Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

Program Information

• For Individuals with disabilities

• For Employers and Project Applicants

National Projects

Publications and Success Stories

Objectives

• To assist persons with disabilities to prepare for and obtain employment or self-employment as well as to develop the skills necessary to maintain that new employment.

• To support effective and innovative activities such as, but not limited to, the following: encouraging employers to provide individuals with work opportunities and experience, assist individuals to increase their employment skill level and helping individuals to start their own business; and

• To work in partnership with organizations for persons with disabilities, including the private sector, to support innovative approaches to integrate individuals with disabilities into employment or self-employment and address barriers to an individual's labour market participation.

Background

There are many Canadians with disabilities who are not employed but who want to work. Most would be able to contribute more fully to the Canadian economy and become more self sufficient if they had some assistance in overcoming their barriers to employment.

The Government of Canada is committed to act on disability issues. Beginning in 1997, Human Resources Development Canada made $30 million a year available through the Opportunities Fund to help persons with disabilities achieve their employment goals. The Opportunities Fund has assisted approximately 36,000 Canadians since its inception and has been approved on a permanent basis in the budget of February 2000.

The Opportunities Fund is an employment element of the Disability Agenda for the Government of Canada. The Opportunities Fund Program is designed to assist persons with disabilities to return to work. Individuals who self identify as persons with disabilities, are unemployed and not normally eligible for Employment Insurance Part II Employment Programs can apply for the Opportunities Fund.

For information on other Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Programs.

Individuals may also benefit from services offered in their communities via our Opportunities Fund national projects.

More information for individuals.

More information for eligible organizations.

Program Details

Duration

Projects may be approved for a period of up to 52 weeks, however, in some circumstances may be extended to a total of 78 weeks. The duration of assistance varies according to the action plan developed for each individual and is based on the individual's need.

Financial Parameters

• Funding may be provided to cover costs such as participant wages or related employer costs; and

• Funding may also be provided to cover overhead costs related to planning, organizing, operating, delivering and evaluating approved activities, including costs such as staff wages and employment related costs. Eligible expenses will be negociated with program officials.

Contributions may be made to eligible participants to cover the following costs incurred in relation to their participation in an eligible activity. These are:

• all or a portion of their living expenses;

• all or a portion of the incremental cost of participation such as expenses relating to specialized services, arrangements or equipment, dependant care, transportation and accommodation; and

• all or part of the cost of tuition for a course or a program of instruction (This may not be available in all provinces).

For More Information

Please view our brochure and other publications.

You may read the detailed Terms and Conditions for this program.