This newsletter is available in alternate formats on request.
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Five-Year Review of the Accessible Employment Standard Regulation: January 2025
Report Now Available
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The Accessibility Advisory Council is pleased to present the findings from their Five-Year Review of the Accessible Employment Standard Regulation. The council’s report outlines 27 recommendations on how the government can make the law more effective and ensure it is fulfilling its purpose in removing barriers for people with disabilities in the workplace.
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The council began their review last summer and offered multiple ways to collect feedback and comments until the engagement closed on November 1, 2024. The council’s report groups 27 recommendations into the following five specific categories:
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- Role of Government: Accountability and Leadership
- Supports for Employers
- Regulation Amendments
- Awareness Building
- Alignment with the Human Rights Code
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The council’s report was submitted to the Minister responsible for Accessibility on January 17, 2025. The Manitoba government is carefully reviewing the council’s recommendations to determine priorities and actions to improve the law.
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Understanding the Accessible Transportation Standard – What Manitobans Need to Know
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The Accessible Transportation Standard Regulation is the newest accessibility standard under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. It addresses aspects to accessible public transportation, including access to transportation required for going to work, school, shopping and other aspects of daily life.
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The standard outlines accessibility requirements for conventional and paratransit providers, schools, vehicles-for-hire and municipalities to create an accessible transportation system.
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Conventional transit and paratransit providers are required to hold an annual public meeting to get feedback from members of the public, including persons disabled by barriers. They must also document, implement and publicly publish accessibility policies.
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Transit operators must be trained on the safe use of accessibility equipment, emergency preparedness and response procedures.
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Buses are required to meet minimum accessibility design requirements. During the winter months, bus stops must also be maintained and cleared of snow.
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Manitoba school boards and independent schools must provide integrated accessible school transportation services for all students and if not available the school must provide access to an alternative method of transportation.
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Municipalities with vehicles-for-hire bylaws must meet minimum accessibility requirements and report on these activities. The municipality must also consult with the public at least once every two years to identify the number of accessible vehicles for hire required to service the area.
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Vehicles-for-hire cannot refuse or deny service to persons travelling with service animals or anyone who requires reasonable assistance. They are also not allowed to charge higher or additional fees to the persons disabled by barriers.
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Obligated organizations have until January 1, 2027, to comply with the requirements outlined in the Accessible Transportation Standard. Conventional transit operators have until January 1, 2042, to upgrade existing buses to meet physical accessibility requirements. Any new buses purchased after January 1, 2027, are required to meet the accessible design requirements.
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The 2025/26 Manitoba Accessibility Fund Intake Period is Now Closed
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Thank you to all the organizations that submitted applications for the Manitoba Accessibility Fund. The 2025/26 intake period is now closed and all applications are in the process of being reviewed.
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The selection committee will carefully evaluate the eligible applications over the next few weeks. All applicants will receive formal notification of the decision regarding their proposal, whether approved or not, shortly after the review process is complete.
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Accessibility Plans: The 2025 and 2026 Cycle
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Under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act, public sector organizations must develop an accessibility plan and update it every two years. Public sector organizations include the Manitoba government, municipalities, post secondary institutions, school divisions, crown corporations and health authorities.
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Sample Policies from the 2025 and 2026 Cycle
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In honour of World Down Syndrome Day, the National Coordination of Associations of People with Down Syndrome (CoorDown) launched a video campaign. This campaign depicts that inclusion will never be possible if the decisions that shape the world are made only by a few, for a few.
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From having a say in everyday personal choices to being involved in writing laws and policies, people with disabilities demand a seat at the table where the decisions are made. So that everyone’s opinion is heard, and the world is finally shaped by all. For all.
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The City of Winnipeg launched a new webpage to list notices of “accessibility disruptions” so residents can check whether facilities, programs and services aren’t available before going to use them.
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ASL-English Interpretation Program Returns to Manitoba
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RRC Polytech is thrilled to share that the Manitoba government has approved the renewal of the ASL-English Interpretation Program at RRC Polytech and the program will run once again starting in the 2025-26 academic year.
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The program has undergone an academic transformation of its content, design and delivery to better meet the emerging needs of learners and the community. Students will soon be able to apply for the upcoming Fall 2025 term. The application process is being developed and details will be shared on the college’s website.
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Upcoming Learning Opportunities
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The Manitoba Accessibility Office is planning a series of webinar learning opportunities. Attend and learn more about a wide variety of topics relating to accessibility, The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and standards.
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Webinars will be hosted virtually on Zoom from 1 to 2 p.m. and will feature accessibility measures such as American Sign Language interpretation (ASL) and live closed captioning.
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Upcoming Awareness Celebrations
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