PRESS RELEASE: Funding helps remove barriers for people with disabilities: Accessibility Projects Grants Recipients for 2023/2024
-For Immediate Release–
Vancouver, BC – December 4th, 2023
Today, Disability Alliance BC (DABC) has announced the recipients of the 2023/2024 Accessibility Projects Grants, which will support better access to cultural, recreational, safety, educational and community participation opportunities for people with disabilities across the province. This year, the Provincial Government provided $450,000 to be distributed by DABC to non-profits throughout British Columbia. Since 2018, DABC has distributed approximately $2.75 million to over 80 not-for-profit organizations through this partnership with the Province.
“It’s so heartening to see the number of strong applications we receive – it shows how important and much needed this funding is, as well as how many people want to invest their time, energy and expertise into improving accessibility for people with disabilities,” said Danielle Gauld, who works as the coordinator of the grants with DABC.
Organizations were invited to 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 the population over age 15)1 in BC living with disabilities. A few examples of projects funded in previous years include:
- Kinsight’s “Real Talk: Connecting Queer Communities” project, which increased community participation opportunities and decreased stigma for 2SLGBTQIA+ adults with cognitive disabilities. Stated one of their group members, “There’s not many programs for us out there, for disability and for LGBTQ.”
- Yarrow Intergenerational Society for Justice’s “Intergenerational Chinatown Disability Advocacy through Arts” project, of which Sunny Chiu, Coordinator of the project, stated: “We created spaces in Chinatown and Downtown Eastside where disabled youth and Chinese seniors could connect, and attend creative and culturally relevant, physically-and language-accessible events. I think we were able to start some very necessary (and trilingual!) conversations about how language and physical accessibility operate in tandem, and what accessibility means to our participants. I really hope to continue these conversations even after this project is finished!”
The Province observes December 3rd as the Day for Persons with Disabilities, to coincide with the United Nations’ International Day of People with Disability. “We want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy full and equitable participation in their communities,” said Susie Chant, BC’s Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility. “As we celebrate the Day for Persons with Disabilities, I am especially grateful for our work with trusted partners like Disability Alliance BC to remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities.”
DABC is proud to work with the BC government to remove barriers and celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities to their communities.The Accessibility Projects Grants are an important step in this direction.
Media Contacts:
Danielle Gauld
Accessibility Projects Grants Coordinator
ap@disabilityalliancebc.org
Helaine Boyd
Executive Director
helaine@disabilityalliancebc.org
Learn More:
To learn more about Disability Alliance BC: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/
To get up to date about Government’s work on accessibility: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/about-the-bc-government/accessibility/news
To give feedback on barriers people with disabilities face when accessing government services: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/about-the-bc-government/accessibility/feedback
To read the Accessible B.C. Act 2022/2023 Progress Report: Accessible BC Act: 2022/2023 – Progress Report (gov.bc.ca)
Backgrounders:
DABC invited eligible organizations to apply for funding in August, and the list of recipients was announced today:
- 221A Artist Run Centre Society – $40,000 for community-led creative gatherings, cultural workshops, and food-sharing initiatives at an Indigenous garden located in Vancouver’s Chinatown and Downtown Eastside.
- BC Association for Advancing Communications (BCAAC)– $39,902 for delivery ofvirtual and in-person inclusion workshops for people and children with speech and language disabilities and free online resources to support people across BC.
- Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture – $40,000 for an in-person residency in Vancouver for artists practicing in the field of disability arts and culture that gives them an opportunity to learn, have access to studio time, and build community with other practicing disabled artists.
- Recreation Adapted Society (RAD) – $39,656 for the launch of the Langford Lake GearBox, a container with adaptive recreation devices for outdoor activities for people with mobility disabilities, helping them maintain healthy, active, independent lifestyles.
- Stanley Park Ecology Society – $40,000 for programs with experiential learning, hands-on education, and environmental skill-building opportunities for people with disabilities to engage with and enjoy the natural world at Stanley Park in Vancouver.
- Neil Squire Society– $39,628 for events in Greater Vancouver and beyond, to foster accessibility and inclusivity in the world of gaming with customizable assistive technology solutions.
- Smithers Community Services Association – $40,000 for a project that will assist children (aged 6-12) with learning disabilities with improving their reading and writing skills and youth (Grades 7-12) who have fallen behind in school academics due to their learning disabilities in Smithers, Telkwa, Houston and Witset.
- Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society – $40,000 to support newcomers with disabilities in Greater Victoria to access education, allowing them to pursue new learning opportunities and achieve their educational and career goals.
- Worker Solidarity Network Society (WSN) -$40,000 for a project that will support low-income workers living with disabilities to build capacity for safety and wellbeing in extreme weather events in Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver and Okanagan through educational materials, ASL-interpreted video content, and the implementation of an accessible educational program.
- Kettle Friendship Society – $40,000 for group art therapy, creative writing, choir practice, art scholarships and public performances/showcases to help people living with mental health challenges in Vancouver regain visibility and rediscover their voices in a safe space.
- Kamloops and District Society for People In Motion– $40,000 for an initiative to examine the role that accessible and inclusive transportation choices make in addressing issues of social and economic inclusion among people with disabilities living in Kamloops, Te’kumlups First Nation and the broader Thompson-Nicola Region.
- Northern Adapted Sports – $13,500 to expand school awareness programming and professional development for bringing adapted sports to children and youth across Northern BC.
To learn more and download the Call for Proposals (CFP) and application forms please visit: Accessibility Projects Grants | DABC (disabilityalliancebc.org).
1https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310037401&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.13
