This newsletter is available in alternate formats on request.
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Celebrate Manitoba Access Awareness Week
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Manitoba Access Awareness Week runs May 25 to 31. Originally recognized in the 1980s, Manitoba Access Awareness Week is celebrated annually the last week of May each year. This weeklong awareness celebration promotes accessibility and inclusion. It also acknowledges the people who are working to prevent, identify and remove barriers to accessibility, while also raising awareness about accessibility issues within the province that affect people with disabilities and many others.
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Manitoba has a longstanding history of disability leadership and advocacy, working to remove barriers in society to improve accessibility. Join the Manitoba Accessibility Office to learn about this deep-rooted history and hear a round table discussion about the past, present and future of accessibility within the province.
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FREE WEBINAR: Accessibility History, A Manitoba Perspective – Past, Present and Future
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- Date: May 28, 2025
- Time: 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Virtual via Zoom
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This webinar will have accessibility measures such as American Sign Language interpretation (ASL) and live closed captioning.
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A recording of the webinar will also be available on AccessibilityMB.ca to those unable to participate in real-time.
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Is Your Organization Compliant with the Accessible Information and Communication Standard?
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The Accessible Information and Communication Standard is now in force for all Manitoba organizations obligated to comply with the standard. As of May 1, 2025, Manitoba businesses, non-profit organizations and small municipalities join the organizations already required to comply with the standard.
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The Accessible Information and Communication Standard is the third standard enacted under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. Under this standard, organizations need to consider how Manitobans interact with or access information, including on websites, to develop measures, policies and practices to provide barrier-free information and communication. The standard builds on existing requirements of Manitoba’s Human Rights Code and:
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- requires websites and web content to follow globally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards to a minimum level AA
- requires organizations to provide information in an accessible format or through a communication support if requested
- requires organizations to develop a feedback process, implement policies and practices to enhance accessibility and provide training to relevant staff
- sets specific requirements for supporting the purchase of accessible library resources within public libraries and supporting accessible material for students at educational institutions
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Visit AccessibilityMB.ca to ensure your organization meets the requirements of the standard.
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Accessibility Online Training
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Did you know the Manitoba Accessibility Office offers FREE training on enacted accessibility standards?
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This free training online is available anytime from anywhere. All courses are presented in plain language and detail the requirements of each of the standards. You will find examples on how to achieve compliance, tips for best practices and other useful resources.
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Upon successful completion of a module, you will receive a certificate of completion.
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Training is currently available on:
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- Accessible Customer Service Standard Regulation
- Accessible Employment Standard Regulation
- Accessible Information and Communication Standard Regulation
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Accessible Public Events - What to Know
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Manitoba’s Accessible Customer Service Standard Regulation sets out specific requirements for the government and other public sector bodies in the province to make the public events they hold accessible. Public sector bodies in Manitoba include crown corporations, municipalities, cities, health authorities, school divisions, universities and colleges.
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What is considered a Public Event?
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A "public event" includes a public meeting, a public hearing and a consultation process required under an enactment. Examples may include, but are not limited to, community forums, town halls or council meetings that are open to the public.
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How to Make Public Events Accessible
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When holding a public event, reasonable measures must be taken by public sector bodies to:
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- give notice of the event in an accessible manner
- inform persons that they may request relevant accessibility supports to participate in the event
- hold the event in a meeting space that is accessible
- upon request, meet the physical and communication needs of persons disabled by barriers
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Remember: Other organizations and businesses may choose to adhere to the above accessibility measures as a recommended practice when holding events.
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Career Opportunity with the Accessibility Compliance Secretariat
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Accessibility Compliance Officer (AO2 Administrative Officer 2)
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Department of Families, Manitoba Government
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Do you envision a barrier free Manitoba in which accessibility is the standard and all persons can freely and actively participate in day-to-day life? Do you want to make an impact on the lives of persons with disabilities by helping, promote, monitor, and enforce accessibility legislation? Apply now to join our dynamic team at the Accessibility Compliance Secretariat.
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The closing date to receive applications is May 20, 2025.
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What does it mean for a city to be accommodating to all its citizens? This requires understanding how individuals feel included and valued in the places they live and responding to their needs by emphasizing genuine inclusivity. For people with mobility challenges, it means feeling no different from others. This applies both to navigating urban spaces and engaging in social interactions.
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Upcoming Learning Opportunities
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The Manitoba Accessibility Office is offering some exciting learning opportunities this spring. Attend and learn more about a wide variety of topics relating to accessibility, The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and standards.
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Public Consultation in Support of the Right to Read
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Join a public consultation on the Manitoba Human Rights Commission’s Special Project examining the rights of students with reading disabilities in Manitoba’s education system.
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- Winnipeg: May 21, 2025, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, 1 to 4 p.m. (Bilingual)
- Brandon: May 7, 2025, Keystone Centre, 1175 - 18th Street, 1 to 4 p.m.
- Thompson: June 12, 2025, Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre, 4 Nelson Road, 1 to 4 p.m.
- Online: June 10, 2025, 7 to 9 p.m. (Bilingual)
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Upcoming Awareness Celebrations
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