Manitoba Accessibility Fund

Bibliothèque Allard Regional Library (St. Georges): Non-profit organization

This project looks to add approximately 275 titles to our physical large print collections at both branches so that large print constitutes approximately 3 per cent of the total collection (up from 1.6 per cent). Bibliothèque Allard Regional Library has two branches (St. Georges and Victoria Beach) and serves the populations in the RM of Alexander, the Town of Powerview-Pine Falls and the RM of Victoria Beach. Funding: 8,250.00

Blackstack Plumbing and Heating Inc. (Steinbach): Business

This project will develop tools, resources and training programs to support compliance with accessibility standards mandated by the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. Employees will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement accessibility best practices, effectively integrating accessibility into every stage of the employee life cycle, and enhancing the accessibility of digital platforms. Funding: $18,895.75

Border Regional Library (Virden): Non-profit organization

This project aims to acquire accessible audio book players to provide patrons with different accessible resources and train staff to help patrons find the right fit for their needs. Funding: $1,022.95

Boyne Regional Library (Carman): Non-profit organization

This project will develop tools and resources to support compliance with the Accessibility for Manitobans Act standards. It includes low vision aids, resources and books for children with print disabilities, access to captioning motion picture videos through online streaming and alternative format digital access to newspapers and magazines. Training for library staff on WCAG 2.1 will also take place. Funding: $24,639.42

Dauphin & District Chamber of Commerce Inc (Dauphin): Non-profit organization

This project will complete an accessibility audit of all marketing materials and resources, as well as provide educational resources, training workshops and guidance to members on how to make their businesses more accessible. Funding: $32,250.00

Deaf Centre Manitoba Inc. (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project will develop American Sign Language video news and vlogs (ASL V-News and V-Logs), which will be available on the Deaf Centre Manitoba’s social media platforms. It will also offer accessible customer service through the Convo app, including the addition of live ASL-English Interpreter service at the Deaf Resource Centre (DRC) customer service centre. The project will also create ASL story videos based on books in the DRC Library, and conduct accessibility workshops and professional development training. Funding: $37,893.90

Kateri Tekakwitha Parish (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project will enhance accessible information and communication of the customer experience at the Kateri campus. This will be done by developing various activities, tools, resources, events and training opportunities to improve accessibility at the campus. Funding: $48,300.00

Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities Inc. (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project will create a public education campaign to address removing barriers people with service animals may experience. The campaign will be developed in partnership with people with lived experience, who use service animals, work in the service industry and work with newcomers. Funding: $35,636.90

Manitoba Theatre for Young People (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project will provide both American Sign Language (ASL) and audio description services at shows. This will increase awareness of these accommodations and make the theater a more welcoming experience for these communities. As part of this project, digital information screens will be installed in the lobby and will offer information in multiple languages, including ASL. Funding: $20,000.00

Menno Home for the Aged Inc. (Grunthal): Non-profit organization

The project involves the development of an accessible website for Menno Home of the Aged, a non-profit organization focused on providing low-income housing and support to seniors and people with disabilities in Manitoba. Continuous assessment will ensure the project meets its objectives and positively affects the targeted demographic in Manitoba and compliance with ADA, AODA, EAA, WCAG and more. Funding: $4,735.00

Mount Carmel Clinic (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project involves implementing a series of initiatives to raise awareness of accessibility requirements. Information sessions and training workshops will educate employees about the importance of accessibility and the specific requirements outlined in the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. The clinic will also design an accessibility toolkit and provide guidelines, checklists and templates to support staff in the creation of accessible documents in electronic and print formats. Funding: $20,000.00

Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton: Municipality

This project involves purchasing and installing new accessibility accommodation tools and equipment. Municipality staff will also be trained on how to use the new tools. This will result in reduced technological and communication barriers to participation. Funding: $4,300.00

Piper Pride Productions Inc. (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project aims to provide American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation services at shows. Promotional materials will also be converted into ASL with the assistance of members of the Deaf community. Funding: $2,425.00

Prairie Fire Press, Inc (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project looks to improve the Prairie Fire website to meet WCAG 2.1 level AA specifications, along with updates meet the Accessible Information and Communication Standard. Prairie Fire is an award-winning Canadian journal of innovative writing that is published quarterly by Prairie Fire Press, Inc. and has operated out of a small office in Winnipeg’s Old Market Square for over 40 years. Funding: $9,900.00

PROMISE Years Children's Therapy Network of Manitoba (Virden): Non-profit organization

This project will enhance the lending library and will provide a selection of tools for children, families and schools. The lending library will include iPads, protective cases and apps, which enable children to access cause-and-effect programs to support pre-communication skill-building. Funding: $1,022.95

Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet: Municipality

This project will involve completing a diagnostic accessibility audit of physical and sensory barriers of the municipality’s physical spaces and service offerings. Engaging the services of a consultant is one of the action items outlined in the municipality’s Accessibility Plan. The results will be used to strengthen the 2024 Accessibility Plan. Funding: $24,648.75

Rural Municipality of Ste. Anne: Municipality

This project seeks to make website accessibility improvements and equipment upgrades to enable those with visual impairments and linguistic challenges to better access information on the municipality’s website. Funding: $3,025.00

Swan Valley School Division (Swan Valley): Educational institution

This project will permanently place communication boards at all six of Swan Valley School Division’s playgrounds. Communication boards will also be mounted at the Richardson Wellness Swimming Pool and the Sensory Gym in Swan River. Funding: $14,520.00

The Canadian Mental Health Association (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project will provide accessible, high-quality programs and services across Manitoba, as well also improve the Canadian Mental Health Association’s capacity within the province to support mental health. An accessibility review of the facility, policies, training materials and technological platforms will also be conducted. This will help to further support compliance with the Accessibility for Manitobans Act and accessibility standards for broader community access. Funding: $50,000.00

The Forks Renewal Corporation (Winnipeg): Business

This project consists of an accessibility on-site review during the summer and winter months, the compilation of review findings and the production of a final report. The project will guide organizational policies, operating procedures, communications protocols and capital development initiatives. Funding: $34,650.00

The Pas Regional Library (The Pas): Non-profit organization

This project will provide specialized training for staff through workshops and resources on topics such as disability awareness, assistive technologies and inclusive programming. An accessibility audit will also be completed to provide recommendations on adaptive equipment such as the JAWS software, creating and purchasing accessible formats for materials and developing inclusive programming catering to individuals with varying abilities and backgrounds. Funding: $49,542.00

Rural Municipality of Mountain: Municipality

This project involves updating accessible signage to the following municipal facilities: the waste disposal sites, water treatment plants, municipal office, swimming pool and the Birch River and District Library. Funding: $2,500.00

Thrive Community Support Circle (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project will create and maximize impact and inclusivity. The heart of the initiative is “Thrive's Financial Access Manitoba Hub," a centralized online resource designed for accessibility and ease of use. This project will also enhance awareness, promote compliance with AMA standards and create a more inclusive environment for all Manitobans, with a particular focus on addressing the unique needs of Downtown/West End Winnipeg. Funding: $50,000.00

Town of Morris: Municipality

This project aims to create a digital space that is not only compliant with accessibility standards but also serves the needs of residents, while also fostering a more inclusive and connected community. The project will upgrade the town’s website to align with the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA. Training sessions and resources will also be provided to help users navigate the new website effectively. Funding: $49,479.00

Turtle River School Division (McCreary): Educational institution

This project includes the development of an accessible website that complies with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards. The project will also focus on raising awareness and promoting a culture of accessibility within the broader community. This may involve organizing awareness campaigns, hosting workshops or seminars on disability rights and inclusive design and collaborating with advocacy organizations to amplify messaging around digital accessibility. Funding: $7,500.00

U Multicultural (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project will raise awareness of the prevention and removal of barriers. Through a multifaceted approach involving video segments, articles and radio programs, U Multicultural aims to create a diverse and impactful campaign that educates, informs and motivates Manitobans. Funding: $49,560.00

