Success in STEM

Finding Funding to Accommodate Employees with Disabilities

If a company or organization doesn’t already have a fund set up to accommodate employees they may want to hire who require accommodations due to disability, and they don’t have the necessary funding available, federal and provincial governments are ready to step in and help. Here is a list of links to information on federal and provincial funds designed to help prepare individuals with disabilities for the workforce, train employees with disabilities for various jobs and industries, and provide employers with the funding necessary to make workplace accommodations for employees.

• Canada-wide

  Opportunities Fund
  www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/disability_issues/funding_programs/opportunities_fund/index.shtml

• British Columbia

  Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities
  www.eia.gov.bc.ca/pwd/eppd.htm

• Alberta

  Disability-Related Employment Support
  http://employment.alberta.ca/hre/ets/reg/Display.asp?EntityCode=HLEVEL_3&EntityKey=7909395

• Saskatchewan

  Employability Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
  www.aeel.gov.sk.ca/eapd

• Manitoba

  Manitoba doesn’t seem to have specific funding for employee accommodations. However, section 144 of the provincial manual for the Family Services and Housing Department outlines funding availability and requirements for education and vocational training for persons with disabilities.
  www.gov.mb.ca/fs/vrmanual/144.html

• Ontario

  Ontario Disability Support Program
  www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/pillars/social/odsp

  ODSP Employment Supports
  www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/pillars/social/odsp/employment_supports/

• Quebec

  Governmental Support
  www.emploiquebec.net/individus/handicap/index_en.asp

• New Brunswick

  Training and Employment Support Services
  http://app.infoaa.7700.gnb.ca/gnb/Pub/EServices/ListServiceDetails.asp?ServiceID1=17056&ReportType1=All

• Nova Scotia

  Diversity Accommodation Fund
  www.gov.ns.ca/psc/v2/employeeCentre/diverseWorkforce/accommodationFund.asp

• Prince Edward Island

  PEI Disability Support Program
  www.gov.pe.ca/hss/peidsp

• Newfoundland

  Independent Living Resource Centre
  While this organization doesn’t have a central fund for employers to accomodate employees with disabilities, it does provide a list of organizations for various disabilities which may have their own funding sources.
  www.ilrc.nf.ca/nldisabilityorgs.htm

• Yukon

  The following website contains a list of disability resources, though nothing specific on funding for accommodating employees with disabilities.
  www.hss.gov.yk.ca/programs/social_services/disabilities

• Northwest Territories

  While there is no specific fund set up for persons with disabilities, the website for the Northwest Territories branch of the Active Living Alliance may be able to provide further information on resources.
  www.ala.ca/Content/Prov-Terr/NWT/NWTHomePage.asp?langid=1