Advancing Accessibility Standards Research Program

Eligibility

Eligible Organizations

This call for expressions of interest is open to all Canadian organizations that are legal entities in Canada. To be eligible, your organization must fit into one or more of the following categories:

• Research or educational institution (such as a university).
• Not-for-profit organization.
• Indigenous organization, including a band or tribal council or other self-governing entity.
• Municipal (local) organization.
• Provincial or territorial organization (excluding provincial or territorial governments).

Eligible Research Activities

The following are examples of possible research activities:

• Assessing current knowledge and identifying gaps in priority research areas to support the next generation of standards development.
• Performing research that will inform standards development in priority areas.
• Reviewing, assessing, and synthesizing the current body of evidence on accessibility standards in one or more priority areas.
• Identifying gaps in the evidence and sources of best practices. This should support the development of the next generation of accessibility standards.
• Looking at current accessibility standards in Canada. This includes looking at how people or organizations use them and what these standards have achieved.

Ineligible Research Activities

• The main activities of your organization.
• The improvement of tools or methodologies that are specific to your organization.
• Local infrastructure or renovation projects.
• The development of standards.
  • In the context of this program, a standard is a regulation developed and put in place by a certified standard development body. That is why research projects can aim to support and inform accessibility standards but cannot be aimed at developing them.
• The development of tools that use the research results. This includes maps, apps, technology, audit guides, and training guides and activities.

Eligible Expenses

Your expression of interest must include an estimate of how much funding your project will require per fiscal year. If you are invited to the next stage of the application process, you will be asked to provide a more detailed budget.

For a list of eligible/ineligible expense categories, please use this link to help estimate your project costs. Note that all costs must be directly related to project activities.

Summary

Accessibility Standards Canada is inviting interested organizations to submit an expression of interest for research funding. This is the first step in a 2-step process to apply for funding. The purpose of this program is to fund research projects that inform the development of next-generation accessibility standards. These are model standards that fall within federal areas of responsibility. Your research project must align with this purpose.

In your expression of interest, provide a summary of what the project will accomplish. Also, explain how it will meet the program requirements. You may submit more than one expression of interest. If your expression of interest is selected, you will be invited to submit a detailed application for funding. See the formal application process section for more details.

Program Objectives

Your research project must contribute to the programs objectives:

1. Work with different people and organizations across Canada to move accessibility standards research forward to help create a national network of accessibility expertise.
2. Involve persons with disabilities, other experts, and organizations to inform the research.
3. Identify and share research, information, best practices, and tools about accessibility barriers and standards.

Program Timeline

Your research project should start no earlier than April 2024 and must be completed by March 31, 2027.

If your project is funded, you must provide:

• A research report in both English and French, and
• An executive summary in plain language and in both English and French.

These documents must be published and submitted to Accessibility Standards Canada on or before your project end date. Please keep that in mind when planning your project timeline.

Submission Deadline

We must receive your application and other requested documents before 3:00 p.m. (ET) / 1:00 p.m. (MT) on August 18, 2023. If it is received after the deadline, it will not be considered.

Do you need accommodations to complete your Expression of interest? If so, contact us by email no later than July 24, 2023.

Resources

Online Application Form

Expression of Interest Form: Word (docx) Format

Expression of Interest Form: PDF Format/Instructions

Email for Contact/Questions

Overhead

15%

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Partnership Requirements

To be eligible, you must engage in partnerships to help you deliver your research. You should aim to find partners in various sectors and disciplines. These partnerships must foster the creation of a national network of accessibility expertise. They must also encourage the participation of people with disabilities in your research.

The minimum number of partnerships required depends on the amount of funding you are requesting. For more detailed information regarding partnership requirements, please reference the link here.