Accessibility Grants Canada 2026: Enabling Accessibility Fund & More
The Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) is Canada's primary federal grant for accessibility improvements, offering $20,000 to $125,000 for small retrofits like ramps and accessible washrooms, and $500,000 to $1,000,000 for larger capital projects. Businesses, non-profits, municipalities, and Indigenous organizations can all apply, provided they cover at least 50% of project costs.
The 2026 large-project Call for Proposals ran January 16 to March 16, 2026 and is now closed, with no next call yet announced. Nova Scotia businesses can layer on the provincial ACCESS-Ability Grant (up to $50,000), and three Ontario municipalities let accessibility upgrades ride along with façade-renovation grants.
Open right now: Kitchener and London accept façade applications on a rolling basis, Toronto’s 2026 round runs until funds are exhausted, and the federal wage-and-hiring programs covered below have continuous intake. For EAF and Nova Scotia’s ACCESS-Ability Grant, the current intakes have closed — the sections below cover each program’s intake pattern and what to prepare so you’re ready when they reopen.
By the numbers
Of the 650+ programs GrantCompass tracks, just 5 carry an explicit Accessibility or Disability tag. Two of those — PrairiesCan's Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program and Rise Asset Development's microloans — fund the entrepreneur directly rather than a facilities project (see our disability entrepreneur funding guide for those). The other three, plus three Ontario municipal façade grants that list accessibility upgrades as an eligible cost, are what this guide covers.
Who this guide is for
You run a café, salon, or boutique and a customer or employee can't get through the front door or use the washroom. The Enabling Accessibility Fund's Small Projects stream is built for exactly this: most awards land between $20,000 and $80,000, and a flat-rate calculator covers 14 common activities — ramps, doors, washrooms, elevators — so you don't have to itemize every line. If you're in Kitchener, London, or Toronto and already planning a storefront refresh, your city's façade grant can fund the same ramp as part of a bigger renovation.
An employee needs a wider doorway, an accessible washroom, or an automatic door opener to do their job. EAF funds exactly this kind of workplace retrofit, and for-profit businesses with 99 or fewer full-time employees can apply. The program's own guidance is specific: frame the project around the barrier a named accommodation removes, not as a general renovation — that distinction is the single most common reason for-profit applications get turned down.
Your organization runs a drop-in centre, service office, or community space that isn't fully accessible. Non-profits are EAF's most common applicant type, and a letter of support from a disability organization or an employee with a disability strengthens the community-impact section of the application — advice that comes directly from the program's own guidance. See our complete guide to nonprofit grants in Canada for funding beyond accessibility.
You're building a product — software, hardware, or a digital service — designed to help Canadians with disabilities, not retrofitting your own office. That's a different program: the Accessible Technology Program funded up to $4,000,000 per project, covering up to 50% of costs for for-profit developers and 80% for non-profits. It's closed today — the last round ran April 2023 to March 2024, and a Phase 3 hasn't been announced — so this one is worth bookmarking, not applying to.
If the funding gap is you — a founder who lives with a disability and needs capital to start or grow your own business, not a facilities project — that's a different question than this guide answers. Our complete guide to disability entrepreneur funding covers PrairiesCan's Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program and other founder-focused options in full.
The Enabling Accessibility Fund: the first stop for accessibility funding
View the full Enabling Accessibility Fund profile →The Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) is Employment and Social Development Canada's flagship grant for accessibility retrofits, and it's the program every persona above should check first. EAF runs through periodic Calls for Proposals rather than a single annual deadline, split across size tiers. The Small Projects stream funds simple retrofits — ramps, accessible doors, washrooms, elevators — with most awards landing between $20,000 and $80,000 (program maximum $125,000). The large-project stream funds $500,000 to $1,000,000 capital projects; the most recent Call ran January 16 to March 16, 2026 and is now closed, with no next call yet announced. Eligible applicants include Canadian businesses, non-profits, municipalities, and Indigenous organizations; for-profit applicants must have 99 or fewer full-time employees and must contribute at least 50% of total project costs (the Small Projects stream has a lower cost-share requirement).
