Issue 8 | May 2019
Announcing the Accessibility Standard for Employment
As of May 1, 2019, the Accessibility Standard for Employment is now law in Manitoba.
This second accessibility standard aims to remove and prevent barriers affecting current and potential members of Manitoba’s labour force. It builds on requirements of Manitoba’s Human Rights Code by helping organizations recruit, hire, support and keep employees with disabilities. It applies to paid employees who are full time, part time, seasonal or apprentices.
The Accessibility Standard for Employment requires larger organizations and businesses, with 50 or more employees, to document their policies and make these available to the public. For consistency, the Manitoba government has also changed the Accessibility Standard for Customer Service, raising the existing threshold of 20 or more employees to 50 or more employees.
Safety Comes First
Plan to keep employees safe in emergencies
Employers want to ensure employees with disabilities stay safe at work. To accomplish this goal, all employers must meet the following two requirements by May 1, 2020:
- Workplace Emergency Response Information
- Create emergency response information to help employees with disabilities stay safe during emergencies.
- Workplace Emergency Assistance
- Ask employees who require assistance during an emergency for permission to share information with individuals who agree to help.
Accessibility Tool Kit
To help you meet the requirements of the Accessibility Standard for Employment, the following tools and resources are now available on AccessibillityMB.ca:
Funding opportunity for Non-profit Organizations and Municipalities
Manitoba’s Building Sustainable Communities Program supports accessibility enhancements to infrastructure. Application deadline: May 22, 2019
Upcoming Events
Accessibility Advisory Council Public Forum on Future Accessibility Standards
Date: Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Place: Viscount Gort Hotel, Main Floor (Royal ABC), 1670 Portage Avenue in Winnipeg
Part A. Public Consultation on the Council’s Recommendations for an accessibility standard for Information and Communications: View the Discussion Document
Time: 9:00 am to Noon (Registration at 8:30 am)
Part B. Presentation on the Scope and Intent for an accessibility standard for the Design of Public Spaces
Time: 1:30 to 3:30 pm (Registration at 1:00 pm)
You are invited to attend one or both events by person or via webinar. To register
Manitoba Access Awareness Week Learning Event: How and Why to Support Accessible Employment
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 4, 2019, 9:00 am to 12:15 pm (Registration at 8:30 am)
Place: Viscount Gort Hotel, Main Floor (Royal ABC), 1670 Portage Avenue in Winnipeg
Featuring:
- Overview of the Accessibility Standard for Employment.
- Panel discussion on accessibility in emergency planning, facilitated by the Independent Living Resource Centre.
Register
The DIO is pleased to cohost its event with Manitoba Employment Equity Practitioners Association (MEEPA).
Free Workshops
May 16, 2019 - Accessibility Legislation in Manitoba (register)
June 12, 2019 - Accessibility Legislation in Manitoba (register)
This newsletter is available in alternate formats upon request.
You subscribed to this newsletter on the AccessibilityMB.ca website.
Disabilities Issues Office
630 - 240 Graham Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3C 0J7
Phone: 204-945-7613
Toll free: 1-800-282-8069, ext. 7613
Email: mao@gov.mb.ca
Follow and join the #AccessibleMB conversation on social media.
|
