Backgrounder: Program to support the social inclusion of Canadians with disabilities

Since spring 2016, the SDPP-D has undergone a Program renewal. The goal of the renewal was to design a program that is current and relevant to the disability community, and that supports the capacity of the disability sector as a whole. As part of this renewal, the Department developed a performance and accountability framework informed by the disability community. The framework will address the following four objectives: fairness, transparency, predictability and accountability, and will offer more operational predictability and stability.

The objectives of the SDPP-D are to:

o    support the development and utilization of effective approaches to address social issues and challenges;

o    develop, exchange and apply knowledge, tools and resources that address the social needs of individuals, families and communities;

o    foster partnerships and networks to address existing and emerging social issues;

o    recognize and support the ability of not-for-profit organizations to identify and address social development priorities; and

o    recognize and promote community engagement initiatives (e.g. volunteerism, corporate social responsibility, innovation by not-for-profit organizations, partnerships, coalitions).

The objective of the expressions of Interest process is to invite eligible not-for-profit organizations with a national reach and a primary mandate that promotes the social inclusion of people with disabilities and that is in line with the SDPP-D objectives, to submit an application for consideration for operating funding.

Since inception of the Disability Component of the Social Development Partnerships Program in 1998, it has provided $11 million annually in grant and contribution funding to organizations to support projects intended to improve the participation and integration of people with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society.