Alberta leads country in employing people with disabilities, but some still fall through the cracks

On a crisp weekday morning in Lethbridge, Alta., the back door of a small accounting firm swings open and in steps Cindy Kobler, a stack of labelled envelopes tucked under her arm.

She sorts delivery runs with practised precision, then heads to her office to finish a batch of filing.

It looks like routine office work, but for Kobler, every drawer closed and envelope delivered represents years of effort and patience, and a breakthrough many people with disabilities in Alberta still struggle to achieve.

Diagnosed with autism, Kobler spent years searching for workplaces willing to adapt tasks to her abilities.

Now, she has support from the Southern Alberta Community Living Association (SACLA), whose employment programs conduct months of assessments to identify participants’ strengths, challenges and ideal work environments. 

“If I had questions or concerns, they always answer them … so I’m not alone,” she said.

Kobler's experience, while encouraging, is not the norm in Canada. Statistics Canada data shows gaps in employment for people with disabilities. In 2024, the employment rate for people with disabilities across the country was 46.4 per cent. That compares with 66.2 per cent for Canadians without a disability.

Alberta stands out as a bright spot. In 2024, it posted the highest employment rate for persons with disabilities in the country at 53 per cent.

“We’re trying to level the playing field,” said Mitch Lawson, who co-ordinates employment placements for SACLA. The organization works with all business types but found a foothold in local mom and pops, and blue collar roles such as manufacturing and logistics, with low turnover and high employee retention rates.

"They tend to have longevity in work, because the sad reality is there’s not a long list of other opportunities that are going to come along," said Lawson.

In Kobler’s case, staff shadowed her through trial tasks, gradually shaping a role that fit her skill set and Avail CPA’s needs.

Programs like SACLA’s also work with new management when staffing changes, ensuring they understand how to support employees with disabilities and maintain a successful workplace environment.

Kobler’s boss, Scott Rowland, managing partner at Avail CPA, said the match has been a win for the business.

"Her biggest impact is her personality ... She's added to the culture — that's the part that I appreciate the most," he said.