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c8 tribune march 2 1988 if signature outerwear samples 1 1111 mpps report help for seniors and the disabled by norah stoner mpp durham west increasing physical access by disabled persons and senior citizens to existing community facilities is the aim of the ontario governments access fund under the program which has been established jointly by the office for disabled persons and the office for senior citizens affairs matching grants of up to 50000 can be obtained for approved renovations a publication explaining the program says organizations such as service clubs senior citizens centres and consumer and reli gious groups which open their halls and meeting rooms to the disabled or senior citizens could be eligible for grants under the access fund the organization has to be pri vate nonprofit and have been in corporated for at least a year prior to applying for a grant senior citizens and disabled per sons centres which are municipal lysponsored are also eligible however some nonprofit orga nizations schools hospitals uni versities and colleges are not eligible because a significant por tion of their funding comes from government ministries or they are primarily providing residen tial care group homes and homes for the aged for example the access fund will provide grants for renovations such as ramps elevators grab bars alert and emergency systems washroom redesign and door- widening which improve access to facilities for seniors and dis abled persons the provincial contribution to a renovation project will match dol lar for dollar up to 50000 the approved costs of the project an organizations matching con tribution can not come from the federal or provincial govern ments the next deadline for applica tions for funding under the prog ram is april 1 for more information you can call 18003874456 or write access fund office for disabled per sons 700 bay street 2nd floor toronto ontario m5g 1z6 norahs notes the office for senior citizens affairs has published a directory of accommodation for seniors in ontario which is a comprehen sive guide to accommodation facilities for senior citizens the office says the directory is designed to assist agencies and organizations involved with acti vities concerning seniors and their families as well the pub lication can be used as a reference resource by libraries municipal offices hospitals and community information centres a copy of the directory is avail able for use at my constituency office 2 randall drive office unit 1 pickering village my congratulations go to rod davies of pickering the 18-year- old dunbarton high school stu dent won the laser class event at the world youth championships in sailing which took place off the coast of sydney australia in late january