Government of Canada invites youth leaders to help build a more accessible Canada

TORONTO, May 29, 2019 /CNW/ - In celebration of Canada's third National AccessAbility Week, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, announced several initiatives to support youth leaders in their efforts to build a more accessible Canada.

Minister Qualtrough made these announcements at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD U). While there she announced, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, that OCAD U is receiving $1.7 million in funding from the Accessible Technology Program to develop a new coding platform that will support the participation of students with complex learning needs and will share critically needed classroom resources to support educators in inclusive teaching.

The Minister also announced over $430,000 in financial support from the Youth Innovation Component of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) to 53 organizations across Canada for youth-driven projects that will increase accessibility for persons with disabilities in their communities and workplaces. The Youth Innovation Component of the EAF empowers youth to play a leadership role in their communities by identifying barriers to accessibility and safety in community spaces and workplaces, and then partnering with local businesses and organizations to manage a project that will remove those barriers.

Two additional funding opportunities were launched by Minister Qualtrough:

• a new call for expressions of interest under the EAF Youth Innovation Component: youth interested in participating must identify accessibility barriers in public places or workplaces, and seek out interested organizations willing to work with them to develop an accessibility project proposal. Funding of up to $10,000 is available to eligible organizations.
• a call for proposals under the Disability component of the Social Development Partnerships Program to support capacity building and youth leadership: for projects that promote partnerships between youth-focused organizations and national disability organizations to develop the next generation of youth disability leaders, and facilitate succession planning and sustainability in the disability sector. Funding of $900,000 over three years is available for eligible projects.

In addition, a third funding opportunity to improve the financial security of persons with disabilities was launched:

• a call for proposals under the Disability component of the Social Development Partnerships Program to address barriers to financial security of persons with disabilities: will provide $1.8 million over three years in funding to support projects aimed at identifying and testing innovative solutions to improving the financial situation of working‑age Canadians with disabilities living in or near poverty.

Minister Qualtrough also took the opportunity to highlight a Budget 2019 investment of $15 million over five years to modernize the Canada Student Loans Program and help make post-secondary education more accessible. For student borrowers with disabilities, these changes will:

• increase the cap on the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities from $8,000 to $20,000 per year;
• expand eligibility for the Severe Permanent Disability Benefit, so that more student borrowers with severe permanent disabilities qualify for loan forgiveness;
• implement interest-free and payment-free leave for a maximum of 18 months for borrowers taking temporary leave from their studies for medical or parental reasons, including mental health leave, starting in 2020–2021.

All these measures complement the proposed Accessible Canada Act, which has been adopted by the Senate and is awaiting Royal Assent. The proposed legislation is another concrete step that the Government of Canada is taking to break down barriers to accessibility. This proposed legislation will promote broad organizational and cultural change across Canada, while proactively identifying, removing and preventing barriers in a number of priority areas.

Quotes

"Building a more inclusive Canada requires everyone's contribution. By giving young Canadians the tools they need to make their communities more inclusive and more accessible to persons with disabilities, we give space for innovation and creativity. The investments our government announced today reflect our collaborative approach to removing barriers so that more Canadians can enjoy their communities, find jobs and contribute to Canada's economy. I am delighted to have made these announcements at OCAD U, a university that is taking a leadership role in modernizing its resources so that students with disabilities have the tools needed to succeed. It's partnerships like this one—between OCAD U and our government—that help build a more accessible Canada, where everyone is fully included.
– The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility 

"Together we are building an innovation nation—one that is inclusive and works for everyone. To achieve this, our focus is squarely on our greatest asset: our people. Programs like the Accessible Technology Program, and partners like OCAD University, are setting the bar higher, sparking discussions, and leading the way with their passion for increasing accessibility and our awareness of its necessity."
– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

Quick Facts

• Since 2015, the Government of Canada has supported over 2,000 accessibility projects through the Enabling Accessibility Fund. These projects have helped several thousand Canadians by improving their access to their communities' programs, services and employment opportunities.
• Budget 2017 provided $77 million over ten years, starting in 2018‑19, to expand the activities of the EAF, allowing the program to support even more small and mid-sized projects and launch a new youth-driven innovation component, so that Canadians of all abilities have better access to their community spaces and workplaces.
• The EAF enhancement is part of the Government of Canada's Investing in Canada infrastructure plan in which the Government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• The Disability component of the Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP-D) is a grant and contribution program that supports Government of Canada priorities to improve the participation and increase the social inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society as well as support the proposed Accessible Canada Act. SDPP-D provides $11 million annually to not-for-profit organizations for operating and project funding; starting 2021–2022, it will provide an additional $2.7 million annually to support the implementation of the proposed Accessible Canada Act.
• The Accessible Technology Program invests $22.3 million over five years, starting in 2017–2018, to help fill the gap in support for the development of assistive and adaptive digital devices and technologies that can enable persons with disabilities to fully participate in the digital economy.

