Deadline: 8-Sep-23
The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is seeking concept notes to provide funding for projects that will increase access to American Sign Language (ASL) and to langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) interpretation over time.
This funding initiative will be funded through the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities. It aims to support projects that will enhance access to professional sign language interpretation, as there are not enough professional sign language interpreters in Canada.
Objectives
- The purpose is to fund projects that will:
- increase access to American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, and
- increase access to langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) interpretation
- This will be through skill development for existing interpreters and training of more interpreters.
- Concept application forms will need to meet at least 1 of the following 3 objectives of this call for concepts (CFC):
- raising awareness about recognized sign language interpretation accreditation/training programs (bringing people into the interpretation field)
- increasing the number of trained sign language interpreters that can provide services (increasing the number of graduates)
- improving the overall competencies of sign language interpreters through the acquisition of additional skills (improving skills of interpreters)
Funding Priorities
Additional consideration may be given to concepts that meet 1 or more of the following priorities:
- supporting Deaf persons in becoming specialist interpreters or sign language instructors
- supporting the entry of Black, Indigenous and persons of colour into sign language interpretation career pathways
- supporting the use of LSQ
Funding Information
- Up to $2,000,000 per concept.
Eligibility Criteria
- All applicants must be located and work in Canada to be eligible.
- Not-for-profit organizations, including:
- educational institutions (such as, colleges and universities)
- sign language interpreter associations, and
- organizations representing sign language users
- For-profit organizations, including:
- sign language service providers that will not financially profit from the project
- For-profit organizations are eligible if the nature and intent of the activity:
- is non-commercial
- is not intended to generate profit, and
- supports program priorities and objectives
For more information, visit ESDC.