-For Immediate Release- 

Vancouver, BC – August 4, 2023 

Today, Disability Alliance BC (DABC) has announced its 2023 Accessibility Projects Grants are now open for applications.  

The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction has provided $500,000 to DABC to distribute as community grants to improve and promote accessibility and inclusion in British Columbia. The Accessibility Projects Grants were first launched in 2018 to commemorate BC’s first AccessAbility Week, and 71 projects have been funded since.  

“An accessible BC means workplaces and schools that every person can access and recreation, cultural and sports facilities that anyone can enjoy”, said Susie Chant, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility. “We are working together with trusted partners like DABC to remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities”.  

Organizations may apply for up to $40,000 for community engagement projects that will support lasting change for the more than 900,000 people (24.7% of population over age 15)¹ in BC living with disability. Projects will focus on one of the following objectives: 

• Accessible employment; 
• Accessible emergency planning and response; 
• Accessible arts, culture and tourism; 
• Accessible sports and recreation; 
• Accessible education and learning; 

• Accessible community participation. 

Kinsight Society’s Real Talk: Connecting Queer Communities (CQC) project, funded in 2022, runs a social group for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks with cognitive disability and/or neurodiversity. Alison Klein, Peer Facilitator of the project says: “Connecting Queer Communities (CQC) has been really impactful since I see people showing their true identities. I have been able to connect with others who are like me and create true friendships. Being social in my community and knowing I’m not alone has been the most meaningful.” 

The deadline to submit applications is September 15, 2023 at 12pm Pacific Time. Successful applicants will receive funding to implement their accessibility project in 2024.  

Changes to the Accessibility Projects Grants this year include: 

• an earlier application deadline; 
• former grant recipients can now apply again 5 years after their first application was submitted and approved; 
• applicants can now apply for up to $40,000 with no minimum grant amount, and; 

• ASL interpretations explaining the application process will now be available.  

“Now in our sixth year managing the Accessibility Projects Grants, we have taken our observations and conversations with past grant recipients and applicants to further improve the intent and outcomes of the granting process,” said Helaine Boyd, Executive Director of Disability Alliance BC. “This has led to the granting of projects that not only promote greater and more diverse inclusion of people with disabilities in their project design and implementation, but has also encouraged recipient organizations to find innovative ways to reduce barriers for people with disabilities.” 

To learn more and download the Call for Proposals (CFP) and application forms please visit: Accessibility Projects Grants | DABC (disabilityalliancebc.org). 

Media Contacts: 

Danielle Gauld 
Accessibility Projects Grants Coordinator 
ap@disabilityalliancebc.org 

Helaine Boyd
Executive Director 
helaine@disabilityalliancebc.org 

¹https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310037401&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.13 

Download the press release here: APG-Press-Release-August-4-2023-FINAL.