United Way Brandon & District (Brandon): Non-profit organization

This project will raise awareness about the prevention and removal of barriers. It will focus on informing United Way of Brandon & District employees, board members and volunteers about compliance with the Accessibility for Manitobans Act standards. This includes the development of a Non-Profit Organization Accessibility Standard for Employment, an accessibility audit of the website and the development of videos to increase awareness of services and volunteer opportunities at United Way. Funding: $50,000.00

University College of the North (The Pas): Educational institution

This project will improve accessibility to library resources for the vision impaired and include the purchase of assistive devices. The devices allow for text-to-audio translation as well as language translation through apps Through usage, workshops and discussions further programs can be developed to address barriers that may exist per AMA standards. Funding: $8,500.00

Victoria General Hospital Foundation (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project will bring the Victoria General Hospital Foundation website up to the standards outlined in the Website Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 Level AA). This project focuses on website videos and other digital media. Funding: $8,000.00

Victoria Municipal Library (Holland): Non-profit organization

This project will reduce barriers for blind, low vision users or anyone who cannot hold a book. The library plans to purchase solar-powered audio player assistive devices. These audio players are compact, portable, durable and easy to use with a tactile keypad. Funding: $800.00

Wealthy Place Inc (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project will develop an online platform to provide targeted training for staff, volunteers and stakeholders. This platform will house interactive modules, simulations and case studies. It ensures that content creators and communication professionals understand and implement accessibility best practices. Funding: $48,500.00

Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba Inc. (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project aims to increase awareness and promote the objectives of the Accessibility for Manitobans act through the facilitation of hands-on opportunities to learn new skills, recreational activities, and demonstrations of different types of adaptive equipment. Wheelchair Adventures Manitoba provides opportunities for individuals facing mobility challenges, aiming to facilitate access to diverse resources, activities, and adventures in Manitoba. Funding: $5500.00

West-End Day Care Centre Inc. (Portage la Prairie): Non-profit organization

This project will incorporate resources and staff training to support an increasing number of children attending West End Day Care who are non-speaking and would benefit from access to augmentative and alternative communication devices. Funding: $2,892.00

Westman Media Cooperative Ltd. (Brandon): Business

This project will raise awareness of the prevention and removal of barriers within the Accessible Employment Standard. There are two parts to the project, which include training and an accessibility audit. Training will be for management on the principles of the Accessible Employment Standard and include hiring practices, neurodiversity at work, training for the marketing department on accessible social media and website content writing and accessible document courses. The accessibility audit will be conducted by an external vendor. This audit will include a review and gap analysis of our current employment accessibility-related policies, procedures and plans, as well as an onsite facility audit of the physical environment. Funding: $32,500.00

Westman Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention (Souris): Non-profit organization

This project aims to deploy a suite of accessible tools, resources and expert interventions to enhance website usability for individuals with disabilities. Funding: $4,258.00

Winnipeg Holistic Expressive Arts Therapy Institute (Winnipeg): Non-profit organization

This project will ensure that web content required to access training programs and all newly published web content meets or exceeds WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines. Funding: $40,012.14

YWCA Westman Inc. (Brandon): Non-profit organization

This project targeted to the Westman area of southwestern Manitoba will raise awareness about resources available to support survivors of gender-based violence. This campaign will include the development of accessible print materials, such as signage and posters. It will also be supported by the development of an accessible social media campaign. Funding: $12,000.00

South Interlake Regional Library: Non-Profit Organization

This project will remove barriers to information and communications electronically and in print by using established interlibrary loan processes to make available adaptive technology (such as DAISY Players) which will bring 1.2 million book titles to print disabled Manitobans in rural areas. Project staff will also develop tools, resources and training which will be shared with other Manitoba rural libraries to support compliance with AMA standards. Activities will raise awareness among Manitoba rural librarians about preventing and removing barriers. $27,900.00

Supporting Employment and Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (SEED): Non- Profit Organization

