A recent report on disability in Halton, based on data from the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD), reveals that 23 per cent of residents aged 15 and older — approximately 110,000 people — had one or more disabilities limiting their daily activities.
This marks a 4 per cent increase from 2017, when 19 per cent of the population, or 80,000 people, reported having disabilities.
The Community Development Halton report, citing Statistics Canada, points out that the increase is partly due to an aging population and a rise in mental health-related disabilities among young people and working-age adults.
Women continue to have higher disability rates (25 per cent) compared to men (21 per cent), following trends from 2017. Halton’s disability rates are lower compared to the provincial averages.
In Ontario, the most common disability type in 2022 was pain-related, affecting 62 per cent of individuals. Flexibility (43%), mobility (42%) and mental health-related disabilities (41%) followed.
Disabilities have a considerable effect on daily activities and intersect with various socio-demographic factors, putting those with disabilities at a greater disadvantage.
People with mild disabilities are more than twice as likely to have a job compared to those with severe disabilities. About 62 per cent of individuals aged 25 to 64 with disabilities are working, while 78 per cent of those without disabilities are employed.
Part-time work is more common among those with severe disabilities (16 per cent) than those without (13 per cent). Additionally, 30 per cent of youth aged 15 to 24 with severe disabilities are neither in school nor working, and they are less likely to work while enroled compared to peers with milder disabilities, the report states.
People with severe disabilities face a higher likelihood of living in poverty, with a poverty rate of 18 per cent, compared to 8 per cent for those with milder disabilities and 7 per cent for individuals without disabilities.
Addressing data gaps is crucial for better supporting Halton’s disability community, the report says. Although CSD provides valuable insights, it falls short in providing detailed local data.
The organization is advocating for better collaboration among disability organizations, health agencies, educational institutions and the community to gather more accurate and comprehensive data for informed policy making and improved service delivery.