Government funds digital technologies to improve accessibility for Canadians with disabilities

Investment of more than CAD 3 million will help more Canadians with disabilities fully participate in the digital economy.

The Internet is an important gateway to developing and maintaining professional, social, economic and cultural networks within the digital economy. However, many Canadians are still not taking full advantage of these benefits—not by choice, but because of significant barriers to accessing technology and the Internet.

On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, the Government of Canada announced its commitment to helping more Canadians with disabilities participate in the digital economy.

More than CAD 3 million in funding for the Neil Squire Society was announced by the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, at the Rick Hansen Institute (RHI), a Vancouver-based not-for-profit organization that drives innovation in spinal cord injury research and care.

The funding is a part of the CAD 22.3 million Accessible Technology Program, which provides support for the development of assistive and adaptive digital devices and technologies to help Canadians with disabilities take full advantage of technology.

The ministers also highlighted Budget 2018 funding of CAD 23.6 million for the Rick Hansen Institute to support the institute's efforts to achieve breakthroughs in spinal cord injury research and care.

This program is part of the Government of Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan, a multi-year strategy to create well-paying jobs for the middle class.