This project will remove barriers to information and communication by upgrading SEED Winnipeg's website to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards and incorporate principles of universal design. In addition, SEED will gather feedback from website users to better understand the barriers they face, select and work with a consultant to upgrade our website, and increase staff understanding of WCAG 2.1 Level AA and how to produce accessible content. Community members will be engaged to test out the website. $28,646.00

Perimeter Aviation LP: Business

This project aims to enhance the Perimeter Aviation website and implement visual paging in the Winnipeg terminal. Accessibility enhancements will enable the removal of barriers to information and communication electronically, in print and in person. The project will focus on meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance which includes improving colour contrast, providing alternative text, and ensuring keyboard accessibility. Training and resources to support the compliance of AMA accessibility standards will be identified and employed. $45,000.00

Red River North Counselling and Therapy Services Inc. : Business

Using a human rights perspective and a disability lens, Red River North CTS Inc. plans to improve the accessibility of its services for individuals living in Manitoba's Interlake area through website and form upgrades, educational book kits, and a corresponding educational presentation made for children, youth, and adults living with neurodevelopmental disabilities. $44,142.50

Independent Living Resource Centre: Non-Profit Organization

This project will support the accessibility of four (4) community partner agencies (including Sara Riel Inc.) through a “collaborative audit” process, addressing (physical) work/public spaces, digital/print information, websites, emergency procedures and customer service policies. While ILRC has conducted accessibility audits and disability awareness training for decades, Access Unlimited represents a new hybrid-collaborative approach, leveraging the lived experience of people with disabilities to support organizations seeking to meet (and exceed) their AMA requirements. $24,500.00

Manitoba Possible (on behalf of Barrier-Free Manitoba): Non-Profit Organization

This project will assist Barrier-Free Manitoba (BFM) to extend and expand its work through following activities:

• engagement with communities across Manitoba to develop and publish a 3-year (2024-2026) strategic plan for the work of BFM 5.0
• development of public awareness materials that include the lived/living experiences of persons disabled by barriers, and promote an understanding of accessibility as a human right
• develop and disseminate training materials that highlight a variety of success stories of communities, workplaces, and businesses that promote inclusion and remove barriers to access $45,000.00

Shakespeare in the Ruins Inc. : Non-Profit Organization

This project will increase access to workshops, classes, and other professional development opportunities for theatre professionals living with disabilities; develop a “visual story” to support and encourage the participation of Autistic and other neuro-divergent people; continue investment in our website, going beyond image descriptions to true compliance with current best practices; build relationships in the Deaf community that increase their interest in and attendance at performances; and create a safer venue for individuals sensitive to sun-exposure. Activities aim to remove barriers accessing goods and services and information and communication. $17,000.00

Lord Selkirk School Division: School Division

This project would allow for the placement of core communication boards in every school playground in the division (elementary, junior high, and high school). The boards will be developed by the divisional Speech-Language Pathologists with the aim of meeting the needs of a variety of students to facilitate communication. $16,800.00

Manitoba Accessible Sport Council (known as Accessible Sport Connection Manitoba): Non-Profit Organization

Accessible Sport Connect Manitoba will create a tool kit that includes all aspects of mobility and equity and builds healthier, more connected communities. The project will include a presentation and course to empower athletes, program facilitators, sports and recreation organizations and venues with print, digital, and media resources they can utilize to self- audit and improve their accessibility practices. $25,000.00

Swim Natation Manitoba: Non-Profit Organization

This project will upgrade and improve website accessibility to meet the needs of Manitoba's swim community and support Manitobans to find swimming clubs and programs to service their location and needs. Activities will address the needs of Para Swimmers, newcomers, rural Manitobans in communities without pools, and diverse accessibility service providers of programs. $22,000.00

Rural Municipality of Woodlands: Municipality

This project will enable the municipality to purchase and install an induction hearing loop system in the reception area of the RM office, and a DigiMaster system within Council Chambers in the Village of Woodlands, and within the multipurpose meeting room in the Town of Warren, where committees meet and public presentations are conducted. $17,388.95

