TORONTO, June 1 /CNW/ - The Ontario government is investing in more

services for Ontarians who need intervenors or sign language interpreters to

assist them with daily activities.

     "For someone who is deafblind or has a hearing disability, communication

barriers can seriously limit their access to things that most of us take for

granted, such as going to the bank or visiting their doctor," said Community

and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur. "By breaking down these

communication barriers, we are building greater independence for people with

disabilities."

     The government's 2006 Budget includes nearly $11 million for interpreter

and intervenor services, an increase of nearly 65 per cent over existing

funding levels. The funding will help to provide more service to people who

need it, improve the quality of services and improve wages to attract and keep

people who provide interpreter and intervenor services. The government will

also explore opportunities to increase the availability of French sign

language interpreters and intervenors in the coming year.

     "I am particularly pleased to be working with our stakeholders and with

my colleague, the minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, on issues

of access and availability of French sign language interpreters and

intervenors," said Meilleur.

     Interpreters act as a language and cultural bridge between a deaf person

and a hearing person and make it possible for deaf and hard-of-hearing people

to use essential services such as legal, health and social services.

Intervenors make it possible for deafblind people to participate in community

activities through a variety of communication methods.

     "The Canadian National Institute for the Blind welcomes this historic

investment in critical service," said CNIB Ontario executive director Dennis

Tottenham. "The government's progressive approach to modernizing these

services will provide tremendous support for deafblind Ontarians to

participate in their communities and live independently. CNIB is committed to

intervention services and it is gratifying to know that the government is

there with us."

     The government is also providing $1.9 million to the Canadian Hearing

Society, in partnership with the Canadian Deafblind and Rubella Association,

to develop an interpreter and intervenor services database to make it easier

and faster for people to find services when they need them.

     These investments are the latest way the McGuinty government is breaking

down barriers for people with disabilities. Since 2003, the government has

also:

     -   Provided $28.2 million to help universities and colleges provide

         services for students with disabilities to help them succeed

     -   Committed nearly $276 million to strengthen community supports for

         people with a developmental disability

     -   Committed to closing the province's remaining institutions for people

         with developmental disability and creating new homes for them in

         communities across Ontario.

     "We are committed to building a province in which people with

disabilities can participate to their fullest potential," said Meilleur. "By

investing in greater accessibility for people with disabilities, we are

investing in stronger, more inclusive communities for us all."