Government of Canada launches call for proposals to support the social inclusion of Canadians with disabilities

GATINEAU, QC, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is working to ensure greater accessibility and opportunities for Canadians with disabilities in their communities and workplaces. To this end, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities today invited national not-for-profit organizations with a focus on disability to apply for funding through the 2016 Social Development Partnership Program – Disability Component (SDPP-D) call for proposals. 

Under this competitive process, eligible national disability organizations are invited to submit funding proposals over a six week period until November 3, 2016 for innovative projects that identify, develop and test promising practices and tools that promote the social inclusion of people with disabilities. The practices and tools may be new or build on existing programs and services.

The SDPP-D supports projects that support disability organizations in their efforts to improve the participation and integration of people with disabilities in all aspects of Canadians society. Organizations are encouraged to visit the SDPP-D webpage to learn about the application process.

Quote

"We are committed to supporting Canadians with disabilities and helping to create environments where they can be independent and participate equally in their communities and workplace. Through the SDPP-D, the Government supports projects intended to improve the participation and integration of people with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society." 
– The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

Quick Facts

• The Social Development Partnerships Program helps improve the lives of children and families, people with disabilities and other vulnerable Canadians. The SDPP has two funding components: Disability, and Children and Families.
• The Disability Component of the SDPP supports projects intended to improve the participation and integration of people with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society.
• The focus of the CFP will be innovation. Funded projects will be required to identify, develop and test/pilot new promising practices and tools that promote the social inclusion of people with disabilities.
• The Government of Canada is currently conducting a consultation process to inform the development of planned accessibility legislation.

Further Information

• Funding: Social Development for Disability Programs
• Consulting with Canadians on Planned Accessibility Legislation

Backgrounder

Since inception of the Disability Component of the Social Development Partnerships Program in 1998, it has provided $11 million annually in grant and contribution program funding to organizations to support projects intended that improve the participation and integration of people with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society with respect to social inclusion.

The objectives of the SDPP-D are to:

• support the development and utilization of effective approaches to address social issues and challenges;
• develop, exchange and apply knowledge, tools and resources that address the social needs of individuals, families and communities;
• foster partnerships and networks to address existing and emerging social issues;
• recognize and support the ability of not-for-profit organizations to identify and address social development priorities; and
• recognize and promote community engagement initiatives (e.g. volunteerism, corporate social responsibility, innovation by not-for-profit organizations, partnerships, coalitions).

Projects funded under the current call for proposal will fall under a theme of innovation. Funded products would develop, test and identify promising practices and tools that promote the social inclusion of people with disabilities. Projects could include, but are not limited to:

• developing of new partnerships to share, transfer and disseminate knowledge;
• bringing together multiple stakeholders working towards a shared goal to improve exiting or create new service delivery models for people with disabilities; or
• developing of technological applications and systems that meet the needs of people with disabilities, such as web-based and/or social media innovations aimed at improving access to information, communication, and other services (including electronic services) for people with disabilities.

Consultation to Inform the Development of Accessibility Legislation

Minister Qualtrough, Canada's first Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, was mandated by the Prime Minister to lead an engagement process with Canadians, including Canadians with disabilities, provinces, territories, municipalities, and other stakeholders, that would inform planned legislation to transform how the Government of Canada addresses accessibility.

The consultation process is open from July 2016 until February 2017. Starting now, Canadians are able to participate in the online consultation by completing a questionnaire available in English, French, American Sign Language or Langue des signes Québécoise, and in the preferred format such as digital, handwritten, video or audio submissions. Canadians can provide their input online or by telephone, mail, email, fax and TTY.

Starting in September, in-person public consultations are planned to take place in the following cities:

• Whitehorse, Yukon / September 22, 2016.
• Iqaluit, Nunavut / September 24, 2016
• Yellowknife, Northwest Territories / September 26, 2016
• Regina, Saskatchewan / September 28, 2016
• Winnipeg, Manitoba / October 3, 2016
• Edmonton, Alberta / October 7, 2016
• Thunder Bay, Ontario / October 11, 2016
• Calgary, Alberta / October 13, 2016
• Moncton, New Brunswick / October 20, 2016
• St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador / November 3, 2016
• Victoria, British Columbia / November 7, 2016
• Québec, Quebec / November 10, 2016
• Montréal, Quebec / November 16, 2016
• Vancouver, British Columbia / November 26, 2016
• Ottawa, Ontario / November 30, 2016
• Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island / December 8, 2016
• Halifax, Nova Scotia / December 9, 2016
• Toronto, Ontario / February 8, 2017

As well, Minister Qualtrough is planning a number of more focused roundtable discussions with key stakeholders.

For the most up-to-date information on in-person venues and dates, and to participate online, please visit www.Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada.

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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Ashley Michnowski, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, 819-934-1122 / TTY: 1-866-702-6967; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]