Small Business BC offers grant funding and free education for Disability Employment Month
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | September 1, 2022 - Small Business BC
1 September 2022
British Columbia – This September, in recognition of Disability Employment Month, Small Business BC is offering free business education and workplace accessibility grants to encourage inclusive work environments for the 20 percent of British Columbians who identify as having a disability.
SBBC’s Accessibility Month: It Matters
September is Accessibility Month at Small Business BC, with free education and resources to encourage employers to open their workplaces to thousands of skilled employees with visible and invisible disabilities.
Throughout September, SBBC’s webinars on essential business skills will be available for free to all British Columbians, provided with live ASL interpretation and closed captioning. BC business owners are encouraged to build stronger businesses by registering for webinars such as Building an Inclusive Business to create equal access opportunities through inclusivity planning. BC residents with disabilities can launch their path to entrepreneurship with the support of SBBC’s Start Smart seminar series. With 18 free seminars on offer, the full schedule can be found at sbbc.co/accessibility.
“Disability Employment month is a time to encourage inclusive employment, while emphasizing the important contribution people with disabilities make, whether building a business or participating in the workplace,” says Tom Conway, CEO of Small Business BC. “We aim to ensure that every employer has the support they need to create an inclusive and welcoming workplace for both themselves and for their employees.”
Find out more
Workplace Accessibility Grant
Small business employers are invited to access direct financial support through the Workplace Accessibility Grant. To create inclusive work environments for people with disabilities, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction as part of the Accessible British Columbia Act, has increased financial assistance for employers.
“We value partners such as Small Business BC because the work we do together helps employers empower people with disabilities who bring a wide range of skills and experiences to their workplaces,” said Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “We are investing in workplace accessibility grants so more people facing barriers to employment can access rewarding work opportunities and provide employers with the skilled workers they need for businesses to thrive.”
The Workplace Accessibility Grant offers eligible employers $2500 to remove workplace barriers and to improve physical environments, technology, communication, and access to information for employees with disabilities. Previous grant recipients who received $1000 will be offered an additional $1500 to make further improvements.
“We’re celebrating Disability Employment Month this September and it’s a perfect time to highlight the contributions people with disabilities make to the workforce and the economy,” said Dan Coulter, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility. “These grants will provide employers with the tools and technology needed to employ more people with disabilities.”
Small Business BC is delivering the funds, issuing $144,500 in grant funding for 152 BC owned businesses to create accessible workplaces since September 2021.
Small Business employers can apply for grants of up to $2,500 per business. Grant applications are open through April 30, 2023 to eligible British Columbian small businesses. The grant can be used for a wide-range of projects, including:
- Adapting the environment: adding ramps, lighting, accessible washrooms and more.
- Adding technologies: such as software that enables accessible documents, tablets, laptops and specialized tools.
- Information and communication: ASL or Braille versions of company documents, website updates for accessibility, screen readers and more.
- Changing policies and practices: anti-bias training, ASL interpretations, accessibility audit, etc.
A full list of eligible services, grant eligibility criteria and application details can be found through Small Business BC, at https://smallbusinessbc.ca/workplace-accessibility-grant/ or sign-up for the Workplace Accessibility Grant webinar. Learn more about Accessibility Legislation in BC here.
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About Small Business BC
Small Business BC provides entrepreneurs with the information and guidance necessary to build a solid foundation for their business. Through a wide range of products, services, education and resources there’s a piece that fits with every business. No matter what stage or what skill level, when an entrepreneur finds themselves asking “How do I…?” Small Business BC is the one to call.
About the BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction
The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction focuses on providing British Columbians in need with a system of supports to help them achieve their social and economic potential.