Town of Winnipeg Beach: Municipality

This project will redesign existing signage to be visibly and physically accessible. The town will work with local historic society, professional interpretive sign designers, and inclusive sign makers with experience in creating braille signage. Thus, ensuring that anyone who visits the Town of Winnipeg Beach can access information and share the knowledge and history of the community. $23,650.00

Career Connections Inc. : Non-Profit Organizations

This project will raise awareness through the creation of videos of success stories both from client and employer perspectives. Showcasing local employers who are supporting the employment of people with varying abilities will encourage other employers to open their doors to our clientele. These videos will be posted to the Career Connections website. In addition, the organization will host social and learning events to encourage employer engagement to increase their knowledge on how to remove barriers during the three stages of the hiring process, and maintaining an accessible workplace. $44,995.00

La Maison des artistes visuels francophones inc. : Non-Profit Organization

This project will create accessible communications for our programming by developing QR codes linked to texts in both official languages as well as an audio version of the texts. Our gallery will acquire tablets for members of the public who need to use them as e-readers. Our website accessibility will also be improved in accordance with UX recommendations. Our team will be trained on how to provide the public with assistance on using these new tools, and improvements will be tested by various target groups. $18,000.00

The Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba. : Non-Profit Organization

CoHabit is a housing initiative of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba. This project will produce an accessible information document called, "Guidelines for Planning and Building an Inclusive Community," outlining best practice solutions for accessible residential environments, including day-programming for persons with disabilities, and develop equitable employment opportunities. $22,545.00

The Fort Whyte Foundation Inc. / FortWhyte Alive: Non-Profit Organization

This project will contract Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities Inc. (MLPD) to undertake a diagnostic accessibility audit for the summer season, to identify physical (visual, hearing and mobility) barriers to access at our facility, within programs and existing technology, to improve accessibility and visitor experience based on universal design. $25,000.00

The Higher Learning Foundation Inc. : Non-Profit

The Mental Fitness Training Accessibility Project targets the accessible Information and Communication, and Customer Service standards, by reducing the barriers for Manitobans to access mental fitness programming. Based on the Higher Learning Method, our mental fitness programming provides essential education and practical tools to help individuals better understand their thoughts, emotions, and the wide range of mental health conditions. The Fundamentals of Mental Fitness course (video series) will be translated into American Sign Language (ASL). $44,400.00

Transportation Options for Seniors Inc. : Non-Profit

In partnership with the Independent Living Resource Centre (ILRC), TONS will collaborate on a project to reduce barriers faced by rural accessible transportation program Volunteers, Drivers and Board Members pertaining to the ability to access high quality standardized wheelchair securement & customer service training that meets AMA standards (particularly the forthcoming accessible transportation standard). TONS will be the key connector to ensure the rural accessible van programs funded through the Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Programs will receive unlimited access to the online wheelchair securement & customer service training which will be shared with approximately 65-70 van programs across the province. $14,465.00

Winnipeg Chinese Senior Association: Non-Profit

This project includes various activities:

• upgrading the WCSA website that is compliant with AMA standards and WCAG 2.1 guidelines;
• increasing awareness of accessibility among WCSA members through brochures, newsletters, calendars, and social media channels, in both English and Mandarin, with larger text and/or videos with captioning $24,900.00

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority: Health Authority

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority will conduct an audit of website content to ensure compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, and develop training for internal staff by providing them with web accessibility expertise to benefit their future work. $45,000.00

Squarely Social Inc. : Business

This project is the second phase of an accessibility training initiative that began with 2022 MAF funding. It will raise awareness and educate communications and marketing professionals about how to create accessible documents and PDFs. The initiative will also reduce barriers faced by disabled Manitobans who have visual, hearing, motor or cognitive impairments and access documents on the Internet with assistive devices, closed captioning, keyboard-only functionality, screen magnification or other methods. $17,625.0

