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30 COMMUNITIES SHARE $580K IN FUNDS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY
Vancouver, B.C. (September 18, 2007): 2010 Legacies Now has awarded $580,000 from its Measuring Up Accessibility and Inclusion Fund to help 30 communities throughout the province improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
"Each community submitted a plan for improvements to accessibility that could really make a difference to people living with a disability," explained Carla Qualtrough, Director of Inclusion Initiatives for 2010 Legacies Now. "This funding and these projects are an important step toward enabling people with disabilities to participate and fully contribute in their communities."
These grants will enable the communities to complete the Measuring Up process, a grassroots assessment and planning tool which guides communities in identifying priorities for improving accessibility.
"As a blind resident of Kimberley and a member of our Accessibility Committee, I can say that the Measuring Up process has been a real eye opener for us," said John Houston. "Accessibility and inclusion are not just about wheelchairs and ramps, but about full participation in all aspects of community life by all. We have a long way to go, but Measuring Up and the Measuring Up Fund will help us to continue to identify needs and implement solutions."
The funding ranges from $15,000 to 25,000 per community, based on the community’s population size and their action plan for implementing Measuring Up. These grants will assist communities in completing a variety of accessibility-related projects including establishing committees, conducting public awareness campaigns, creating wheelchair ramps, and completing assessments.
The Measuring Up Accessibility and Inclusion Fund was made possible by a grant from the Province of British Columbia earlier this year.
"People with disabilities have the ability and desire to contribute as employees and active community members," said Employment and Income Assistance Minister Claude Richmond. "We have made removing barriers a priority, and this fund is helping accomplish that. Our goal is to increase the number of people with a disability in the workplace by 10% by 2010 – we call it the 10 x 10 Challenge."
This announcement marks the first round of grants awarded under the Measuring Up Accessibility and Inclusion Fund. Intake is ongoing; the next round of funding will be awarded in February 2008. Application form and guidelines are available at www.2010legaciesnow.com/measuring_up/.
Download the Backgrounder in PDF
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Media Contacts:
Karen McDonald
Director, Communications
2010 Legacies Now
778-327-5180
kmcdonald(at)2010LegaciesNow.com
Nicole Mezzarobba
Coordinator, Communications
2010 Legacies Now
778-327-5139
nmezzarobba(at)2010LegaciesNow.com
2010 Legacies Now is a not-for-profit society that works in partnership with community organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs), the private sector and all levels of government to develop sustainable legacies in sport and recreation, arts, literacy and volunteerism. 2010 Legacies Now actively assists communities discover and create unique and inclusive social and economic opportunities leading up to, and beyond, the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. For more information, please visit www.2010LegaciesNow.com.