Associated Links

Enabling Accessibly Fund
Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability – Youth Leadership
Social Development Partnerships Program - Disability – Financial Security
Making an accessible Canada for persons with disabilities
National AccessAbility Week
Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan

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Backgrounder

List of projects approved under the youth innovation component of the Enabling Accessibility Fund 2018 Call for expressions of interest

Organization	Project funded
Association des personnes avec une déficience de l'audition	Mieux voir pour mieux entendre
Association for Community Living - Beausejour Branch Inc	Automatic door opener
Boys & Girls Club of Cornwall-SDG	Accessible tabling for youth and volunteers in our Learning Centre
Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC	Enabling accessibility at the Hillside Boys and Girls Club
British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society	Accessibility ramp project
Canadian Deafblind Association Ontario Chapter (CDBA Ontario)	Side-by-side tandem bicycle
Chilliwack Society for Community Living	Improve accessibility of CSCL's Mathieson Centre
City Light Church of Victoria	Wheelchair access for City Light Church
City of Charlottetown	Improving accessibility to the Victoria Park Pool, change rooms, splashpad and playground
City of Moose Jaw	Cultural Centre washroom accessibility
Collab Space Corp.	Collab Space accessible doorway
Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City Inc.	Phase Two - reception and main bathroom accessibility project
Cowichan Green Community Society	KinPark Youth Urban Farm
Disabled Sailing Association of British Columbia	Accessible sailboat upgrade project
Father Walsh Council 8911 Service Club	Downeyville Hall renovation
Foam Lake Community Theatre	Theatre for All
Four Corners Contracting Inc	Four Corners Algonquin - outdoor recreation mobility device project
Full Gospel Church of Port McNeill	Port McNeill Full Gospel Church accessibility project
Gate House Community Association	Wheelchair accessible entry and washroom
Genesis Centre	Enabling accessibility at the Genesis Centre
Glencairn Mennonite Brethren Church	Glencairn Church accessibility lift
Goodwill Industries of Alberta	Industrial kitting facility set-up
Hamilton Malayalee Samajam	Installation of new perimeter lighting around the community centre
Knox United Church	Knox United Church hearing accessibility initiative
La Fondation Place Coco (The Little Red Playhouse)	Lighting accessibility
Lake Bonavista Community Association	Install push button accessible door operators on gym and arena's entrance doors
Light & Life Ministries Pentecostal Church of God	Installation of automatic door openers for community accessibility stream
Mount Allison Students' Union	Crabtree Building accessibility improvements
No'kmaq Village	Flat Bay Band accessibility upgrade
Northwest School Division	Paradise Hill Community School playground project
Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre	Reducing barriers & increased inclusion
Owlware Limited	Easy access to Owlware
PacificSport Regional Centre - Vancouver Island	PacificSport WheelKids
Pharmacie Rogersville (Thebeau) Ltd.	Aucune limite = une chance pour tous.
Pillar Nonprofit Network	Accessible flex desk
Point in Time Centre for Children, Youth and Parents	Haliburton Youth Wellness Hub accessibility project
Region of Waterloo Swim Club	Accessible swim technologies remove barriers for persons with disabilities
Roman Catholic Parish of St. Michael	Installation of automatic sliding doors to the church
Saint John Arts Centre Inc_Centre Des Arts	Creating a sensory friendly Saint John Arts Centre
Semiahmoo House Society	Sensory tools, helping students thrive project
Sense of Self Inc. (CherringtonSawers)	Mobile quiet room
St Elizabeth of Hungary Parish	Community for all generations
The Unique Get Together Society	Unique Get Together Society Snoezelen sensory room
The Polish Peoples' Home Association	Bringing full accessibility to Polish Club Windsor
Toronto Artscape Inc	Artscape Youngplace – accessibility improvements
Town of West St Modeste	Wheelchair ramp project
Vancouver Adapted Music Society	Accessible mobile music studio project
Village of Bible Hill	Bible Hill Fire Hall - accessibility lift
Ville de Victoriaville	Aménagement d'une salle d'hygiène (changing place) à la Vélogare de Victoriaville
Woodlawn United Church	Hearing loop system to improve access for those with hearing difficulties
Community Living Selkirk	An accessible bathroom for everyone
YMCA of Cape Breton	Improved accessibility
YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka	Orillia YMCA walkway accessibility enhancement

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

For media enquiries, please contact: Ashley Michnowski, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, 819-997-5421, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]

Related Links

www.hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca