Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Business Guide

Last Verified: May 17, 2012

What is a Business Guide?

The Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre created Business Guides to help you navigate through the wide range of programs and services in a specific area as well as related regulations that may affect your business venture. Business Guides featuring other topics of interest are also available by contacting the Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre at 204-984-2272 (in Winnipeg) or 1-800-665-2019 (toll free in Canada) or by e-mail at manitoba@canadabusiness.mb.ca.

Note: In addition to providing an immediate clickable link when viewing these documents online, we have suggested search words/terms to assist you in future for additional program and/or service information searches on our or other sites.

TABLE OF CONTENT

• Financial Assistance
• Business Services 
• Other Services
  

Financial Assistance

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program
Western Economic Diversification Canada - WD
Delivered by: Community Futures Offices in Rural Manitoba
Phone: 1-800-665-2019
Internet: http://www.cfmanitoba.ca/index.php?page=3&nav=dis or www.wd.gc.ca/eng/13643.asp
Search words: CFDC Manitoba EDP

The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program offers business services to people with disabilities or health conditions in rural Manitoba. This program provides one to one business consultation, access to business information and resources, assistance with business plans and business loans up to $150,000.

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Initiative in Winnipeg
Western Economic Diversification Canada - WD
Delivered by: Independent Living Resource Centre - ILRC
Suite 311A - 393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6
Phone & TTY: 204-947-0194 or Toll free 1-800-663-3043
Fax: 204-943-6625
E-mail: thecentre@ilrc.mb.ca
Internet: http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/271.asp
Search words: ILRC, Winnipeg

This program provides one to one business consultation, access to business information and resources, assistance with business plans and business loans up to $75,000 to help Winnipeg entrepreneurs with disabilities start or expand their own business.

Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities
Human Resources and Social Development Canada - HRSDC
Phone: Toll Free 1-800-622-6232
Internet: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/disability_issues/funding_programs/opportunities_fund/index.shtml 
Service Canada Office Locator: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/gateways/where_you_live/menu.shtml
Search words: opportunities fund

Helps to generate innovative activities which help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain and keep employment or self-employment. Participants must not be eligible for assistance under the Employment Benefits.

Rebate for Specially-Equipped Vehicles for Persons with Disabilities
Canada Revenue Agency - CRA
Phone: 1-800-959-8281
Internet: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/gst-tps/rbts/vhcls/menu-eng.html
Search words: specially-equipped, rebate

This bulletin explains the rebate of the 5% GST that may be claimed on specially-equipped motor vehicles that are used by, or to transport, individuals using wheelchairs, and vehicles equipped with auxiliary driving controls for individuals with disabilities.

SEED Winnipeg Inc.
Phone: 204-927-9935
Fax: 204-927-9930
E-mail: info@seedwinnipeg.ca
Internet: seedwinnipeg.ca/programs/c/business-development-services
Search words: SEED Winnipeg

This service assists low-income individuals or groups to establish small businesses by providing business planning, assistance, training, and after-care services. Business Management Training is 24 sessions in length, based on 48 modules over an 8 week period. Each module teaches the participant a component of the business plan. SEED clients are also able to access other loan funds through its program.

Self-employment (SE) Program
Employment Manitoba and Service Canada
YMCA/YWCA Employment Services
Phone: 204-989-5860
CDEM (francophone delivery)
204-925-2834
Rural Manitobans
Contact your local Employment Manitoba or Service Canada Office or call the Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre for assistance in locating the office nearest your home.
Phone: Toll Free 1-800-665-2019
Employment Manitoba location finder: http://www.gov.mb.ca/employment/emp_centre_locations.html
Service Canada Office location finder: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/cgi-bin/hr-search.cgi?app=hme&ln=eng
Internet: http://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/eiafacts/self-employment.html
Search words: Employment Manitoba, Self Employment Program

This program provides unemployed Employment Insurance and Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) eligible, individuals with financial support, planning assistance and mentoring while they get their business up and running.

