GATINEAU, QC, May 9, 2024
/CNW/ - All Canadians deserve equal access to programs, services
and supports. The Government of Canada is committed to investing in programs
that help remove barriers to accessibility, increase inclusion, and
empower persons with disabilities to fully engage in their
communities.
In 2023, 5.2 million Canadians aged 15 and older reported
encountering barriers to reading printed materials due to a
difficulty seeing, holding or turning the pages, or understanding
words in print. About half (2.5 million people) indicated they
require reading materials in an alternate format, such as large
print, Braille, accessible electronic or audio files, to be able to
read. Access to alternate format reading materials for educational,
professional and personal purposes, is critical to ensuring the
full participation of persons with print disabilities in
society.
Today, the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with
Disabilities, Kamal Khera, launched
a call for proposals under the new Equitable Access to Reading
Program, which will provide $30 million over five years
to increase the production and availability of reading materials in
alternate formats, as well as training and awareness initiatives on
their use.
Projects could receive funding of up to $2 million per year
under the program for a period of three years starting in
2024, for a maximum of $6 million.
Eligible organizations have until June 19, 2024, at
3:00 p.m. EST to apply by going to the Equitable Access
to Reading Program webpage and accessing the instructions and
application form for funding. Online information sessions in
English (May 22, 2024) and French (May 23, 2024) will be
offered to support organizations through the application process.
Anyone interested in attending can send an email to
EDSC.PAEL-EARP.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca.
The Equitable Access to Reading Program is an action item under
the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, which serves as the
Government of Canada's blueprint
for change to make Canada more
inclusive for persons with disabilities. The Equitable Access to
Reading Program supports the development of accessible and
inclusive communities to achieve the goal set by the Accessible
Canada Act of building a country, free of physical, societal
and attitudinal barriers.
Quotes
"Too many Canadians continue to face long-standing barriers to
inclusion because most reading materials are not accessible to
persons with print disabilities. Through the Equitable Access to
Reading Program, we are taking concrete steps to increase access to
alternate reading format materials. This is another important
initiative in eliminating barriers to inclusion for all
Canadians."
– Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities,
Kamal Khera
Quick Facts
- According to the 2023 Statistics Canada Survey on Accessible
Print Materials, 5.2 million Canadians have a difficulty with print
material. Of that number, 77.4% have difficulty seeing words in
print, 42.2% have difficulty reading or understanding words in
print and 25% have difficulty holding or turning pages. About half
(2.5 million) indicate that they require at least one alternate
format.
- The survey also found that over two-thirds (69.5%) of persons
who require an alternate format to read face at least one barrier
when trying to access them.
- Since 2005, the Government of Canada has provided approximately $48 million to support the production and
distribution of alternate format reading materials. This includes
funding allocated to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind,
the Centre for Equitable Library Access and the National Network
for Equitable Library Service.
- The objective of the program is to ensure long-term,
predictable and stable funding to support the production of
materials for persons with a variety of print disabilities in both
the official and Indigenous languages, and which reflect the
diversity and intersectionality of the Canadian population.
- In 2016, Canada joined the
Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for
persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print
disabled.
- Budget 2022:
- provided $38 million over seven
years, beginning in 2022–2023, to support the production of
alternate format reading materials;
- also, provided $5 million over
two years to the Centre for Equitable Library Access and the
National Network for Equitable Library Service to continue to
produce alternate formats in 2022–2023 and 2023–2024; and
- provided funding of $500,000 over
two years, beginning in 2022–2023, to conduct research on the needs
and challenges faced by persons with print disabilities related to
alternate formats, to inform the development of a new Equitable
Access to Reading Program.
Associated Links
- Equitable Access to Reading Program
- Canada's Disability Inclusion
Action Plan
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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada