Disabled Peoples' International receives funding to help greater inclusion of women, youth, and indigenous peoples with disabilities

WINNIPEG—The Honourable Reg Alcock, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development, today announced $35,000 under the Social Development Partnerships Program — Disability component, for Disabled Peoples' International. This funding will support the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in Canadian society.

"We are committed to promoting the full and active participation of all Canadians in our country's social, cultural and economic life," said Minister Dryden. "With our partners, we will work to build communities in which everyone can be fully included."

The Disabled Peoples' International project, "World Summit Resolutions and Learning Tools," will produce proceedings from their World Summit held in September 2004. The proceedings will be used as reference material for future work and to develop new Web resources and educational kits to help achieve greater inclusion of women, youth, and indigenous peoples with disabilities.

"Education is fundamental to increasing awareness of disability issues," said Minister Alcock. "This project will provide women, youth, and indigenous peoples with disabilities access to information that will help them overcome barriers to education, employment, and social relations."

The Government of Canada's Social Development Partnership 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 advance the full participation of persons with disabilities in Canada. Voluntary and not-for-profit organizations representing persons with disabilities are eligible to apply.

Funding for this project was provided for in the 2005 federal budget.

This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its grants and contributions programs.

See the backgrounder for more details.

- 30 -

This news release is available in alternative formats, on request.

Call 1-800-788-8282 on a Touch-Tone phone or through a teletypewriter (TTY).

For more information, please contact:

Linda Kristal
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Social Development
(613) 941-0766

Kelly Morgan
Minister Alcock's Office
(613) 957-2666

Media Relations
Social Development Canada
(613) 941-1110

Web site: www.sdc.gc.ca

BACKGROUNDER

World Summit Resolutions and Learning Tools

Duration: November 2004 to March 31, 2005

Funding amount: $35,000

This national project with Disabled Peoples' International will develop a number of resources to supplement its World Summit, to facilitate the education and empowerment of women, youth, and indigenous peoples with disabilities in Canada and internationally.

The organization will produce proceedings from their World Summit, held in September 2004, which will be used as reference material for future work. The material will be published in English, French, and Spanish, as well as in alternative formats, and will be available in hard and electronic copies.

Disabled Peoples' International will also produce new Web resources to address a major need identified at the World Summit, namely, greater communication and sharing between individuals and organizations in Canada and abroad.

Three resource kits will also be developed to assist disability organizations in Canada and abroad as they work toward greater inclusion of women, youth, and indigenous peoples with disabilities. The educational kits will provide context and guidelines to develop strategies for inclusion.

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 persons with disabilities and their families. The program also promotes the generation, dissemination, and application of knowledge, innovative solutions, and best practices.

FUNDING

The SDPP–D provides $11 million in funding per year.

Grants

• $5 million for base funding to 18 national disability organizations.

Contributions

• $3 million to support 40—75 projects of one to three years' duration (more than 500 projects across the country have received funding in the program's seven-year history).

Community Inclusion Initiative

• $3 million per year in base funding to two national organizations, the Canadian Association for Community Living and People First of Canada, for the inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities in community life.