Enabling Accessibility Fund Presentation to the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) Wellness Gathering by Employment and Social Development Canada, Office for Disability Issues March 2019

What is the Enabling Accessibility Fund? The EAF is a grants and contributions program that supports capital costs of construction and renovations related to improving physical accessibility and safety for people with disabilities in Canada to access programs, services and work. Goal: Support community-based projects across Canada that improve accessibility, remove barriers, and enable Canadians with disabilities to participate in and contribute to their community and the job market. Since its creation in 2007, the EAF has funded over 3,500 projects across Canada.  

Three Program Components: Small Projects Supports small-scale construction, renovation or retrofit projects that increase accessibility in communities or workplaces. Provides grant funding up to $100,000 per eligible project. Project activities can include ramps, elevators, automated door openers, accessible toilets, grab bars, taps, adapted computer software, visual alarm systems, FM loop systems, accessible signage, tactile cues, and painting baseboards and door frames with contrasting colours.

Three Program Components: Mid-Sized Projects Supports larger retrofit, renovation or construction projects of facilities or venues that offer or will offer programs and services that aim to help the social and job market integration of people with disabilities in a holistic manner. Provides contributions of up to $3 million per eligible project. Project activities that can be funded include the construction, renovation and retrofit of common areas of a community centre that offer or will offer programs or services for persons with disabilities, such as accessible meeting rooms, washrooms, service counters, etc.

Three Program Components: Youth Innovation Introduced as a pilot in 2017 to support a broader culture change by instilling in youth an awareness of accessibility opportunities to break down barriers. Empowers youth to identify accessibility barriers within their communities and work with local organizations to find solutions to increase accessibility and safety in community spaces and workplaces. Gives youth the unique opportunity to make a difference for people with disabilities in their communities and help them develop valuable skills and gain key experience. The component provides funding up to $10,000 per eligible project. Innovative projects example include accessible beach wheelchairs, adapted Kayaks and mobile gardens.

National Snapshot 418 projects funded in BC

Program’s Latest News For the first time in the history of the EAF program, ESDC launched three funding processes in one fiscal year (2018-19): Small projects call for proposals (up to $100K per project) Over 400 projects funded Mid-sized projects call for concepts ($350K to $1M per project) Approximately 10 projects funded Youth call for expression of interest (up to $10K per project) 53 projects funded

Program Opportunities Be responsive to the applicants’ needs Program needs to address the specific realities and challenges faced by Indigenous communities Realities of rural, remote, isolated communities and increased construction costs in those communities Increase and support youth engagement Need to better understand the role that youth members play within Indigenous communities; and Find ways to effectively reach out to youth and engage them to improve accessibility in their community.

How to Apply When to Apply Under the three components, eligible recipients can apply for funding through periodic funding processes, where eligibility criteria are further defined. Funding announcements are made on EAF’s website at https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/enabling-accessibility-fund.html Who Can Apply Not-for-profit organizations (includes social enterprises); For profit organizations; Municipalities; Indigenous organizations (includes band councils, tribal councils and self-government entities); and Territorial governments.

Thank You! Contact: Joanne Winter Director – Programs Division Office for Disability Issues Employment and Social Development Canada E-mail: joanne.winter@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development.html