Government of Canada provides $20,000 in funding to support people with disabilities

Ottawa — Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development, today announced $20,000 in funding under the Social Development Partnerships Program—Disability component, to the Canadian AIDS Society to help people attending the 5th Canadian HIV/AIDS Skills Building Symposium.

j"It is a priority for the Government of Canada to help people with disabilities become fully included in society," said Minister Dryden. "We want all Canadians to have the opportunity to contribute to the economic and social life of their country. I am very pleased that we can provide this support."

The funding, which is being delivered through the Social Development Partnerships Program—Disability component, is intended to allow people with disabilities to participate in key policy, program, and knowledge development events. The program helps address the Government of Canada's priority to advance the inclusion of people with disabilities by delivering contribution funding to non-profit sector organizations.

The $20,000 will provide sign language interpretation and simultaneous translation from English to French to langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) and/or French to LSQ to ensure the Deaf community is included and shares key information during the Canadian AIDS Society's 5th Canadian HIV/AIDS Skills Building Symposium on October 27 to 30, 2005, in Montréal. This event presents an opportunity for interactive learning, skills training, and networking to strengthen Canada's community-based response to HIV/AIDS.

The Social Development Partnerships Program—Disability component is an $11 million grants and contributions program that seeks to support the capacity of the voluntary sector, inform the policy and program development process, and further the full participation of people with disabilities in Canada. Voluntary and not-for-profit organizations of people with disabilities are eligible to apply.

Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its grants and contributions program.

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For more information, please contact:
Sarah Bain
Press Secretary
Minister Dryden's Office
(613) 941-0766

Media Relations
Social Development Canada
(613) 941-1110
Web site: www.sdc.gc.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Social Development Partnerships Program—Disability

The Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) is a grants and contributions program that provides financial support to organizations working in the social non-profit sector. The SDPP addresses the social development and inclusion needs of people with disabilities, children and their families, and other vulnerable or excluded groups.

The program has a mandate to help strengthen organizations in the non-profit sector and to foster partnerships that advance social goals and enhance the quality of life of Canadians. Its disability component (SDPP-D) seeks to advance the Government of Canada's disability agenda by promoting the full participation of Canadians with disabilities in learning, work, and community life. The SDPP-D supports research that promotes awareness of issues that relate to people with disabilities and their families. The program also promotes the generation, dissemination, and application of knowledge, innovative solutions, and best practices. It also introduced targeted resources to support the accommodation of people with disabilities. The accommodation fund is intended to allow people with disabilities to participate in key policy, program, and knowledge development events.

The Canadian AIDS Society

Accommodation Fund—5th Canadian HIV/AIDS Skills Building Symposium

$20,000

The Canadian AIDS Society's 5^th Canadian HIV/AIDS Skills Building Symposium will be held on October 27-30, 2005, in Montréal. Funding from the Social Development Partnerships Program—Disability component (SDPP-D) will be used to provide simultaneous translation from English to French to langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) and/or French to LSQ during this event. The symposium, facilitated by sign language interpretation, ensures the Deaf community is included and shares key information.

This event presents an opportunity for interactive learning, skills training, and networking to strengthen our nation's community-based response to HIV/AIDS.

The Canadian AIDS Society is a national coalition of 123 community-based AIDS organizations across Canada. It is dedicated to strengthening the response to HIV/AIDS across all sectors of society, and to enriching the lives of people and communities living with HIV/AIDS.