YELLOWKNIFE - With a new grant aimed to help people with spinal injuries, the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities is hearing from new people, said the group's executive director.

"Since the information on this grant has come out we've heard from people we didn't know about," said Cecily Hewitt.

The council will receive apporximately $1,000 per year over the next four years through the new grant program.

Hewitt estimates that 14 per cent of the population has some form of spinal injury, other related ailments such as multiple sclerosis or polio, or has difficulty moving around.

"But that's a very low estimate," she added.

The GNWT money is being channelled through the Rick Hansen Foundation and the annual grant is being administered by the council.

The grants can be used for a variety of projects.

Some of the options Hewitt mentioned were ramps to get in and out of a house, a special chair for comfort in the house, railings in the bathroom or widening doorways in a house.

The grants are available to anyone in the Northwest Territories.

"We've been trying to get the word out equally," Hewitt said.

She said that small communities could also apply and put the money towards making a building accessible for people with spinal injuries in the community.

"Hopefully a lot of people will get that idea," said Hewitt.

The application deadline is March 15. Hewitt isn't certain when the final decision will be made on the awarding of the grant. She said it depended on the number of applications received.