The purpose of this resource is to help organizations create more accessible, inclusive, and productive workplaces by improving how they manage workplace accommodations and adjustments for employees. Developed by the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW) as part of its Accommodation and Inclusion Management (AIM) initiative, the playbook encourages employers to move beyond a compliance-focused approach to accommodation and instead view workplace adjustments as a tool for supporting employee success, wellbeing, and organizational performance.
The playbook was developed using a research-informed and intersectional approach, drawing on academic evidence, disability inclusion best practices, legislation, employer perspectives, and the lived experiences of people with disabilities. CCRW worked with Canadian business leaders and individuals with lived experience of disability to create a practical and user-friendly guide. The resource was also shaped by lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the need for more flexible and adaptive work arrangements.
The resource should be used when organizations are developing or improving accommodation policies, responding to accommodation requests, training managers, or building broader disability inclusion strategies. It is particularly useful during employee onboarding, return-to-work processes, workplace adjustments related to disability or health conditions, and organizational efforts to create more inclusive and flexible work environments.
The playbook is organized around five key “plays”: Rethink Disability, Prepare, Identify a Process, Review, Evaluate, Evolve, and Build Your Disability Confidence. Together, these provide a roadmap for creating trust-based accommodation processes, reducing stigma, engaging employees in collaborative problem-solving, and establishing a culture where accessibility and inclusion are embedded into everyday workplace practices.
