The Accessible Information and Communication Standard Regulation focuses on removing and preventing barriers that exist digitally, in-print or through interaction with technology or people.

The Accessible Information and Communication Standard was 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. This standard:

• builds on existing requirements of Manitoba's Human Rights Code
• helps organizations identify, reduce and remove barriers for website users and members of the public trying to access information or contact them
• adopts globally recognized web content accessibility guidelines as a minimum requirement
• applies to all organizations in Manitoba with one or more employees

General Accessible Information and Communication Standard Requirements

• Web Applications: web applications must meet WCAG 2.1 level AA, at minimum, if an organization is launching or significantly updating their website or if the website is used to access an organization’s goods and services. A web application is any software application that is run on a web server and accessed by a user through a web browser.
• Web Content: any new or updated web content must meet WCAG 2.1 level AA guidelines. This applies to any website content published on or after this standard comes into force. Older website content must be updated, if it is required to access information related to an organization's goods and services.

  Note: Web Applications and Web Content requirements also apply to intranet networks for all public sector organizations (excluding small municipalities).

• Accessible Information and Formats: must inform the public and employees that information can be requested through a communication support or accessible format. This may include information related to emergency procedures or public safety.
• Providing Accessible Information: when requested, consult with the person to identify the support or format that would remove the barrier and provide the information in a timely manner at no or equal cost.
• Feedback Process: develop a process to receive and respond to feedback about accessible information and communication, document responding actions and provide it on request.
• Training: provide timely and ongoing accessible communication training to any employee assigned applicable duties within the organization.
  • Applicable duties include:
    • a person who communicates directly to the public or to another organization in Manitoba on behalf of the organization, including employees, agents and volunteers
    • if the organization is an educational institution, a person who is an educator
    • a person who develops or maintains the organization's web content
    • a person who purchases or procures information technology or communication tools
    • a person who develops or implements the organization's measures, policies and practices respecting accessible communication
  • Training must include:
    • how to identify, prevent and remove barriers to accessible communication
    • how to provide information through a communication support or accessible format
    • a review of The Human Rights Code, The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and this standard
    • must provide training to a person as soon as reasonably possible after that person is assigned the applicable duties
    • ongoing training needs to be provided whenever an organization updates or changes their accessible communication policies, measures or practices
• Documentation: public sector organizations, educational institutions, libraries, government, private sector organizations and small municipalities with 50+ employees are required to write down all policies, measures and practices and make these documents publicly available.

Exceptions

The Accessible Information and Communication Standard includes some exceptions that may apply to the requirements to:

• provide information through a communication support or accessible format
• provide library resources through a communication support or accessible format
• Meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards for accessible web content.
• Meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards for accessible web applications.

Requirements do not apply if one or more of the following conditions is met:

• It is not technically feasible to meet the requirement.
• The technology required to meet the requirement is not readily available.
• Meeting the requirement would cause the organization undue hardship.
• The organization does not have direct control over the requested information, library resource, web content, or web application.
• The information, library resource, web content, or web application relates to product labels or other product information.

Exceptions do not apply to requests received by an educational institution to provide educational materials through a communication support or accessible format. If educational material cannot reasonably be provided through a communication support or accessible format, the educational institution must provide a comparable resource to the person who made the request. Educational material includes:

• Textbooks
• Supplementary learning resources, including reference books, workbooks, and educational kits
• Student records
• Information regarding class, lesson, workshop, or programs including: descriptions, availability, scheduling, and requirements

Read the Full Regulation

Legal disclaimer: The above information is not legal advice. It aims to assist organizations to meet the requirements under Manitoba’s Accessible Information and Communication Standard. The information provided does not replace the content of the Accessible Information and Communication Standard Regulation or The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. If there is any conflict between this resource and the regulation or the act, the latter two shall prevail.

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Requirements for Business and Non-Profit Organizations

Business and Non-Profit Organizations have additional requirements outlined under the Accessible Customer Service Standard.

Requirements for Business and
Non-Profit Organizations

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Requirements for Public Sector Organizations

Under the Accessible Information and Communication Standard, there are additional requirements outlined for Public Sector Organizations.

Requirements for Public Sector Organizations