On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, the Government of Canada announced its commitment to helping more Canadians with disabilities participate in the digital economy.
More than $3 million in funding for the Neil Squire Society was announced by the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, at the Rick Hansen Institute (new window) (RHI), a Vancouver-based not-for-profit organization that drives innovation in spinal cord injury research and care.
The funding is a part of the $22.3-million Accessible Technology Program (new window), which provides support for the development of assistive and adaptive digital devices and technologies to help Canadians with disabilities take full advantage of technology.
Following the funding announcement, Executive Director of the Neil Squire Society, Gary Birch, moderated and participated in a panel discussion on innovative technologies that support Canadians with Disabilities. Other panelists included:
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains (new window), Minister of Innovation Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification.
- The Honourable Kirsty Duncan (new window), Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
- Mr. Bill Barrable (new window), Chief Executive Officer, Rick Hansen Institute (new window)
- Dr. Jaimie Borishoff (new window), Canada Research Chair in Rehabilitation Engineering Design at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (new window) and ICORD (new window) (International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries)
Read the Government of Canada press release (new window).