SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The number of people who identify themselves within the GNWT as persons with disabilities remains remarkably low despite government commitments to accommodate them.

As of last December, only 21 of the government's 4,615 employees had declared themselves as persons with disabilities, about 0.5 per cent.

According to the most recent information available from the NWT Bureau of Statistics concerning NWT residents 15 years and older, 3,220 people out of a total population of 30,910 in the territory - about 10 per cent - are identified as persons with disabilities.

To be disabled in the NWT, according to human rights legislation, includes physical disabilities caused by injuries, birth defects or illnesses, and mental impairment and learning disabilities.

All employers in the territory, including the GNWT, are duty-bound to accommodate workers with disabilities, such as ensuring there are wheelchair ramps and elevators in the workplace.

A spokesperson with the Department of Human Resources said the reason why there is a discrepancy between what the Bureau of Statistics reports and what the government's employees are telling them is likely because workers choose not to identify themselves as persons with disabilities.

"We have an idea that there are actually more people on our staff who fit the description of being disabled but they don't self-identify ... for whatever reason," said Cathy Jewison.

"That's something that is voluntary. It's up to them."

Jewison said the department did not have any sort of indicator on what the number of workers with disabilities might actually be.

Michelle Gillis, executive director of the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities, refused to comment.

Jewison said having a disability has no effect whatsoever on job or promotion opportunities within the government. As well, according to the department's 2009 public service annual report, NWT residents with disabilities are supposed to be given preference in the hiring process.

"If employees with disabilities, or job candidates, need an accommodation, we ask them to just let us know and we'll do what we can to help people," said Jewison, stressing the need for accommodation "absolutely does not" affect a job application.

Human rights issues are dealt with by the legal system, according to Barb Wyness, public relations officer for the Union of Northern Workers.

"It's more a human rights issue than a union issue," she said, adding the union is not allowed to deal with matters when they fall under the legal system.

Jewison said the GNWT is aiming to hire more people with disabilities. Those plans are outlined in a report titled 20/20: A Brilliant North, which was released in June 2009. Almost a year later, an action plan was formed based on that report, committing the government to review its recruitment strategies for people with disabilities. However, no dates or targets were set except that the review would start in 2010.

"We also have a duty-to-accommodate officer and that person provides support on finding ways of providing workplace accommodation for people," said Jewison.

There is also a committee that arose from the report recommendations called the GNWT Advisory Committee on Employability, which "looks at ways to promote, support and increase the representation of persons with disabilities within the GNWT," said Jewison.

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