Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Operating Manual
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Section 166.2 - Building Modification
Where no other municipal, provincial or federal program provides funding, Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities may fund building modifications required for a person with a disability to access assessment, training or employment. Modifications must clearly address a disability-related need within the following parameters:
- Building modifications will be restricted to the participant's place of employment or training site. Modifications to the participant's home will not qualify for funding unless the home is also the place of employment.
- Where a building modification is required at a place of training, the program may contribute up to 50 percent of the cost, up to a maximum of $5,000.00, once.
- Where a building modification is required at a place of employment, the program may contribute up to 75 percent of the cost, up to a maximum of $30,000.00, once. The employer must also provide the participant with a written offer of a permanent job that is anticipated to be greater than 15 hours per week.
- Building modifications must meet all building codes and safety standards. Architectural, engineering, or inspection fees are not eligible as separate costs but may be included as part of a tendered price.
- In situations where the employer or training institution uses its own staff to do the modifications, the Program will allow up to 50 percent of internal staff time as part of the employer's contribution to the total costs within the specified maximums of $5,000.00 for a training site and $30,000.00 for a place of employment.
Typical building modifications, while not limited to the following, may include:
- ramps;
- mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic lifts or stair glides;
- bathroom modifications;
- special illumination or auditory mechanisms; and
- handrails and grab bars.
Standards
The following standards apply to the funding of building modifications:
- Funding for building modification is approved when:
- the participant requires the support service(s) to overcome a significant barrier to pursuing training and/or employment;
- the support service will eliminate or reduce the barriers within a reasonable time and contribute to the attainment of the Vocational Goal; and
- the support service is not available as a benefit of a universal plan or through another program or department.
- A building modification will only be approved where the modification is for the disabled participant to access training or employment.
- Since most building modifications are major expenditures, price quotations from three suppliers are required—unless there is only one or two known suppliers—to ensure the most economical price for services of equal quality.