City of Winnipeg: Municipality

This project will enhance the City's ability to deliver inclusive and accessible customer service at reception counters through the addition of audio-loop assistive listening systems at as many priority reception counters as possible within the funding available. It will remove a significant communication barrier for visitors/citizens who are hard of hearing when interacting with City staff. $25,000.00

Assiniboine Community College: Education Institution

This project will address the information and communication needs of persons with disabilities by making assistive devices available in various settings such as classrooms, lecture theatres, and public spaces and offering training on the use of these devices. $10,500.00

Portage La Prairie Regional Library: Non-Profit Organization

The library will upgrade offerings for visually impaired individuals, including training to help employees and caregivers. By expanding assistive technology capabilities, the library hopes to increase circulation and usage of library materials, and improve service quality and raise awareness of library services. $10,532.56

The Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres Inc. : Non-Profit Organization

This project will develop and distribute an accessibility policy toolkit to friendship centres across the province to promote equal access for persons with disabilities. The toolkit will include principles from the Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres and AMA guidelines to ensure it meets the needs of friendship centres and enables the implementation of AMA standards. $31,283.67

Arts AccessAbility Network Manitoba: Non-Profit Organization

This project will continue to audit arts spaces and venues in Manitoba using an audit created and informed by the Deaf and disability community. These audits are an important tool to raise awareness of potential barriers to participating in the arts for the Deaf and disability community and to remove barriers to accessing accessibility information about arts spaces and venues in Manitoba. $7,900.00

Bibliothèque Régionale Jolys Regional Library: Non-Profit Organization

To enhance library services, this project will help the library purchase "book in print". The new collection will include "Dyslexic Friendly Font" books for all ages in both official languages. The "Large Print" collection will be developed, by enlarging the library's French language collection. Outreach opportunities and advertising the new collection to the Senior Groups in our community (Chalet Malouin, Manoir St-Pierre-Jolys, Services to seniors) and the local schools (École St-Malo, École Heritage School & École Communautaire Réal Bérard). $8,593.75

Klinic Community Health - Klinic Inc. : Non-Profit Organization

Funding will enable Klinic to undertake a facility accessibility review and create a detailed plan, including recommendations on addressing any gaps identified, and provide training materials. $25,000.00

Resource Centre for Manitobans Who Are Deaf-Blind: Non-Profit Organization

This project includes various activities:

• raising awareness about the prevention and removal of barriers and Deaf-Blindness during Deaf-Blind Awareness Month in June 2023
• hosting an awareness workshop for allies and resources in the community
• partnering with New Directions to provide mental health workshops to Deaf-Blind individuals, specifically targeting areas of struggle associated with the dual disability
• providing ASL translation to the RCMDB website making it accessible to everyone
• attending Deaf-Blind International “Global Connections: The World is in our Hands” conference to network and learn about accessibility services and devices available to Deaf-Blind people $24,952.57

St. Amant Foundation: Non-Profit Organization

This project will provide site planning and a preliminary design for an accessible play space and outdoor garden at 440 River Road. The proposed play space will primarily support St. Amant's Autism Programs, St. Amant School, as well as children accessing support from Child Health services. A new accessible outdoor play space is required to provide safe outdoor learning opportunities at 440 River Road. The outdoor garden will be used by those programs, as well as adults that are receiving services on site. $8,750.00

IBEX Intermodal Services Ltd. (Winnipeg): Business

The project will include a software audit to ensure it is is accessible to employees and customers and meets or exceeds WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines. IBEX plans to consult with community members, disability organizations and experts about system accessibility and conduct a software audit, following which they will train employees on the software and implement the audit recommendations. $22,500.00

Municipality of Russell Binscarth (Western): Municipality

This project will update the municipality's accessibility plan, based on consultation with people with disabilities and service agencies. It will develop policies (as necessary) to implement the plan, develop and delivery of training (a recorded session and print format) to support the plan. $19,030.00

New Directions for Children, Youth Adults and Families Inc. : Non-Profit Organization

This project will pilot supports for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals and staff that includes interpretation and dual interpretation services in therapy services, workshops, ASL training for staff and translation of the New Directions Operations Manual into ASL. $15,000.00

