Alberta leads country in employing people with disabilities, but some still fall through the cracks

‘This is an area where we think we need to continue to increase investment’: province

Cindy Kobler, who has autism, has secured employment at an accounting firm in Lethbridge thanks to support from the Southern Alberta Community Living Association. Megan Yamoah/CBC

Megan Yamoah, CBC News Calgary, Nov 28, 2025

On a crisp weekday morning in Lethbridge, Alta., the back door of a small accounting firm swings open and in steps Cindy Kobler, a stack of labelled envelopes tucked under her arm.

She sorts delivery runs with practised precision, then heads to her office to finish a batch of filing.

It looks like routine office work, but for Kobler, every drawer closed and envelope delivered represents years of effort and patience, and a breakthrough many people with disabilities in Alberta still struggle to achieve.

Diagnosed with autism, Kobler spent years searching for workplaces willing to adapt tasks to her abilities.

Now, she has support from the Southern Alberta Community Living Association (SACLA), whose employment programs conduct months of assessments to identify participants’ strengths, challenges and ideal work environments.

“If I had questions or concerns, they always answer them… so I’m not alone,” she said.

Kobler’s experience, while encouraging, is not the norm in Canada. Statistics Canada data shows gaps in employment for people with disabilities. In 2024, the employment rate for people with disabilities across the country was 46.4 per cent. That compares with 66.2 per cent for Canadians without a disability.

Alberta stands out as a bright spot. In 2024, it posted the highest employment rate for persons with disabilities in the country at 53 per cent.

She’s added to the culture — that’s the part that I appreciate the most.
– Scott Rowland, Avail CPA

“We’re trying to level the playing field,” said Mitch Lawson, who co-ordinates employment placements for SACLA. The organization works with all business types but found a foothold in local mom and pops, and blue collar roles such as manufacturing and logistics, with low turnover and high employee retention rates.

“They tend to have longevity in work, because the sad reality is there’s not a long list of other opportunities that are going to come along,” said Lawson.

Cindy Kobler makes a co-worker chuckle at Avail CPA in Lethbridge. Megan Yamoah/CBC

In Kobler’s case, staff shadowed her through trial tasks, gradually shaping a role that fit her skill set and Avail CPA’s needs.

Programs like SACLA’s also work with new management when staffing changes, ensuring they understand how to support employees with disabilities and maintain a successful workplace environment.

Kobler’s boss, Scott Rowland, managing partner at Avail CPA, said the match has been a win for the business.

“Her biggest impact is her personality… She’s added to the culture — that’s the part that I appreciate the most,” he said.

“And she’s found things that are actually very valuable for us to have done — tasks we didn’t realize we were missing.”

For some, employment remains out of reach

The SACLA receives $11 million over three years in funding from the province.

But despite that support and Alberta’s relatively strong disability employment numbers, Lawson said the system is already stretched thin, and without more funding it will be hard to help more people.

“There are tremendous gaps in inclusive employment… sometimes there are people who fall through the cracks,” said Lawson. “It’s very hard for me as somebody who runs a program to say we’re at capacity or we don’t necessarily have a service that fits for you.”

Chris Ryan is seeking a full-time job so he can live independently and hire a personal support worker. Mike Symington/CBC

Take Calgarian Chris Ryan as an example. He uses a wheelchair, and because he requires around-the-clock assistance, he lives in a care home. He said he is seeking a full-time job “desperately” so he can live independently and hire a personal support worker.

“These programs could diversify Alberta. I could have other places to live,” he said. “Gainful employment makes a huge difference.”

Lawson is calling for additional support from all levels of government so that more Albertans can follow Kobler’s path.

Alberta vows to keep investing

Assisted Living and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon said the province is signalling a continued political commitment to disability employment supports, noting Alberta boosted its investment to $185 million this fiscal year.

Nixon framed the funding as part of the United Conservative government’s broader strategy to increase labour force participation while responding to pressure from advocates and service providers.

“This is an area where we think we need to continue to increase investment, not decrease investment. The final budget will make clear again the importance of this space to the government,” he said.

Nixon also emphasized that a significant portion of funding is being directed toward rural communities, where access to employment programs can be especially limited.

Tailored job placements, like Cindy Kobler’s at Avail CPA in Lethbridge, can help Albertans with disabilities enter the workforce. Megan Yamoah/CBC

For Kobler, her job has given her a confidence she didn’t know she could have. She’s learning new skills, building relationships, and starting to picture a future that once felt out of reach.

“If there’s a new position created, I’m hoping to be considered for it,” she said.

Every morning Kobler sorts papers in the quiet back room of the office, she’s proving what programs like SACLA’s can unlock: capability, stability and the power to imagine more.

Megan Yamoah

Megan is a reporter/editor with CBC Calgary in Lethbridge. She was previously a video journalist with Global News. She’s from Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario. Reach her by email at megan.yamoah@cbc.ca

Source CBC News Calgary