This newsletter is available in alternate formats on request. |
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Big News and Looking Ahead: Manitoba Accessibility Fund Grant Program Opens |
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We’re thrilled to announce that the 2026/27 intake period for the Manitoba Accessibility Fund will officially open and the intake will run for six weeks from January 12 to February 20, 2026. |
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Grant applicants may request up to a maximum of $50,000 from the Manitoba Accessibility Fund to complete proposed projects. All eligible organizations are invited to submit a project application. |
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To qualify, organizations must have been in operation for one year before application and may include: |
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registered charities non-profit organizations incorporated and registered with the Companies Office non-profit organizations that have a bank account and can verify activity for at least one year local businesses or corporations based in Manitoba providing services to Manitobans that are registered with the Companies Office on-reserve businesses and organizations that meet all other eligibility requirements municipalities and local authorities such as planning districts and Northern Affairs Community Councils universities, colleges and school divisions
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Organizations are limited to submitting one application per intake but may be listed as partners on the applications of other project submissions. |
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All Manitoba Accessibility Fund applicants must fulfill at least one of the following objectives in support of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act: |
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raise awareness about removing barriers encountered by persons with disabilities, such as the development of accessibility guides that are tailored to the specific circumstances of members develop tools, resources and training to support compliance with regulated accessibility standards under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act remove barriers to information and communication electronically, in print and in person. This can include the establishment of a centralized pool of funds to facilitate ASL interpretation or to make websites accessible
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Now is the perfect time to start planning. Here’s how you can get ahead: |
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review past projects funded by the Manitoba Accessibility Fund for inspiration check the program guidelines to understand what makes a strong application align your budgets with potential projects to ensure your proposals are both feasible and impactful
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Begin your strategic planning so you’re ready to submit a competitive application when the intake opens. |
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To help you prepare, we have scheduled an informational webinar designed to walk potential applicants through the process. This session will cover everything from program insights to application guidelines and the selection process. |
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Webinar: Making Your Organization More Accessible with the Assistance of the Manitoba Accessibility Fund Grant Program |
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American Sign Language and closed captioning will be available at this webinar. |
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Webinaire : Rendre votre organisation plus accessible avec l’aide du Programme de subvention du Fonds pour l’accessibilité du Manitoba |
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Webinar recordings will be made available to those unable to participate in real-time on AccessibilityMB.ca. |
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For more information about the Manitoba Accessibility Fund grant program for 2026/27, please contact MAF@gov.mb.ca if you have additional questions. |
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Spotlight on a Manitoba Accessibility Fund Project |
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Featured Project: The Higher Learning Foundation |
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This month, the Manitoba Accessibility Fund is proud to spotlight the Higher Learning Foundation and their accessibility project. |
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The Higher Learning Foundation (HLF) is a registered charity that focuses on various types of mental fitness programming. We have three pillars of programming, including our Fundamentals of Mental Fitness courses and workshops (Educate), scholarship offerings (Engage) and public art programming and community wellness events (Empower). |
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Our Manitoba Accessibility Fund project gave us the opportunity to create an ASL-Friendly Digital Video series of our 110 Hour Fundamentals of Mental Fitness Program. The goal of the project was to create a digital version that could be used at organizations and high schools that facilitate programming to the Deaf community. We recorded the video series and partnered with ECCOE to add the ASL-translation to the videos. The funding enabled us to create a tool that can be offered at high schools and frontline charities serving vulnerable populations. We are also actively working to bring the workshop materials to corporate teams, who will have access to videos that can be shared with Deaf employees. |
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We are actively building partnerships with major Winnipeg organizations that serve Deaf Manitobans. Our programming, including the video series we created with this funding, is available in rural Manitoba communities including Richer and Portage la Prairie. Our goal for 2026 is to facilitate Mental Fitness wellness retreats, which will include the use of the video series we created with the funding from the Manitoba Accessibility Fund. |
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~ Article provided by The Higher Learning Foundation. |
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Manitoba Government Introduces Legislation to Recognize Sign Language |
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The Manitoba government marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities by introducing legislation that highlighted the linguistic and cultural uniqueness of sign languages used by Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Deaf-Blind Manitobans, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister responsible for accessibility, announced on December 3, 2025. |
