Social Development Partnerships Program - Disability Component

• Introduction
• Program Objectives
• Working for Results
• Engaging Communities and Sharing the Learning
• Funding for Social Development Projects

Introduction

The Social Development Partnerships Program - Disability (SDPP/D) is an important part of Social Development Canada’s support to persons with disabilities. Each year SDPP/D provides some $11 million per year for projects and organisations within the disability community.

The disabilities component (SDPP-D) of the Social Development Partnerships Program is administered in Ottawa by the Office for Disability Issues (ODI). The disability component (SDPP/D) is one part of the Social Development Partnerships Program.  The entire Social Development Partnerships Program is about $30 million and targets three groups: (1) persons with disabilities, (2) children and their families, and (3) vulnerable and excluded populations.

For more information on the Social Development Partnerships Program, read the SDPP Terms and Conditions.

For more information on other population groups and program targets go to the Community Development and Partnerships Directorate.

Program Objectives

Applicants to the program must work within the program objectives framework. There is sufficient scope within the framework illustrated below to include a broad range of priorities.

The SDPP/D Program aims to increase the effectiveness of the non-profit sector in meeting the social development needs and aspirations of persons with disabilities and to improve the quality and responsiveness of governments’ social policies and programs.

To help make these two objectives measurable and attainable seven important areas have been selected for measurable progress toward the full inclusion of persons with disabilities. These are the major elements of inclusion:

1. Equality and Human Rights
2. Citizenship
3. Income Security
4. Employment and Learning
5. Inclusive Communities
6. Disability Supports
7. Caregivers

This program objectives framework is intended to support a social development mandate that will better facilitate reflection and learning from individual and collaborative undertakings aimed at furthering the full participation of persons with disabilities.

More information on inclusion can be obtained in the Federal Disability Report

Working for Results

The government of Canada wants to support the most efficient practices for furthering the inclusion of persons with disabilities.  Focusing on results also assists gathering the necessary information to “tell the story” or demonstrate the impacts of the program in the areas selected for measurable progress to advance the inclusion of persons with disabilities.

SDPP/D collects and uses social impact data to help the voluntary organizations in the disability community that it serves.  In doing so the program supports the voluntary organizations to incorporate social outcomes measurement in their project and organizational practices.  The data collection and reporting is aimed at facilitating improved results and it provides a focus for learning within and across the community.

The data collection and measurement involves: A) collecting mission related outcome data for the national disability organizations receiving organizational support grants; B) collecting social outcome information across the social development projects funded through the SDPP/D.

For more information on outcome measurement refer to the Treasury Board of Canada site.

Engaging Communities and Sharing the Learning

Improving capacity and policy development as well as increasing the capacity and positive outcomes of the social development initiatives supported through SDPP/D are formidable challenges. These challenges can not be addressed by any one organization or sector working alone.

The Office for Disability Issues is engaged with the disability community in a renewal and learning dialogue.  This process began in October 2003 and is continuing.

At the heart of SDPP/D this dialogue is a redefined program structure and framework of objectives that will guide the program and the community into the future. Additional processes for increasing communication and raising the profile of the program and its investments are also under development.  

Developing knowledge and learning is a continual process that will serve to ensure that SDPP/D continues to fulfil its mission as effectively as possible. Work is underway to develop better linkages for sharing the learning which is a very important “result” of the social development initiatives funded under the SDPP/D.   Once the design and development of the process for sharing the results is finished, we will be posting more information on this page. So, please come back to see these developments.

Funding for Social Development Projects

Social development projects provide vitality, collaboration and learning on issues of importance for people with disabilities, their families and communities across Canada. 

Social development projects also play an important role in building a vibrant disability community where partnership, collaboration and accommodation, bring synergy and maximize the impact of government investments in social development.

Two factors figure prominently in the role of SDPP/D funding for social development projects.

• First, the program funding for social development projects aims to foster cooperation and development rather than competition across the disability community. 

In other words the best ideas compete with each other, hopefully, and not the voluntary organizations that generate these ideas. 

• Second, the program aims to achieve the greatest possible impacts.

In other words the program should be able to show where its resources are having measurable effects in making progress or added value to the issues, organizations, programs or processes in which they are invested.

Continue on for more information about available funding