| Stream | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Small Projects | Up to $125,000 (typically $20K–$80K) | Closed — no reopen date announced |
| Large/mid-size (2026 CFP) | $500,000–$1,000,000 | Closed March 16, 2026 — next call TBD |
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Application difficulty | 2/5 (low-moderate) |
| Est. application hours | ~12 hours |
| Approval rate | Moderate (20-40%) |
| Payment model | Advance / milestone-based, not reimbursement-after-the-fact |
What EAF actually pays for (and doesn't)
Eligible expenses include:
- Renovation, construction, or redesign work to improve physical accessibility (ramps, doors, washrooms, elevators)
- Acquisition and installation of accessible equipment or devices
- Information and communication technologies for improved program or service access
- Accessible signage, wayfinding, and navigation systems
- Automatic door operators and accessible entry modifications
- Accessible washroom construction or renovation
- Elevator or lift installation
Ineligible: general renovations that don't address a specific accessibility barrier, ongoing operational costs, costs incurred before the contribution agreement is signed, land or building acquisition, and — for mid-sized for-profit projects — activities that generate commercial profit.
How to apply, step by step
- Verify eligibility. Confirm your organization type and which EAF component is currently accepting applications.
- Create a GCOS account. Register for Grants and Contributions Online Services at canada.ca/gcos — allow several days for approval.
- Complete the EAF Calculator. Enter your project specifications; the calculator uses flat rates for 14 common accessibility activities.
- Gather supporting documents. CRA Business Number, photographs of each project space, and the Calculator summary PDF.
- Submit the application. Describe how the project removes a specific barrier and include evidence your organization serves or employs persons with disabilities.
- Await a decision. Small Projects: roughly 3–6 months. 2026-style CFPs: roughly 6–9 months.
Two pieces of guidance carry real weight here. First, use the flat-rate calculator for the 14 common activities it covers — it simplifies your budget and removes guesswork from the application. Second, name the specific accommodation your project enables and include a letter of support from a disability organization or an affected employee; EAF's own guidance flags vague "general renovation" framing as the most common reason for-profit applications fail.
Past recipients illustrate the typical range: Sunshine Coast Community Services Society received $29,312 for an accessible emergency-response project, and Mayday Club Youth Choir for Autism Advocacy received $23,159 for an accessible radio-broadcasting project supporting neurodivergent youth — both well inside the Small Projects stream's typical $20,000–$80,000 band.
Verdict: If your organization has any physical or digital barrier a person with a disability would hit — a step, a heavy door, a washroom that doesn't work for a wheelchair — EAF should be the first program you check, regardless of whether you're a business, non-profit, or municipality. Skip it only if your project doesn't remove a specific, describable barrier; EAF routinely rejects applications framed as general renovations.
Not sure where your accessibility project fits?
GrantCompass tracks 650+ Canadian funding programs, free to search. Use our eligibility map to see which accessibility, inclusion, and business programs actually match your organization — no forms, no sales calls.
Explore the eligibility map →5 More Accessibility Funding Sources in Canada
Nova Scotia's own accessibility grant covers two-thirds of eligible project costs, up to $50,000, for businesses improving physical or digital accessibility — renovations, equipment, or website accessibility upgrades. Unlike EAF, which serves all of Canada but caps small awards near $80,000 in practice, this program is Nova Scotia-only and can stack on top of an EAF award to cover the remaining cost. The February 14, 2026 deadline has passed; the next intake hasn't been announced — watch cch.novascotia.ca. See our full guide to Nova Scotia business grants for the rest of the province's programs.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | Up to $50,000 (2/3 of project cost) |
| Deadline | Between intakes — Feb 14, 2026 window closed |
| Applicant contributes | At least 1/3 of eligible costs |
| Est. hours | ~6 hours |
Verdict: Nova Scotia businesses already applying to EAF should apply here too — the two programs are explicitly compatible and cover different portions of the same project. Skip it if you're outside Nova Scotia; there's no equivalent provincial program elsewhere in the catalog today.
Kitchener's downtown façade grant matches 50% of exterior renovation costs — up to $10,000 per storefront, $30,000 for multi-storefront buildings — and lists AODA accessibility upgrades (ramps, accessible entrances, door openers) as an eligible cost alongside windows, masonry, and signage. Unlike EAF, this isn't an accessibility-specific program: accessibility work rides along with a broader renovation. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but pre-approval is required before any work begins.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | Up to $10,000/storefront ($30,000 multi-storefront) |
| Deadline | Ongoing (rolling; pre-approval required) |
| Accessibility-eligible costs | Ramps, accessible entrances, door openers |
| Level | Municipal — Kitchener, ON only |
Verdict: Worth checking if you're already planning a storefront renovation in downtown Kitchener — folding a ramp or accessible entrance into that scope is close to free money. Not worth applying to for an accessibility retrofit alone; EAF's Small Projects stream is the better fit for that.
