Practical tools to support inclusive, welcoming tourism workplaces
Whether this is the starting point on your disability inclusion journey or you’re getting ready to onboard an employee, use the menu below to explore different barrier types and learn strategies for creating more accessible, respectful, and inclusive work environments.
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Employer Guides to Accessible Employment
Download a collection of free guides that dive into key topics addressing scenarios across each step of the disability inclusion hiring journey. These resources offer step-by-step guidance, practical tips, and examples you can use to support conversations, training, and workplace improvements.
Building Your Disability Confidence
as a Tourism Employer
Build an understanding of different models of disability and how they shape our perceptions. Explore why becoming a disability-confident workplace matters and how to begin making this important cultural shift.
Recruiting Workers with Disabilities
Learn inclusive methods to attract potential job candidates, from writing job postings to promoting open roles to connecting with job seekers through various platforms or networks.
Hiring Workers with Disabilities
Learn how to create inclusive hiring practices that address accessibility needs, foster belonging, and set employees with disabilities up for long-term success.
Compensation and Benefits
Address compensation and benefits barriers for workers with disabilities, including low wages, limited benefits, and income support policies that can restrict long-term employment and advancement.
Inclusive Onboarding
Inclusive onboarding sets the tone for success. Find out how to create accessible onboarding practices that foster belonging and support employees with disabilities from day one.
Managing Unfamiliar Situations
Navigating disability disclosure and accommodations can feel uncertain. Gather best practices to help you respond with confidence and clarity.
Disability Inclusive Language Guide
Gain an understanding of how to use respectful, inclusive language that reflects the diversity of disabilities and avoids harmful assumptions.
Understanding Barrier Types
Inclusive tourism workplaces start with understanding and removing barriers. The resources below outline common workplace barrier types and offer practical guidance on how to address them, helping create more accessible and supportive environments for everyone.
Attitudinal Barriers
This resource will help tourism employers address attitudinal barriers that employees with disabilities may experience. These barriers stem from misconceptions, stereotypes, and biases that make employees feel undervalued or excluded.
Information & Communication Technology Barriers
This resource supports tourism employers in improving access to information and communication by addressing technology, digital design, and inclusive communication practices.
Physical & Built Environment Barriers
Physical and built environment barriers can limit access and participation. This resource helps tourism employers identify and address these barriers to create more accessible workplaces.
Transportation Barriers
Reliable transportation is essential for employees to get to work on time and perform their duties effectively. This resource will support tourism employers in recognizing and addressing transportation barriers that employees with disabilities may experience.
Substance Use and Addiction Resources
This collection of downloadable resources on substance use and addiction was created in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA). Designed with tourism workers in mind, these tools provide practical, supportive information to help build understanding, reduce stigma, and promote healthier, safer workplaces.
Substance Use Health and the Tourism Sector
Find practical insights into how substance use can affect individuals in the workplace and why awareness matters.
Return-to-work [RTW] Checklist
This checklist is designed to support respectful return-to-work conversations for employees affected by substance use. It offers gentle guidance on key considerations to help create clear, supportive plans that prioritize wellbeing, dignity, and a successful transition back to work.
Substance Use Resources
Access a list of curated resource links for additional information, tools, and support around substance use.
Substance Use and Tourism: Printable Poster
We encourage businesses to print this poster, complete the relevant sections with the necessary information, and display it in an accessible location for employees to reference as needed.
Printable Employer Worksheets
These worksheets can be printed and used in your workplace to support your organization in becoming a more inclusive employer. They provide practical guidance, scenarios, and activities that help staff build awareness, improve accessibility, and strengthen inclusive practices.
Employer Worksheet: Job Responsibilities
One of the easiest ways to make a job more accessible for a person with a disability is to adjust the responsibilities and tasks assigned to that job. This worksheet will help you do an audit of your vacant positions, setting you up to fine-tune the role when you meet the right candidate.
Employer Worksheet: Job Postings
When writing a job ad, the right wording can make the difference between limiting your reach and attracting the right talent. This worksheet helps you create clear, accessible job postings that invite the right candidates to see themselves in your role and apply with confidence.
Employer Worksheet: Hiring an Employee with a Disclosed Disability
Hiring always involves uncertainty—and concerns can feel even greater when a candidate discloses a disability. This resource offers a clear, practical roadmap to help you navigate these conversations with confidence and support new hires in contributing their best to your workplace.
Employer Worksheet: Accommodating an Existing Employee
Disability can affect anyone, and isn’t always visible, making thoughtful disclosure practices more important than ever. This resource helps tourism employers navigate disability disclosure with confidence as they build a more welcoming and inclusive workforce.
To learn more about the Belong initiative, visit TourismHR.ca/Belong
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