Why paying a Living Wage matters at Untapped Accessibility

In this short blog Trish Kelly, Managing Director of Untapped Accessibility explains why they became a Living Wage Employer, and the benefits they’ve found from being part of the program.

Untapped Accessibility is BC’s leading consulting firm. We launched in 2022 to support nonprofits and public sector organizations to reach beyond compliance with accessibility legislation to create truly inclusive environments for employees and the people they serve. A certified social enterprise, we have a mandate to generate revenue for our nonprofit parent Open Door Social Services Society, and to create work opportunities for professionals with disabilities. Our talented team of staff and consultants – including four staff members and a geographically diverse pool of associates across Canada – includes people with deep accessibility expertise and lived experience of disability. To date, professionals with disabilities have contributed over 14,000 hours of their expertise to our projects.

We just received our certification as a Living Wage Employer in January 2026, so now we’re official! But ensuring our staff and contractors are fairly compensated has always been central to our purpose. 90% of our team identity as disabled, and we compensate team members for their expert knowledge and sharing their lived experience with our clients.

Our staff are proud that we’ve taken this step. And we know that being a Living Wage Employer allows us to communicate our values to future employees too.

Paying a Living Wage doesn’t just benefit our team, it strengthens the local economy and helps families thrive. We know that many of our clients value our social purpose and this certification helps us convey our enduring commitment.

We encourage others to join us in becoming Living Wage Employers. Together, we can create a fairer, more sustainable future for everyone. We look forward to connecting with other Living Wage Employers and working alongside them toward a more just and accessible world for all.

Certifying as a Living Wage Employer is a voluntary commitment employers make to invest in their communities and local economies. There are now over 450 Living Wage Employers across BC.

Find out more about Untapped Accessibility on their website: https://untappedaccessibility.ca