of relief and illness, both inconsistent in their length and severity. Those living with these conditions may seem completely fine one week and require significant support the next. Living with an episodic disability means the natural human urge for predictability is never met. Each day can feel like a gamble. These challenges can be especially difficult to navigate in the workplace.
“Employers often assume that disability is consistent, expecting accommodation planning to be a simple one-time conversation,” explains Melissa Egan, Co-Director of National Programs for Realize.
Supporting people with episodic conditions
Realize is Canada’s leading non-profit working to improve the well-being of people with episodic conditions. The organization is dedicated to broadening awareness and encouraging workplaces to better adapt to the changing needs of these employees.
To mark August as Episodic Disability Awareness Month, Realize is hosting two online workshops. On August 5 at 1:00pm ET, the first webinar will shine a light on women, “Creating Workplaces for Women with Episodic Disabilities at Work.” The second will highlight the topic more broadly with “Episodic Disabilities at Work” on August 26 at 1:30 p.m. ET. The hope is that through broadened awareness, workplaces can think beyond assumptions, proactively adjusting their environments to meet the changing needs of Canadians with these unpredictable conditions, offering support and understanding when they need it most.
To learn more about Realize or to sign up for one of the organization’s upcoming workshops, visit realizecanada.org.