About Enabling Accessibility Fund
The Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) provides grant and contribution funding under separate funding processes. The EAF funds projects that make Canadian communities and workplaces more accessible for persons with disabilities. The EAF supports Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan, in particular Pillar 3 - Accessible and Inclusive Communities. To learn more, consult the Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan, 2022.
The EAF aims to create more opportunities for persons with disabilities to:
- take part in community activities, programs, and services (Community Accessibility Stream), or
- access employment (Workplace Accessibility Stream)
Figure 1: Text description
The flowchart asks one question.
Question 1: Who will benefit the most from your accessibility project?
- If your answer is "Participants / users of my organization's programs / services," your project falls under the Community Accessibility Stream
- If your answer is "Employees with disabilities in my organization," your project falls under the Workplace Accessibility Stream
Grants
The EAF provides grant funding for small-scale construction and communication technology projects that improve accessibility in communities and workplaces. Grants can be up to $200,000 per project.
Project examples may include:
- building ramps, accessible doors, and accessible washrooms
- installing screen reader devices and hearing loop systems
- constructing a universally designed office
- creating an accessible playground
Contributions
The EAF provides contribution funding for larger construction projects. To be eligible for funding, facilities must offer programs and services to include persons with disabilities in:
- their communities, and/or
- the labour market
Contributions can be up to $3 million per project.
Flat rate
The EAF has introduced flat rate costing for all projects. The flat rate calculator provides the amount of funding for:
- ramps
- accessible doors
- accessible washrooms
- elevators
- lifts
- pool lifts
- multi-sensory rooms/stations
- accessible playgrounds
- accessible parking
- accessible drop-off areas
- accessible electric vehicle charging stations
- accessible kitchens
- accessible drinking fountains and hand-wash stations
- accessible multi-purpose rooms
If you are applying for funding for these projects, refer to the flat rate information sheet.
Guidance for EAF projects is also available, including:
- a flowchart to help you choose the accessibility project that is right for your organisation
- guidance on providing safety and security items to make your building more accessible
- guidance on accessibility in the workplace