Federal Funding Partnership

Through the Government of Canada's Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability Component (SDPP-D), Independent Living Canada strengthens the national network of Independent Living Centres and supports work shaped by local needs and priorities.

This funding helps Member Centres deliver programs and services grounded in Independent Living Canada's four Core Pillars of Service: Peer Support; Information and Networking; IL Skills Development; and Research and Community Development. Together, these pillars support people with disabilities to make their own choices, build skills, exercise their rights, and participate fully in their communities. Learn more about our Member Centres and Core Pillars of Service.

Independent Living is about choice, control and the opportunity to live life on your own terms. Across the country, Member Centres put this philosophy into practice in ways that reflect the people and communities they serve.

Statistics Canada reported that in 2022, 27% of Canadians aged 15 and older - about 8 million people - had one or more disabilities that limited their daily activities. This underscores the need to keep working toward a Canada where people with disabilities have equitable access to opportunities, services and decision-making. www150.statcan.gc.ca

Our work in communities

Through programs, services and community partnerships, Member Centres support people with disabilities to:

• Connect with peers: Share lived experience, build relationships and develop leadership.
• Access information and make informed choices: Find relevant resources, understand available options and connect with community supports.
• Build skills and self-advocate: Strengthen confidence, address barriers and pursue personal goals.
• Shape more inclusive communities: Contribute lived experience to research, community development and the design of more accessible programs and services.

Working together for change

Independent Living Canada works with people with disabilities, Member Centres and partner organizations to advance equity, inclusion, accessibility and dignity. Our collective work addresses issues such as the Canada Disability Benefit, access to events and festivals, disability inclusion in public policy, and the rights and safety of people with disabilities.

The SDPP-D supports the work of our Member Centres across Canada. Together, we strengthen the services, relationships and disability-led perspectives that help people with disabilities participate fully in their communities and shape the decisions that affect their lives.

What is SDPP-D Funding?

The Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability Component (SDPP-D) is a federal funding program administered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). It invests in not-for-profit disability organizations to strengthen their capacity and support initiatives that remove barriers to participation and social inclusion for people with disabilities across Canada. The program provides operating funding and project funding, recognizing that meaningful inclusion requires both strong organizations and community-informed action.

Its priorities include developing and sharing useful knowledge, tools and resources; building partnerships to address existing and emerging social issues; and supporting disability organizations in identifying priorities shaped by the communities they serve. Guided by the principle of “Nothing Without Us,” SDPP-D emphasizes the involvement of people with disabilities in work that affects their lives.

Through its national operating funding stream, SDPP-D focuses on four areas: governance and accountability, effective leadership and operations, developing and maintaining partnerships, and measurable impact. These investments help national disability organizations sustain their work, collaborate more effectively and demonstrate how their activities advance inclusion.

For Independent Living Canada, SDPP-D funding is an important foundation for connecting national leadership with community-level action. It strengthens our ability to support Member Centres, share knowledge and resources, build partnerships, and respond to disability issues at local, provincial and national levels. It also supports the network's ongoing delivery of core Independent Living programming.

The significance of this funding is rooted in the Independent Living philosophy: people with disabilities have the right to make their own choices, direct their own lives and participate fully in their communities. By strengthening a connected, disability-led network, SDPP-D helps IL Canada turn these values into sustained action - bringing community experience into national conversations and supporting greater choice, dignity and self-determination across Canada.