SFF Disability Initiative Announcement - Easter Seals Canada
  • Transforming Lives Together with logos for Holland Bloorview, Rick Hansen Foundation, CCRW, Canadian Women's Foundation, CNIB Foundation, Easter Seals Canada, Empowered Kids Ontario, Inclusion Canada, March of Dimes Canada, ODEN and Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility

Easter Seals Canada Announces Transformational Grant from The Slaight Family Foundation to Support Canadians with Disabilities 

December 3, 2024 – Easter Seals Canada is thrilled to announce an historic partnership with The Slaight Family Foundation as part of their Disability Initiative 2024. Over the next five years, the Slaight Family Foundation has committed $1.5 million to Easter Seals Canada’s AccessAbility Program, a critical initiative addressing the urgent need for life-changing equipment for Canadians with disabilities.

This funding is part of The Slaight Family Foundation’s unprecedented $30 million investment in disability support across Canada—the largest of its kind in the nation’s history. Easter Seals Canada is honoured to be among 11 charitable organizations selected for this transformative initiative.

With over eight million Canadians living with disabilities, demand for essential equipment such as wheelchairs, computer technology, hearing aids and orthotic devices far exceeds capacity. Easter Seals’ AccessAbility Program assists individuals and families with direct support to cover the costs of these devices, which can range from $500 to over $35,000. These devices are crucial for improving health, facilitating education and employment, and enabling fuller participation in social and community activities.

“The impact of disability exclusion is significant, not just on people with disabilities and their families, but on our culture and economy as well,” says Gary Slaight, President and CEO of The Slaight Family Foundation. “Connecting and expanding programs and innovations from organizations dedicated to disability care and awareness will create an umbrella of support across Canada, while dismantling stigma and creating a more inclusive society for us all.”

Connecting and expanding programs and innovations from organizations dedicated to disability care and awareness will create an umbrella of support across Canada, while dismantling stigma and creating a more inclusive society for us all. – Gary Slaight, President & CEO, The Slaight Family Foundation

Funding will be disbursed to Easter Seals Canada’s ten provincial affiliate organizations to respond to this growing need, with 100% directed to help cover the costs for individuals and families based on their requirements, ensuring immediate and impactful benefits.

Collaborating with The Slaight Family Foundation’s other grantee organizations will amplify the reach and effectiveness of the program. These partnerships will work to improve access to care, advocate for policy changes, and raise awareness about disability issues. The collaboration marks an exciting step toward creating an accessible and inclusive society. By sharing stories of individuals whose lives are transformed, Easter Seals Canada will continue to educate the public and policymakers on the importance of inclusion and accessibility.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to The Slaight Family Foundation for their generosity and vision, as well as to our dedicated partners,” says Dave Starrett, President & CEO of Easter Seals Canada. “Together, we are making meaningful strides toward equity and empowerment for Canadians with disabilities.”

For more information about this initiative and its impact, please contact info@easterseals.ca or click here.

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Easter Seals Canada is dedicated to improving quality of life and independence for Canadians living with disabilities by raising funds and driving awareness campaigns to support the programs of its member organizations and ensure that individuals with physical, sensory, intellectual, and learning disabilities have the resources they need to fully realize their potential.