Accessibility Confident
Employers (ACE) Project

Sea Change CoLab is pleased to lead the Accessibility Confident Employers (ACE) Project, a province-wide initiative engaging employers across Nova Scotia to reduce accessibility barriers in the workplace.

The ACE Project supports more inclusive recruitment, hiring, retention, and advancement practices for people who identify as Deaf, Neurodivergent, and/or as having a disability. Through a series of free and practical learning resources, the project serves employers across all sectors in Nova Scotia, including business, public service, and the non-profit (impact) sector, helping them become confident and accessible employers.

Resource Hub

Are you looking to make your organization more accessible and inclusive? Our library of free resources and training will give you the tools you need to move to the next stage in your journey.

ACE Training

We offer a suite of free trainings: on demand, blended, virtual, and in-person.

ACE Project Impact:
Data That Drives Change

Over the past two years, the Accessibility Confident Employers (ACE) Project has helped employers across Nova Scotia create more inclusive, accessible workplaces, shaped by the voices and experiences of persons with disabilities. Through training, resources, events, and outreach, ACE has reached 3000+ employees across 500+ organizations. Beyond participation, what difference are we making?

Two white female sitting at the desk, One who is wearing brown shirt and blue sweater smiling, and the other with patterned dark shirt smiling with earphone on her ear.

Who We Reached

ACE connected with participants across sectors, regions, and roles in Nova Scotia:

Sector

Public (46%), private (28%), and non-profit (26%)

Region

Employers from all areas of the province, rural to urban

Gender

86% women, with representation from men, transgender, and Two-Spirit participants

Organizational Role

From frontline staff to executive leadership

Lived Experience

56% of participants identified as persons with disabilities

Black Female and White Male sitting at the conference table

After engaging with ACE, participants reported powerful shifts in confidence and capacity:

79^%

79% felt confident or very confident in hiring and supporting persons with disabilities.

46^%

Nearly 1 in 2 participants (46%) hired a person with a disability.

>50^%

More than half (over 50%) said ACE had a meaningful impact on their ability to create accessible and inclusive workplaces.

56^%

Even more, 56%, reported successfully retaining one or more employees with disabilities.

Full and equitable access to employment for persons with disabilities in Nova Scotia.

ACE is a project of Sea Change CoLab.

Testimonials

Over this training, I think the depth of accessibility had the biggest impact on me. I thought I was fairly well-versed in workplace accommodations. However, I am realizing those more reactive on the accessibility continuum. I am now more aware of where my learning opportunities lie in order to become more proactive in providing safer spaces for my clients and team members

– Learning Participant –

I wish I knew about accommodations in the workplace maybe 10 years ago. I wish I knew how to advocate for myself.

– Learning Participant –

I will immediately be changing how I integrate images and videos in presentations (start using alt text and explaining images as I go).

– Learning Participant –

Trusted By

Join the ACE Movement

Want to be part of building more inclusive, accessible workplaces in Nova Scotia? Explore our learning programs, connect with our team, or share your story.

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Illustrations by Bea van Leeuwen. We are privileged to work in Mi’kma’ki, on the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people.

Accessibility Confident Employers (ACE) Project

Resource Hub

ACE Training

ACE Project Impact: Data That Drives Change

Who We Reached

Sector

Region

Gender

Organizational Role

Lived Experience

After engaging with ACE, participants reported powerful shifts in confidence and capacity:

Testimonials

Trusted By

Join the ACE Movement

Accessibility Confident
Employers (ACE) Project

ACE Project Impact:
Data That Drives Change