By providing contribution funding to individuals, employers and organizations, the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities helps people with disabilities prepare for, obtain and maintain employment or self-employment. The Opportunities Fund supports a variety of activities to help people with disabilities—in particular those who are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits—overcome the barriers they may face as they enter the labour market. These activities may include:
- helping individuals start their own business;
- helping individuals increase their job skills;
- helping individuals to integrate into the workplace through services that meet their special needs; and
- encouraging employers to provide individuals with work opportunities and experience.
Individuals
To be eligible to apply, individuals must:
- self identify as having a permanent physical or mental disability that limits daily activity;
- be unemployed or working less than an average of 20 hours per week;
- be legally entitled to work in Canada; and
- be in need of assistance to prepare to enter the labour market, obtain a job or become self-employed.
Note: To qualify for assistance, individuals must NOT be currently eligible for federal employment programs offered under Part II of the Employment Insurance Act (or similar provincial or territorial programs). This means, individuals must not have received Employment Insurance benefits within 36 months of their request for assistance or maternity or parental benefits within 60 months of their request.
Employers and Organizations for Local and Regional Projects
Eligible applicants for funding include:
- businesses;
- organizations (including non-profit);
- individual people with disabilities;
- public health and educational institutions;
- band or tribal councils;
- municipal governments; and
- provincial and territorial government departments or agencies (if approved by the Minister of HRSD).
National Projects
Eligible sponsor organizations for Opportunities Fund National Projects include:
- businesses;
- organizations including “non-profit”;
- public health and educational institutions;
- band or tribal councils;
- municipal governments; and
- provincial and territorial government departments or agencies
Sources:
- https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/disability.html
- https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/disability-opportunity.html