London's façade program is a 0%-interest loan — not a grant — covering up to 50% of exterior renovation costs to a maximum of $50,000, with AODA accessibility upgrades (ramps, accessible entrances, door openers) named as an eligible expense. Portions of the loan are forgivable in designated Community Improvement Project Areas, which functionally converts part of it into non-repayable funding. Like Kitchener's program, applications are rolling and pre-approval is mandatory before work starts.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | Up to $50,000, 0% interest, partly forgivable |
| Deadline | Ongoing, subject to budget availability |
| Accessibility-eligible costs | Ramps, accessible entrances, door openers |
| Level | Municipal — London, ON only |
Verdict: The forgivable portion makes this worth layering onto a London storefront renovation that already includes accessibility work. Confirm your address falls inside a designated CIPA before counting on the forgivable piece — outside those zones, it's a straight 0% loan you repay in full.
Toronto's façade grant matches 50% of exterior renovation costs up to $12,500, and its eligible-expense list includes the same category as Kitchener's and London's programs — AODA accessibility upgrades like wheelchair ramps, accessible railings, and accessible door openers. The 2026 intake opened March 2 and funds typically run out quickly; there's no fixed deadline, just first-come allocation.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | Up to $12,500 (50% of costs) |
| Deadline | Between intakes — 2026 round opened March 2, funds allocated first-come |
| Accessibility-eligible costs | Wheelchair ramps, accessible railings, door openers |
| Level | Municipal — Toronto, ON only |
Verdict: Move fast if you want in — Toronto's façade fund is annual and demand-driven, so an accessibility upgrade folded into an early application has a real shot; a late application usually doesn't. Combine with EAF if your project scope goes beyond the exterior.
The Accessible Technology Program funds up to $4,000,000 per project for developing market-ready assistive technology — communication tools, learning aids, workplace tech, daily-living devices — covering up to 50% of costs for for-profit developers, 75% for small businesses, and 80% for non-profits. This is the one program on this list for companies building an accessibility product, not organizations retrofitting their own space. It's closed: the most recent round ran April 2023 to March 2024 with a $5.8 million budget, and ISED has not announced a Phase 3 or a reopening timeline.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | Up to $4,000,000 per project |
| Status | Closed — no Phase 3 announced |
| Cost-share | 50% for-profit / 75% small business / 80% non-profit |
| Level | Federal |
Verdict: Bookmark this one rather than build a timeline around it — there's no announced reopening, and ISED's own page says to keep checking rather than expect a specific date. If you're developing assistive technology today, look at IRAP or the Strategic Innovation Fund for interim R&D funding instead.
Which accessibility funding program fits your organization?
- Yes, and you're a business, non-profit, municipality, or Indigenous organization anywhere in Canada → Start with the Enabling Accessibility Fund. Confirm which stream is currently open before applying.
- Yes, and you're specifically in Nova Scotia → Also check the NS Business ACCESS-Ability Grant — it can cover the 1/3 of costs EAF's Small Projects stream doesn't.
- Yes, and you're a for-profit business in Kitchener, London, or Toronto already planning a storefront renovation → Your city's façade grant lists accessibility upgrades as an eligible cost — apply alongside or instead of EAF.
- Yes → That's the Accessible Technology Program's territory. It's currently closed with no Phase 3 announced — monitor ISED's funding page rather than applying today.
- Yes → That's a different intent than this guide covers. See our complete guide to disability entrepreneur funding for PrairiesCan's Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program and other founder-focused options.
Eligibility, funding amounts, deadlines and how to apply
Eligibility requirements
EAF accepts Canadian businesses, non-profits, municipalities, and Indigenous organizations; for-profit applicants need 99 or fewer full-time employees. The Ontario façade programs restrict eligibility to a specific city's designated improvement area. Nova Scotia's ACCESS-Ability grant is open to any registered NS business.