Business Services

About Multiple Formats
Canada Revenue Agency - CRA
Phone: 1-800-959-8281
TTY: 1-800-665-0354
Internet: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/alternate/
Search words: About Multiple Formats, CRA

Persons with visual impairments can get information on Canada Revenue Agency services available to them as well as order publications in Braille and large print, or on audio cassette and computer disk.

Business Seminars
Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre
250 - 240 Graham Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4B3
Phone: 204-984-2272 or 1-800-665-2019 or TTY: 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: manitoba@canadabusiness.mb.ca
Internet: http://events.ebsc.ca/events_bydate.aspx
Search words: Canada Business, Manitoba, Seminars

Short, informative seminars on various business topics including: How to find a Business Idea, Starting a Small Business in Manitoba, Patents, Copyrights, Trade-Marks and Industrial Designs and e-Marketing. All seminars are free of charge. Facilities are wheel-chair accessible.

C/MBSC Library and Research
Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre
250-240 Graham Avenue, Winnipeg, MB  R3C 4B3
Phone: 204-984-2272 or 1-800-665-2019 or TTY: 1-800-457-8466
Site Web : www.canadabusiness.mb.ca//home_page/research__our_library/
Search words: C/MBSC Library and Research

The library contains over 14,000 business and trade publications to help you develop your business plan, perform market research or source suppliers. Our experienced staff can help you find the business information you need. We also offer materials specifically for persons with disabilities such as audio cassettes with Braille identifying labels. The library and washrooms are wheelchair accessible and our public access computers have an assortment of assistive equipment (both hardware and software) for various levels of physical ability.

Canadian Society for Social Development (CSSD)
Phone: 1-888-927-7473
E-mail: http://www.cssd-web.org/?q=en/contact 
Internet: On-line Registration http://www.cssd-web.org
Search words: Canadian Society for Social Development

The Canadian Society for Social Development (CSSD) is a federally incorporated non-profit with charitable status that provides, online entrepreneurial & web design training to persons with disabilities across Canada. CSSD offers two online programs:

The Internet Business Development for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (IBDE) is a six month accredited course that teaches participants how to create websites for either their own businesses or for other small businesses. Intake for this program is in the fall. (tuition assistance is available for qualifying individuals). Advance modules are also conducted in each spring/summer semester.

The Business Abilities Program is a free, 1 year self-paced business planning and management course that also provides online business coaching assistance while you start your business. Once students establish their business they may take advantage of approximately 30 advanced business management modules on topics such as bookkeeping, salesmanship, customer service and marketing. Intake for this program is ongoing.

Tax Information for Persons with Disabilities
Canada Revenue Agency - CRA
Internet: http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/disability/
Search words: persons with disabilities, CRA

This website provides easy access to publications, forms and services available dealing with tax information for persons with disabilities.

Other Services

Independent Living Resource Centre - ILRC
311A - 393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB  R3B 3H6
Phone & TTY: 204-947-0194 or 1-800-663-3043
Fax: 204-943-6625
E-mail: thecentre@ilrc.mb.ca
Internet: http://www.ilrc.mb.ca
Search words: ILRC, Winnipeg

ILRC is a self-help organization that provides information and referral services, peer support, individual advocacy, independent living skills assistance and various other services for people with disabilities.

Persons with Disabilities Online
Service Canada
Phone: 1-800-622-6232
Internet: http://www.pwd-online.ca/en/home.jsp
Search words: Persons with Disabilities Online

An internet site which has information on government services for persons with disabilities.  Topics include accessibility, Advocacy, Assistive Technology, Community and Citizen Participation, Employment, Health, Safety and Security, Housing, Learning and Skills Development, Recreation and Active Living, Reference Library, Tax and Financial Benefits and Transportation and Travel.

Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre
250 - 240 Graham Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba  R3C OJ7
Telephone: 204-984-2272
Fax: 204-983-3852
Toll-free (information): 1-800-665-2019
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: manitoba@canadabusiness.mb.ca
Web site: http://www.canadabusiness.mb.ca/

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this document is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. Users concerned about the reliability of the information should consult directly with the source, or seek legal counsel.

Links Policy
Some of the hypertext links lead to non-federal government sites which are not subject to the Official Languages Act and the material is available in one language only.