DISABILITY Alliance BC (DABC) on Tuesday announced that its 2025/2026 Accessibility Projects Grants are now open for applications.

The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction has provided $450,000 to DABC to distribute as community grants to improve and promote accessibility and inclusion in British Columbia. The Accessibility Projects Grants were first launched in 2018 to commemorate BC’s first Accessibility Week, and over 95 projects have been funded since.

“Our province grows stronger and more vibrant when everyone in British Columbia, regardless of ability, feels welcomed and supported,” said Dana Lajeunesse, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility. “With applications now open for the renewed Accessibility Projects Grants, we’re excited to see organizations across B.C. remove barriers and build a more inclusive province by creating lasting opportunities for people with disabilities to fully participate.”

Organizations may apply for up to $40,000 for year-long community engagement projects that will support lasting change for the more than 900,000 people (24.7% of population over age 15) in BC living with disability. Applications from rural regions and intersectional disability communities are encouraged as well as projects that are informed by the lived experience and expertise of people with disabilities.

Projects will focus on one of the following objectives:

• Accessible employment;
• Accessible emergency planning and response;
• Accessible arts, culture and tourism;
• Accessible sports and recreation;
• Accessible education and learning;
• Accessible community participation.

“This grant has given me the ability to be a leader in sharing the importance of accessibility in all aspects of community. I’m grateful to be able to educate on inclusivity for people with disabilities from a place of lived experience, helping people feel understood and seen,” said Jennifer Dosanj, co-leader and Inclusion Coordinator of the 2024/25 project “Leaders of Today”. Organized by VIDEA, this project is working to enhance the leadership capacity of youth and young adults with disabilities across BC.

The deadline to submit applications is September 12 at 12 p.m. Pacific Time. Successful applicants will receive funding to implement their accessibility project in 2026.

To learn more and download the Call for Proposals (CFP) and application forms, visit: Accessibility Projects Grants | DABC (dabc.ca).