This newsletter is available in alternate formats on request. |
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Recognizing Indigenous Disability Awareness Month this November |
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Indigenous Peoples across Canada experience a disability rate that is significantly higher than that of the general population. Recognized across Canada each November, Indigenous Disability Awareness Month brings awareness of the barriers and the issues faced by Indigenous Peoples living with disabilities and their families. |
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Despite these barriers, there is much to celebrate. Indigenous Disability Awareness Month highlights the achievements of Indigenous Peoples living with disabilities and recognizes the significant and valuable contributions they make to our communities, socially, economically and culturally. |
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| First recognized by the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) in 2015, the month-long celebration follows the recommendation by the United Nations International Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Today, Indigenous Disability Awareness Month is celebrated by many organizations and communities across Canada. The acknowledgment of the month was the first Indigenous disability-specific awareness initiative to be recognized on a global level. |
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| FREE WEBINAR: Sharing Our Stories: A Conversation on Accessibility, Indigenous Identity and Community |
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| Honour Indigenous Disability Awareness Month by joining the Manitoba Accessibility Office for an engaging conversation that explores the many cross sections of accessibility, Indigenous identity and community. This webinar features an insightful conversation between Indigenous author, Frances Sinclair-Kaspick and media personality, Shaneen Robinson, as they explore their personal stories, lived experiences and perspectives to find community. |
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2024/25 Minister’s Annual Report Now Available |
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The Minister’s Annual Report for 2024/25 is now available on AccessibilityMB.ca.
This report, presented by the minister responsible for accessibility, outlines the progress made during the past year to make real, measurable and effective changes to accessibility.
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Mark Your Calendar: December 3 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities |
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International Day of Persons with Disabilities is recognized annually by the Manitoba government. Proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly, International Day of Persons with Disabilities promotes an understanding of disability issues and calls for supporting the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. |
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Each year, Manitoba joins people across the world in promoting the rights and well-being of people with disabilities in every aspect of life, including political, social, economical and cultural. |
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FREE WEBINAR: Funding Accessibility: Celebrating Successful Manitoba Accessibility Fund Grant Projects in Action |
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This year to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Manitoba Accessibility Office will be hosting a webinar. In this webinar, Funding Accessibility: Celebrating Successful Manitoba Accessibility Fund Grant Projects in Action, you will hear how the Manitoba Accessibility Fund is working to remove barriers, create awareness and support improved accessibility across the province. |
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The Manitoba Accessibility Fund, managed by The Winnipeg Foundation, was launched in 2021 with an initial $20-million investment. Since 2021, the program has supported increased compliance with The Accessibility for Manitobans Act through $3 million worth of funding for 142 projects across the province. In this webinar you will hear directly from past grant recipients, learn how their projects are working to remove barriers and gain insight into how their work is highlighting the voices of individuals with disabilities and creating a more inclusive province. |
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Funding Updates: Manitoba Accessibility Fund |
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Selected projects for the 2025 Manitoba Accessibility Fund are officially underway. Recipients of this year’s funding have kicked off their initiatives, tackling innovative projects aiming to enhance accessibility across the province. |
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Details regarding the next intake of the Manitoba Accessibility Fund will be announced in the coming weeks and is expected to open in early 2026. An informational webinar is being planned to help guide potential applicants through the process. This session will provide insights into the program and answer any questions about the application guidelines and selection process. The webinar date and details will be announced in a future edition of Accessibility News or on AccessibilityMB.ca. |
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In the meantime, we encourage everyone to review the projects funded in previous years, along with the established guidelines. Familiarizing yourself with past initiatives will help with crafting competitive and impactful proposals for the upcoming intake. Also consider reviewing your organization's budgets to align potential projects with available funding. This strategic planning can help ensure that your proposals are both feasible and impactful. |
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Province working to introduce reading skill screenings in kindergarten to Grade 4. A group of parents say Manitoba's plans to introduce universal reading assessments don't go far enough. |
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The parents and their children gathered at the provincial legislature Friday in support of a private member's bill that would establish mandatory screenings for learning disabilities. They were all wearing red, in commemoration of Dyslexia Awareness Month. |
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The Government is focused on building an inclusive workforce with accessible workplaces for all Canadians, where every person has the chance to contribute their talents and thrive. |
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On October 23, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, announced funding of over $35 million under the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) for 564 accessible infrastructure projects across Canada. |
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To many, smart-home devices seem like a luxury or a novelty — electronic gadgets that flip on your lights, tweak your thermostat to a comfy temperature or announce package deliveries. But for anyone who lives with a disability, smart devices are a powerful enabler. These simple-to-use devices can be set up to take care of daily tasks, to keep users in touch with friends and caregivers, and to allow users to live a more independent and empowered life. |
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The Manitoba government is hiring an ASL/English Interpreter |
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The  ASL/English Interpreter is a specialized position which provides American Sign Language (ASL) and English interpretation to help facilitate communication between Deaf, deafened and hard-of-hearing Manitobans. The ASL/English Interpreter is fluent in both American Sign Language and spoken English and provides simultaneous, consecutive, escort and educational interpreting services. |
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This position: Ensures the Manitoba government improves accessibility for Manitobans who are Deaf and hard of hearing by interpreting at public announcements and public events highlighting major government programs, services and policies. Provides interpreting services for political and civil servants when addressing matters that impact the health, safety and well-being of Manitobans. Improves the inclusion of public servants by providing departmental and interdepartmental interpretive services to facilitate communication between colleagues. Supports departments assisting Manitobans who are Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing by providing day-to-day interpretive services.
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Closing date to apply is November 23, 2025. |
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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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