City of Waterloo recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month with new smartphone app

The City of Waterloo is launching smartphone operated controls for its elevators at City Hall today as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October.

The Contactless Access™ app supports access to elevator buttons and doors through your phone. It can be downloaded for free to any smartphone, iPhone or Android, and it provides independence to visitors and staff who can’t reach or depress standard elevator controls.

“Our goal is to be municipal leaders in accessibility and inclusion practices,” said Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe. “This includes supporting an enhanced sense of belonging within all City buildings, operations and services for visitors and staff.” The smartphone operated controls will help remove one more barrier, promoting inclusion in the workplace for persons experiencing disability.

Recognition of NDEAM is intended to increase awareness of the positive outcomes of hiring persons with disabilities in Canada. Each October, employers are encouraged to take part in a nationwide campaign that highlights the positive contributions that employees with disabilities make to Canadian workplaces.

Another way the City of Waterloo will join NDEAM is by participating in Disabilities Mentoring Day (DMD) -- a national effort to help promote career development for students and jobseekers with disabilities through career exploration and mentorship. DMD is coordinated annually on the last Wednesday in October and uses technology to help bridge the talent, communication and knowledge gaps between business, employment and community supports, and persons with disabilities.

Everyone searches for employment that is meaningful, offers livable wages with security and potential for advancement. Persons experiencing disability often face barriers in the workplace. Mentorship is a critical opportunity to explore employment interests.

“One in four Canadians aged 15 years and older experiences some form of limitation in their daily activities due to disability,” said Divya Handa, Director of READI (Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion) at City of Waterloo. “We continue to work to remove barriers and make our spaces more accessible and practices more inclusive.”

The City of Waterloo embeds READI principles across the organization and is an equal opportunity employer. The City of Waterloo has been certified at the champion level as a living wage employer since 2023. 

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Media contact:

Stacey Abbott
Manager, Corporate Communications
Stacey.Abbott@waterloo.ca