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“For years, Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Deaf-Blind Manitobans have been clear that sign languages are central to their identity and culture,†said Fontaine. “The Sign Language Recognition Act is the result of more than a year of working alongside Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Deaf-Blind Manitobans. This bill will recognize and promote the use of sign languages throughout Manitoba and support inclusion, access and community identity.†|
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The proposed legislation would recognize American Sign Language, Quebec sign language, Indigenous sign languages and tactile sign languages as distinct languages with their own grammar, structure and cultural heritage. Manitoba is the first province in Canada to introduce standalone sign language recognition legislation. |
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While some jurisdictions recognize sign languages through accessibility legislation or policy, the minister noted that sign languages are the first and primary language for many Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Deaf-Blind Manitobans, not an accessibility tool. |
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The Manitoba government is also consulting with Manitobans on a proposed regulation that would establish the framework for enforcing accessibility requirements under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act including the ability to issue orders and administrative penalties for deliberate non-compliance. |
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The International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed annually on Dec. 3, promotes understanding of disability issues and highlights efforts to protect the dignity, rights and well-being of people with disabilities. |
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Announcement: Public feedback on proposed Accessibility Penalties Regulation is Now OPEN |
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A proposed new regulation related to penalties for noncompliance has been posted on the provincial government’s proposed regulation website for public feedback. |
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Manitobans and organizations are encouraged to submit their input on the proposed regulation, which includes information about orders and monetary penalties that will be issued to entities demonstrating wilful noncompliance with accessibility legislation. |
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Feedback is also being sought on whether information about organizations that receive penalties should be published. |
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Manitobans will have until noon on February 2, 2026, to provide feedback. |
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What is an Administrative Penalty? |
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An administrative penalty is a financial consequence of not following legislative or regulatory requirements. Administrative penalties are issued by designated government officials who oversee compliance with applicable legislation. Â |
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An accessibility compliance framework guides the work of the accessibility compliance secretariat, and the framework focuses on non-punitive measures to encourage compliance before proceeding to measures like the issuing of orders to remedy contraventions and administrative monetary penalties. |
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Remember: Penalties will not apply to individuals in their personal lives or in their homes. Education and awareness raising comes first. As a starting point, the Accessibility Compliance Secretariat works with organizations to bring them into compliance by providing tools and resources and feedback. Penalties are the last resort of the compliance framework, reserved for organizations that demonstrate willful or deliberate noncompliance. Follow the link to learn more about the secretariat’s compliance framework.
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May the joy and peace of the holiday season be with you today and throughout the coming year. |
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On behalf of the Manitoba Accessibility Office, we wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season. |
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From The Ground Up is a program supporting a broad range of community development projects, including community and economic development, well-being and recreation, as well as housing and safety coordination supports. Eligible applicants for the 2026 applicant intake include: |
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municipal governments (including local authorities such as planning and recreation districts) Northern Affairs community councils non-profit organizations throughout Manitoba
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The application deadline is January 26, 2026. For more information about this program and how to apply, visit: https://gov.mb.ca/grants |
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Upcoming Learning Opportunity |
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Understand the Role and Responsibilities of the Accessibility Compliance Secretariat |
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Learn about the Accessibility Compliance Secretariat’s role in advancing Manitoba’s accessibility laws forward. Any organization with obligations under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act will benefit from attending this webinar. You will hear about the secretariat’s role and responsibilities and discover how its staff work with organizations to remove barriers, so Manitobans with disabilities can participate equally in fundamental aspects of daily life. |
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Webinar Details: Date: January 20, 2026 Time: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Virtual via Zoom
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Did you miss any of the 2025 Webinars hosted by the Manitoba Accessibility Office? |
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This year, was a busy year for the Manitoba Accessibility Office, hosting several webinars throughout the year. Each webinar featured engaging and informative accessibility topics. If you missed one or wanted to re-watch any of the webinars, they are available to watch on-demand on AccessibilityMB.ca. |
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