VICTORIA - The Province is funding a $750,000 one-time grant to the University of Victoria's CanAssist team to build individualized technology for persons with disabilities, announced Employment and Income Assistance Minister Claude Richmond.

"More than 570,000 British Columbians - 13.4 per cent of our population - have disabilities," said Richmond. "Through partnerships with excellent community-based organizations, such as UVic's CanAssist, we can ensure these people have the support they need to lead productive lives at home, at work and in the community."

The grant will increase CanAssist's ability to design and provide more specialized projects and equipment to persons with special needs and help recruit more volunteers. The grant will also bolster a number of key projects and research areas that include communication and control, mobility and motion, human-computer interaction and online learning and community building.

"Children and adults with disabilities should have equal opportunities to participate in their communities," said Children and Family Development Minister Tom Christensen. "The devices from CanAssist allow people with special needs and their families to take part in recreational and daily living activities that may not otherwise be possible."

The University of Victoria provides the base for CanAssist (formerly known as UVATT - University of Victoria Assistive Technology Team), allowing for leading-edge research and projects to take place with the help from people within the community, university and student population. Since 1999, more than 2,000 people, including over 1,700 students, have been involved with the program.

"CanAssist is a unique initiative in Canada that wonderfully demonstrates the hallmarks of UVic by combining innovative research and development, the integration of research and teaching, and the translation of knowledge for the benefit of the communities we serve," said Dr. Martin Taylor, vice-president of research at the University of Victoria.

Projects include tricycles and bicycles for children with physical and visual impairments, high-tech wheelchair modifications and eye-tracking communication systems. To create these devices, CanAssist draws on the expertise of people ranging from engineers, music and kinesiology students to retired seamstresses.

"Since we must often customize assistive devices to the unique needs of people with disabilities, there is very little opportunity for companies to mass-produce these types of equipment," said CanAssist director Dr. Nigel Livingston. "The faculty, staff, students and volunteers at CanAssist make a huge contribution to our community by creating innovative technology that helps both children and adults."

A winner of the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Innovative Technology, the non-profit CanAssist began in 1999 by building a finger switch to aid a young boy who was severely disabled. Since then, CanAssist has completed more than 140 projects in response to requests from across the province and world.

To enhance access to the many programs, supports and devices available to British Columbians with disabilities, the B.C. government recently launched the toll-free Personal Supports Information Line. Callers can talk to call agents and have their specific questions answered by calling 1 888 818-1211. For people who use TTYs, the number is 1 800 661-8773.