Accessibility Fund: Project Support

Purpose

The program provides supplementary funds to Deaf- and disability-identifying project grant recipients to help them remove barriers to accessibility they may face while completing their OAC-funded project.

Deadline date(s)

The program is open year-round.

You may apply to Accessibility Fund: Project Support at any of the following times:

• while working on a project grant application (before the project grant application deadline)
• while waiting for the results of a grant application (after the project grant application deadline)
• after being notified that you have received a project grant, up until the completion of the project

You will be notified of the result of your application no later than:

• six weeks after you are notified that your associated project grant application was successful (if you applied to Accessibility Fund: Project Support before receiving the project grant)
• six weeks after you submit your Accessibility Fund: Project Support application (if you apply to Accessibility Fund: Project Support after receiving the project grant)

If your associated project grant application is withdrawn or unsuccessful, your Accessibility Fund: Project Support application will be withdrawn. You will not receive a separate notification letter for this.

Grant amount(s)

Important:

• Due to the number of applications received and the limited funds available, grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested.
• The OAC will only fund up to 50% per cent of the amount you are awarded in the associated project grant, up to a maximum of $5,000.

Eligible applicants

• individuals who identify as Deaf or as having a disability
• ad hoc groups and collectives with one or more members who identify as Deaf or as having a disability
• incorporated not-for-profit organizations that have a mandate to serve Deaf artists and artists with disabilities and are led by board and/or staff members who identify as Deaf or as having a disability

Note:

• The information you provide in your request will not be used to assess your project grant application and will not be shared with the project program assessors. Only OAC staff responsible for the administration of the Accessibility Fund and any co-applicants to your application will access this information. The information you provide is confidential and OAC will never identify it publicly with you.
• If you are not eligible for Accessibility Fund: Project Support, but would like to make your project accessible to other individuals, such as audience members, workshop participants or learners, you may include accessibility costs in your project application budget.

What this program funds

• transportation, including ride sharing, taxi, car rental, public transportation, air and train travel (with explanation)
• equipment rental, including ergonomic equipment, accessible devices
• technological expenses, including computer hardware rental, accessible software licensed for the duration of the project
• equipment, hardware and software purchases of less than $100
• counselling services that are directly related to the project
• sign language interpretation (up to $70 per hour)
• personal support worker or attendant care (up to $30 per hour)
• communication supports, including captioning, audio description, communication assistants
• other expenses related to making a project accessible to the project grant recipient or to other lead artists, collaborators or Elders involved in the project who identify as Deaf or as having a disability

Note:

• Eligible expenses are not limited to the examples above. OAC recognizes there is a diversity of needs among Deaf- and disability-identifying applicants and that they are best able to determine their requirements.
• Eligible expenses must be related to activities described in your associated project grant application.

What this program does not fund

• major capital expenditures, including buying, leasing or renovating buildings and purchase of major equipment
• artist fees
• medication
• hearing aids and other accessibility supports required for day-to-day living
• counselling services that are ongoing or that are not directly related to the project
• support for writing an OAC application or final report (contact OAC staff to find out how to request this)
• accessibility supports for your audience members, workshop participants or learners (if possible, include these expenses in the budget of your associated project grant application)

Activity timing

Accessibility Fund: Project Support covers expenses that are needed at any point during the funded project. For example:

• if your project covers the creation of new works, you may request Project Support funds to assist you during the creation process
• if your project covers the rehearsal and production of a play, you may request Project Support funds to assist you throughout the rehearsal process, the production process, or both

For eligible project start and end dates, refer to the web page of the project program.

Final report requirements

If you receive a grant, you must complete the project and submit a final report in Nova. See Terms and Conditions – receipt of OAC project grant funds for more information on reporting obligations.

In your final report you will need to provide:

• a description of how the accessibility funds were used
• feedback on the Accessibility Fund: Project Support or the accessibility of OAC’s services
• a final expense breakdown

To apply

Complete and submit an application in Nova, OAC’s online grant application system. You will be able to do this approximately two months before the deadline. 

Before applying, you must:

• create or update your profile in Nova
• have a project grant application in one of the following statuses: Draft, Submitted, Under Review, Awarded

To start an application in Nova:

• open the project grant application that your accessibility expenses relate to
• go to the Accessibility Fund section
• click the Request Project Accessibility Support button

Your application will include:

• a description of the barriers to accessibility that you and/or members of your organization, ad hoc group or collective will experience in completing the project, and how the funds you are requesting will remove them (maximum 250 words)
• a breakdown of accessibility expenses
• support documents: quotes for services (optional)

Complete instructions and requirements are in the application in Nova.

For details on creating a profile or submitting an application in Nova, see the Nova User Guide.

Program-specific definitions

Deaf artists: The OAC identifies Deaf artists as distinct from artists with disabilities based on the Canadian Hearing Society’s definition of “Culturally Deaf,” a term that refers to individuals who identify with and participate in the language, culture, and community of Deaf people.

Artists with disabilities: The OAC identifies artists with disabilities as people who have physical, mental or learning conditions with long-term, temporary or varying effects that may or may not be apparent.

Associated project grant: This grant is based the amount you receive in another OAC project program, that is associated with your application for project support.