Accessibility in Canada is about creating communities, workplaces and services that enable everyone to participate fully in a society without barriers.

“Investing in the SDPP-D means investing in the success and inclusion of persons with disabilities across Canada. Our government heard the disability community loud and clear on the need for predictable and stable funding. Today’s multi‑million dollar announcement demonstrates our commitment to the community and to national organizations that now have the chance to expand their reach in improving the participation and integration of persons with disabilities in Canadian society, while also tackling everyday barriers to inclusion and access.”
– The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility

“People First of Canada is thrilled with the continued support and commitment of the SDPP-D funding for the next three years. This funding allows us to move forward with the work we are doing to remove barriers, raise awareness and advance the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities across Canada.”
– Kory Earle, President, People First of Canada

• Since its start in 1998, the SDPP-D has provided $11 million annually in grant and contribution funding to organizations to support projects intended to improve the participation and integration of persons with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society. Since 2002–03, 516 projects have received funding.

• More national disability organizations will receive funding this year than in the 20-year history of the SDPP-D. The Government of Canada is supporting over one-third more organizations to increase their capacity to serve persons with disabilities.

• Through Budget 2018, new funding was announced for the SDPP-D to support the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as well as the development of planned accessibility legislation for the Government of Canada:

  • $2.6 million over two years (2019–21) to support the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
  • $6.13 million over three years (2019–22) to support accessibility; and
  • $2.7 million per year ongoing, effective 2021–22, to support accessibility.
    

• The Government of Canada will provide financial support for the following 28 organizations through the Social Development Partnerships Program–Disability Component: Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (ALACD); Autism Society Canada; Autism Speaks Canada; Brain Injury Association of Canada; British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society  (BCANDS); Canadian Association of Community Living (CACL); Canadian Association of the Deaf; Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance; Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW); Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf; Canadian Deafblind Association (CDBA); Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA); Canadian Injured Workers Alliance (CIWA); Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta; DisAbled Women's Network Canada (DAWN); Independent Living Canada; Iris the Dragon; L’Arche Canada; National Education Association of Disabled Students (NEADS); Neil Squire Society; People First of Canada; Plan Institute for Citizenship and Disability; Realize; Spinal Cord Injury Canada; Tetra Society of North America; The Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE); Work Wellness and Disability Prevention Institute; and an organization to be named upon finalization of agreement.

Related products

• Backgrounder: The Government of Canada wants to make sure persons with disabilities are included

Associated links

• Making an accessible Canada for people with disabilities
• Social Development and Partnerships Program - Disability

Ashley Michnowski
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough
819-997-5421
ashley.michnowski@canada.ca

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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