Greetings everyone and I’m Scott Savoy at the Sterling Creations desk and o boy it’s the final week of November.
I can hear Santa yawning now and so let’s start to welcome the holiday season!
For today, our President Donna J. Jodhan as a very concerning editorial to share with her readers and she would really like to hear from you.
Please write to her at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca.
Enjoy your weekend.
We wish our American friends a very happy Thanksgiving!
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How Some Canadian Government Departments Are Using Work Arounds
By Donna J. Jodhan
Editorial: When “Consultation” Becomes Exploitation – How Some Government Departments Are Failing Persons with Disabilities
In the spirit of inclusion and equity, the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) was enacted to remove barriers and ensure full participation of persons with disabilities in Canadian society. However, recent practices by some federal departments reveal a troubling trend: leveraging workarounds to technically fulfill the Act’s consultation requirements without meaningfully valuing the expertise they seek.
Instead of engaging in genuine, compensated partnerships, certain departments are sending out impersonal links to online forms, asking organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) to not only fill them out, but also distribute them widely—free labor for a government mandate. Even more concerning is the subtle but clear suggestion embedded in some of these communications: that recipients have a civic duty to participate.
When consultation becomes expectation without compensation, it borders on exploitation.
This is not what accessibility or equity looks like. Persons with disabilities offer lived experience, often shaped by years of navigating systemic barriers. That insight is expertise. To ask for it freely, repeatedly, and with minimal context or accountability is to devalue not only the individuals themselves, but also the goals of the ACA.
While budgetary or procedural limitations may be cited as justification, they are no excuse. If a department can afford to create, host, and distribute consultation platforms, it can—and must—budget for honoraria or equivalent compensation. If the Government of Canada is serious about being barrier-free by 2040, it must model inclusive practices, starting with how it engages those it claims to support.
True accessibility is not just about ramps, websites, or legal compliance. It is about respect, reciprocity, and recognizing that collaboration is not charity. Persons with disabilities deserve more than a survey link. They deserve to be heard—and paid—for their expertise.
It’s time for departments to rethink how they consult. The workarounds must stop. The work—real, inclusive, respectful work—must begin.
I’d like to leave you with this for your consideration
A split-scene digital illustration that subtly contrasts two realities — on one side, a sleek government office with officials using digital tools to analyze data, and on the other, a diverse group of persons with disabilities filling out detailed surveys in their homes.
Left Side: Government Setting
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Setting: A modern-looking federal office labeled “Public Engagement Unit – Policy Branch”.
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Characters: A group of government employees (diverse in gender, ethnicity, and age) standing around a large screen or dashboard.
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Visual Elements:
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A large screen displaying charts, word clouds, and quotes from survey responses.
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Sticky notes on a whiteboard that read: “Lived Experience”, “Barriers”, “Access”, “Solutions”.
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One official pointing at a quote bubble: “This came from the disability survey – we should flag it.”
Right Side: Public Participants
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Setting: Various home environments portrayed within a single scene (like comic book panels or windows).
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Characters:
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A wheelchair user at a laptop, thoughtfully typing.
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A blind person using a screen reader with headphones.
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A person with chronic pain resting in bed while filling out a survey on a tablet.
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A neurodivergent youth writing notes on paper before submitting online.
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Visual Elements:
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Each person is interacting with a “Government of Canada Survey” interface.
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Expression of effort, reflection, and frustration/honesty.
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Text bubbles coming from their screens:
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“I was never consulted before.”
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“This question doesn’t reflect my situation.”
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“Finally, a chance to be heard.”
Tone and Style:
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Professional but empathetic.
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Use of light greys and neutral tones in the government side; warmer, personal tones in the home scenes.
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Slight contrast between institutional formality and lived personal realities.
Optional Add-on Text (for illustration):
At the bottom or corner of the image, include a caption:
“Bridging the gap with surveys: A workaround for real engagement?”
To learn more about me as an award winning sight loss coach and advocate visit www.donnajodhan.com
