WATERLOO - Two YMCA locations in Kitchener and Waterloo got $29,000 from the federal government to make the facilities more accessible to people with disabilities.

The A.R. Kaufman Family YMCA in Kitchener and Stork Family YMCA in Waterloo put the money toward widening and paving their walkways, installing eight automatic door openers and seven push buttons, guard bars in washrooms and fold-down benches in change room showers. All the work was done late last year.

"We now have more opportunity for people to get in the door right here at the YMCA," said Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities Kent Hehr said at the funding announcement on Wednesday held at the Stork Family YMCA.

Hehr commended the YMCA for going "beyond the call of duty to include people."

"You really are on the ground floor of helping people build their lives," he told the small gathering in the atrium.

Money comes from the Enabling Accessibility Fund, which has an annual budget of $15 million to increase opportunities for social participation of people with disabilities in their communities.

"We recognize many people are being left behind in this country," Hehr said.

"We want everybody to have the opportunity to build a great Canadian life."

Peter Sweeney, chief executive officer of the YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo, said the most important thing the community agency does is foster connections between people.

"We pride ourselves on being open to everybody," Sweeney said.

And that means continually asking how to make the facilities more accessible to all, both getting into the buildings and moving around inside with ease to be able to join all the activities on offer.

"The opportunity to make even small adjustments can have significant impacts for those with disabilities," Sweeney said.