VANCOUVER - The Province is providing a one time grant of $550,000 to 2010 Legacies Now for training and research activities designed to help municipalities make their communities more inclusive for people with disabilities, announced Claude Richmond, Minister of Employment and Income Assistance.

The government has created a disability strategy with a vision - a vision in which British Columbians with disabilities have real choices and are well supported by services that create healthy, accessible and welcoming communities," said Richmond.

"As part of our disability strategy, we are pleased to help foster the ongoing work of 2010 Legacies Now and their goal to promote greater accessibility and inclusion," he said

2010 Legacies Now will use the grant to train a team of consultants, who are themselves disabled, to help municipalities fully implement their Measuring Up initiative. In addition, 2010 Legacies Now will conduct two research projects. One project will look at the financial impact persons with disabilities, their families and caregivers have on the provincial economy, while the other will explore potential funding partnerships for innovative disability programs with private sector companies and social agencies.

"People with disabilities have both the talent and the desire to participate in our economy and society," said Al Etmanski, the lead for 2010 Legacies Now's Inclusive and Accessibility Initiatives. "The Province is showing great leadership in giving them the tools they need to participate, and this grant will help improve understanding of the barriers and issues that need to be addressed."

The Measuring Up initiative, led by 2010 Legacies Now, focuses on creating fully accessible public spaces and promoting employment and community involvement for people with disabilities.

The grant to 2010 Legacies Now - improving accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities in their communities - supports British Columbia's citizen-centred Disability Strategy. The government spends more than $4.3 billion annually on programs and services to support persons with disabilities.