Funding amounts and cost-share
EAF requires the applicant to cover at least 50% of project cost (lower for Small Projects); Nova Scotia covers two-thirds, leaving the applicant one-third. Ontario's façade grants match 50% of renovation cost, with accessibility upgrades folded into that same 50/50 split rather than funded as a separate line.
Application process and timeline
EAF applications go through Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) and use a flat-rate calculator for common activities; decisions take 3–9 months depending on stream. Municipal façade grants require pre-approval before work starts and move faster — typically weeks, not months.
Key deadlines right now
EAF's 2026 large-project Call closed March 16, 2026; the Small Projects stream has no open intake. Nova Scotia's February 2026 deadline has passed. Kitchener and London accept applications on a rolling basis; Toronto's 2026 round opened March 2 and runs until funds are exhausted.
Stacking these programs
EAF and Nova Scotia's ACCESS-Ability grant are explicitly compatible — different funders, no overlap restriction. A municipal façade grant can fund the same ramp EAF doesn't fully cover, since façade programs treat accessibility as one line item within a broader renovation budget.
How to use this guide
Accessibility funding in Canada is thin compared to R&D or export funding. Of the 650+ programs GrantCompass tracks, just 5 carry an explicit Accessibility or Disability tag, and two of those — PrairiesCan's Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program and Rise Asset Development's microloans — fund the entrepreneur directly rather than a facilities project. That leaves a short, real list: EAF federally, one dedicated provincial program in Nova Scotia, and a handful of Ontario municipal façade grants where accessibility rides along with a broader renovation. This guide is that short list, not a padded one.
The most common mistake is treating an accessibility project like a general renovation grant application. EAF's evaluation criteria weigh community impact and clarity of barrier removal heavily — a vague "we're upgrading our space" framing scores worse than "we're installing a ramp and automatic door opener so a specific employee or class of customer can enter." The same discipline helps with the municipal façade programs, even though accessibility is just one eligible line item there.
Geography matters more here than in most funding categories. If you're outside Nova Scotia and outside Kitchener, London, or Toronto, EAF is genuinely your only catalog option for a facility retrofit — there is no equivalent dedicated accessibility grant in most provinces today. That's a real gap, not an oversight on our part; new provincial and municipal accessibility programs do appear periodically, so it's worth checking back.
Because EAF runs through periodic Calls for Proposals rather than a standing deadline, timing is more about being ready than about hitting an exact date. Have your barrier clearly described, your cost estimate built from the flat-rate calculator, and your community-impact letters lined up before a Call opens — Small Projects intakes have historically closed within weeks once the fund is exhausted.
Looking for funding for yourself, not your facility? If you're an entrepreneur who lives with a disability and need capital to start or grow your own business, see our complete guide to disability entrepreneur funding — it covers PrairiesCan's Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program, Rise Asset Development, and more from the founder's side. If you're a small business owner more broadly, our small business grants guide covers the wider catalog.
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Take the free quiz →What's Changed in 2026
- EAF's 2026 large-project Call closed: The Enabling Accessibility Fund's workplace-focused Call for Proposals ($500,000–$1,000,000) ran January 16 to March 16, 2026 and is now closed, with no next call announced. The Small Projects stream remains closed as well. Source: Employment and Social Development Canada — Enabling Accessibility Fund
- Digital accessibility regulations amended: On December 17, 2025, the federal government published amendments to the Accessible Canada Regulations covering digital accessibility. Federal public sector organizations and large or medium-sized federally regulated businesses will need new and updated web pages to meet a digital accessibility standard starting December 5, 2027, with staff training requirements taking effect the same date. This doesn't create new grant funding, but it raises the compliance bar the programs on this page can help you meet. Source: Government of Canada — Summary of changes to the Accessible Canada Regulations
- Accessible Technology Program stays closed: ISED's Accessible Technology Program remains closed with no Phase 3 announced as of mid-2026; the most recent round funded $5.8 million across projects running April 2023 to March 2024. Continue checking ISED's program page rather than budgeting around a specific reopening date. Source: ISED — Accessible Technology Program
- Nova Scotia ACCESS-Ability's February intake closed: Nova Scotia's Business ACCESS-Ability Grant's February 14, 2026 deadline has passed and the next intake hasn't been announced. Businesses with an accessibility project ready to go should watch cch.novascotia.ca for the next window — the program doesn't run on a fixed annual calendar. Source: NS Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage