Funding available to make
your website accessible
Is your website accessible?
Website accessibility means designing and building a website so people of all abilities can see, understand, navigate, and use it.
Most businesses and organizations assume their website works for everyone, but older sites that haven’t been maintained often fail basic accessibility standards. Did you know the Accessible Canada Act, created in 2019, aims to create a barrier-free Canada by January 2040?
Right now, Nova Scotia offers funding that can cover up to two thirds of the cost of fixing accessibility issues on websites and digital content. The deadline to apply is February 14.
A short accessibility audit is often the fastest way to understand what needs fixing and whether this funding applies.
Nova Scotia
Business Accessibility
Grant
The Business ACCESS-Ability Grant Program is a Nova Scotia funding program that helps businesses and organizations remove barriers for people with disabilities. It includes digital accessibility, not just physical spaces, which means websites and online communication are eligible.
What the grant can be used for
Funding can support accessibility improvements to both the design and structure of your website and digital content.
This can include:
improving colour contrast, text size, and visual clarity.
ensuring buttons, links, and calls to action are easy to see and use.
fixing page structure so screen readers work properly.
adding accurate alt text to images.
improving keyboard navigation and focus states.
adding captions or transcripts to video.
making online forms and documents easier to complete.
These improvements follow the WCAG guidelines, which are the rules used to make websites easier for everyone to see, understand, and use.
The grant can cover up to 2/3 of eligible costs, to a maximum of $50,000.
Who this funding
is for
This funding applies to public-facing businesses and organizations across Nova Scotia, including those in Queens County. That includes museums, cultural organizations, tourism operators, accommodations, community organizations, nonprofits, and other businesses open to the public.
If people rely on your website for information, services, or bookings, this funding may apply to you.
Why work
with me
I’m based in Nova Scotia and work closely with local businesses and organizations on websites.
My background is in SEO, website optimization, and usability. I spend my time finding the quiet problems that make sites harder to use than they should be, then fixing them in a practical, human way. Accessibility work fits naturally into that.
I focus on clarity, function, and realistic improvements that actually get done.
How I can help
I help organizations by:
reviewing websites for accessibility issues
identifying what’s reasonable and eligible to fix
providing clear, grant-ready scopes and quotes
My accessibility audits and recommendations are aligned with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), the recognized standard used across Canada.
This makes it easier to decide whether applying for funding makes sense.
Frequently asked questions
What does website
accessibility actually mean?
It means your site can be used by people with different abilities, including those using screen readers, keyboards, captions, or other assistive technologies. In practice, it comes down to structure, clarity, navigation, and accessible media.
Can you help with
applying for the grant?
I do not submit applications. I support the process by providing audits, scopes, and quotes that can be used as part of an application.
The current deadline for the Business ACCESS-Ability Grant Program is February 14.
What is the deadline?
Most people don’t know until they check. Common issues include missing alt text, poor heading structure, inaccessible forms, and videos without captions. A short audit can identify these quickly.
How do I know if my
website is accessible?
Next steps
If you’re unsure whether your website qualifies, a short accessibility audit is a simple place to start.