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VICTORIA – Government is establishing a $20-million endowment fund with Vancouver Foundation to help British Columbians with disabilities find and keep jobs, Human Resources Minister Murray Coell announced today.
“Our government is committed to assisting people with disabilities to achieve greater independence,” said Coell. “We are establishing this $20-million fund to provide a range of supports that will assist people with disabilities to participate in the workforce. Creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities benefits individuals and employers and enriches communities.”
The disability supports for employment fund will provide employment supports, including aids for hearing, seeing, mobility or agility; adaptations to computer hardware and software; and vehicle or structural modifications.
Vancouver Foundation was selected to manage the fund because of its long-standing history of philanthropic leadership in British Columbia and its provincewide mandate. The Minister’s Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities will provide advice to the Vancouver Foundation on the disbursement of funds.
“Vancouver Foundation has 60 years of experience managing permanent endowment funds in a prudent manner for the benefit of people across British Columbia,” said Vancouver Foundation president and CEO Richard Mulcaster. “Through this fund, we can foster independence for people with disabilities across the province.”
Key initiatives government has undertaken in the past year for people with disabilities include: · Spending $11 million more on employment programs, for a total of $24 million. · Doubling the earnings exemption to $400 from $200. · Announcing the employment strategy for persons with disabilities. · Launching the pre-employment services program. · Establishing the Minister’s Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities.
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