This newsletter is available in alternate formats on request. |
|
|
|
Manitoba Launches its Accessibility Action Plan |
|
|
Developed in response to the recommendations presented in the Five-Year Review of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act: 2023, Manitoba’s Accessibility Action Plan addresses the Manitoba governments commitment to progressing accessibility forward by prioritizing initiatives to build a stronger Manitoba, free of barriers. This action plan is the product of a collaborative effort and a direct result of input from a diverse range of voices from across the province. This included consultation between the Manitoba government, public sector organizations, businesses, non-profit organizations, municipalities and most importantly organizations representing people with disabilities and individuals with lived experiences. |
|
|
Building a Stronger, More Inclusive Manitoba |
|
|
Manitoba’s Accessibility Action Plan tracks progress towards actioning the recommendations presented in the last review of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. The action plan categorizes the recommendations under four pillars: |
|
|
Leadership and Investments Consultation and Engagement Effective Legislation Accountability and Compliance
|
|
| Each pillar details key actions taken to address the recommendations and monitors progress and presents any related resources. Significant progress has already been made in implementing many of the recommendations from the review, with over 75 per cent of the recommendations marked as either completed or underway. Manitoba’s Accessibility Action Plan will be updated quarterly to keep Manitobans informed on the progress. |
|
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manitoba government Provides $825,000 to Advance Accessibility Projects |
|
|
The Manitoba government is providing more than $825,000 in funding to 34 organizations to remove barriers and improve accessibility across the province, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister responsible for accessibility, announced on July 23, 2025. |
|
|
“Every Manitoban deserves to live, work and play in communities where everyone belongs, and no one is left behind,” said Fontaine. “Our government is committed to building a more inclusive Manitoba, and through the Manitoba Accessibility Fund, we are empowering communities, organizations and institutions to remove barriers and create spaces where everyone can participate fully and equally.” |
|
|
The Manitoba Accessibility Fund is an annual grant program providing one-time, project-based grants to help non-profit organizations, municipalities and businesses in Manitoba remove barriers, create awareness and support compliance with The Accessibility for Manitobans Act, the minister noted. |
|
|
Eligible projects must support one or more of the following objectives: |
|
|
raise awareness about the prevention and removal of barriers develop tools, resources and training to support compliance with legislated standards remove barriers to information and communication, electronically, in print and in person
|
|
|
A diverse range of projects were funded by the Manitoba Accessibility Fund this year including a project to develop training on the Accessible Information and Communication Standard Regulation for Community Futures Manitoba staff in 16 rural and northern Manitoba areas. |
|
|
“Community Futures Manitoba is excited to partner with the Manitoba government through the Manitoba Accessibility Fund grant,” said Jason Denbow, executive director, Community Futures Manitoba. “We look forward to helping rural and northern entrepreneurs learn how to better prevent and remove barriers for their customers.” |
|
|
Now in its fourth year, the Manitoba Accessibility Fund has successfully funded 142 accessibility projects worth more than $3 million, all aimed at improving accessibility across the province. |
|
|
|
|
Accessibility Training Opportunities |
|
|
The Manitoba Accessibility Office and the Accessibility Compliance Secretariat are offering some exciting training opportunities. Register to learn more about a wide variety of topics relating to accessibility in Manitoba. |
|
|
All webinars will have accessibility measures such as American Sign Language interpretation (ASL) and live closed captioning. |
|
|
|
September 23, 2025: Serving All Customers: Understanding Your Role as a Frontline Employee to Provide Accessible Customer Service January 20, 2026: Accessibility Compliance: Understand the Role and Responsibilities of the Accessibility Compliance Secretariat
|
|
|
|
|
2025/26 and 2026/27 Minister’s Annual Plan |
|
|
| The Minister’s Annual Plan for 2025/26 and 2026/27 is now available on AccessibilityMB.ca.
This two-year plan, prepared by the Minister responsible for Accessibility, outlines key initiatives aimed at identifying, preventing and removing barriers, helping to build a more inclusive province for all. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight on a Manitoba Accessibility Fund Project |
|
|
|
This month the Manitoba Accessibility Fund (MAF) is proud to spotlight Wealthy Place Inc., a previous MAF grant recipient. |
|
|
|
Wealthy Place Inc. is a community-focused nonprofit organization based in Manitoba serving the immigrant population. It is dedicated to empowering individuals and creating inclusive opportunities through education, outreach and capacity-building programs. With a strong emphasis on social equity and community development, the organization works closely with diverse populations to remove barriers and foster a culture of inclusion and accessibility. |
|
|
With support from the Manitoba Accessibility Fund, Wealthy Place launched the Accessible Manitoba Initiative to advance compliance with The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. The project team developed a fully accessible online Learning Management System (LMS), hosted training sessions (in-person, Zoom and online), and reached over 500 staff, volunteers and community members. Key outcomes included increased awareness of accessibility standards, the adoption of inclusive policies and improved digital infrastructure aligned with act requirements. |
|
|
The project significantly improved access for individuals experiencing accessibility barriers by addressing communication challenges and integrating inclusive design across all platforms. Input from Manitobans with disabilities was instrumental in shaping the training content, while community organizations helped broaden reach and engagement. Participants reported better understanding of their legal responsibilities and gained tools to create more inclusive environments in their workplaces and communities. |
|
|
Building on the success of this initiative, Wealthy Place is committed to ongoing accessibility efforts. Plans include annual accessibility audits, expanded training modules with multilingual and culturally relevant content and continued collaboration with disability advocacy groups. The organization aims to maintain momentum through community engagement, feedback collection and continual updates to its digital and organizational practices to ensure lasting impact. |
|
|
~ Article provided by Wealthy Place Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Accessible Web Development and Maintenance – New Resource Available |
|
|
|
Many organizations do not have the in-house expertise to create or maintain accessible web content and web applications. To assist organizations with compliance, a new resource is now available on the Manitoba Accessibility Office website that may help you select a web developer. |
|
|
When selecting a web developer: |
|
|
Set clear expectations about the level of accessibility you expect from the finished project (i.e., WCAG 2.1 Level AA or higher). Some questions you may want to ask a developer include: |
|
|
Do you have experience building or refreshing accessible websites? Have you built or refreshed websites using WCAG 2.1 Level AA criteria? Do you enlist the assistance of people experiencing digital barriers to test the functionality of a website?
|
|
|
|
Remember: If your web developer advises that one or more parts of your website cannot meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA criteria, it is important to document the reason(s) why the exception applies to your organization. All organizations are strongly encouraged to maintain records that demonstrate how an exception has been met, in the event that this information is requested as part of a compliance audit, and a request for records is made by the Accessibility Compliance Secretariat during an audit, per section 24 of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. |
|
|
|
|
|
A Winnipeg man has developed a website to help link people living with disabilities to resources they need. |
|
|
|
|
The federal auditor general is planning to study the recruitment, retention and promotion of people with disabilities in the federal public service. As of 2024, 21,089 people with disabilities were working in the federal public service, up from 12,893 in 2021.
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Awareness Celebrations |
|
|
|
|