Boyne Regional Library: Non-Profit Organization

This project will implement activities and enhancements to improve accessibility and inclusivity for library patrons with disabilities. A key activity is to offer computer training courses in email, Office programs, social media, and web searches. These courses will be tailored to meet the needs of library patrons with disabilities, such as low vision or dexterity disabilities. $11,643.74

Université de Saint-Boniface: Education Institution

This project, Accompagnement d'accessibilité Web, is part of a larger web development project to redesign, migrate and enhance a new website. The objective is to develop a website accessible to all internet users, regardless of ability. This will result improved access to information and communications and an enhanced user experience. MAF funding for 2023-24 covers the research and design phase of the project. $11,175.00

Artbeat Studio Inc. : Non-Profit Organization

This project will create a set of employment resources and tools needed to successfully include people with disabilities in the workplace, based on lived experience and best practices. Artbeat will print its mental health companion journals in large print and will create print and digital resources to help businesses improve hiring practices, employee retention, and best HR practices for the inclusion of people with disabilities. $10,000.00

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB): Non-Profit Organization

This project will build inclusive communities using a participant-led awareness and education strategy to promote new accessible solutions and best practices to support the inclusion of people living with sight loss long term. From accessible check lists for small businesses, to accessible payment terminals, to free smartphone apps designed for users with sight loss—many accessibility solutions are free or low-cost to implement. However, many smaller businesses, NPOs, and municipalities are not aware of these solutions and how easy they are to implement. This project will create resources and toolkits for the business community to educate on the barriers that are faced by the blind and partially sighted community and work with them to train and educate their staff. $10,000.00

Shift Accessibility: Business

This project will raise awareness about the prevention and removal of barriers within homes and businesses. Shift Ed. will host two workshops that covers products, services, building code and local regulations around accessibility with business owners, Occupational Therapists and people with disabilities. The project will also build and maintain a new accessible web forum platform for live educational events and serve as a vehicle for people with disabilities to share their stories of accessibility barriers and solutions. $10,000.00

Centre for Human Rights Research (University of Manitoba): Education Institution

This project will develop a fully accessible website for the Centre for Human Rights Research at the University of Manitoba, to remove barriers to human rights based information and communications for the general public, policy makers, and for UM students, staff, and faculty. $10,000.00

Red River College Polytechnic: Education Institution

This project will enhance accessibility by engaging an external consultant:

• to conduct an environmental scan to identify leading practices related to developing accessible instructional and informational materials
• to review existing accessibility guidelines/standards at Red River College Polytechnic and create updated accessibility guidelines/standards to support the development of accessible instructional and informational materials
• to create a training and implementation plan to communicate the established guidelines/standards across the College. $10,000.00

River East Transcona School Division: Education Institution

In partnership with Allyant (specializing in offering equitable access to digital, document and printed information for people with disabilities), River East Transcona School Division will perform a website audit and develop a control mechanism to measure compliance. The process will identify gaps in website accessibility at a divisional and school site level, and plans will be developed to remove accessibility barriers. $10,000.00

Prairie Theatre Exchange Inc. : Non-Profit Organization

This project will enable PTE to become a local leader in the theatre arts sector by providing accessible options for Manitobans to enjoy their plays. Building on last season's scheduling of ASL, Described Audio and Relaxed Performances, PTE will broaden the reach into the communities that would benefit from these accessible performances with a well-funded awareness plan. $4,400.00

E-Quality Communication Centre of Excellence (ECCOE): Non-Profit Organization

The project will develop ECCOE's needed capacity building for the availability and provision of Deaf Interpreters for requests from customers (including members of the public) to have their video and audio recorded materials accessible to Deaf employees, Deaf clients, and members of the Deaf community searching these online websites for information provided by ECCOE. Funding: $33,500.00

Accessible Sport Connect: Non-Profit Organization

The project will remove barriers to sports participation for people with disabilities including informational, attitudinal, and physical barriers. Informational barriers will be addressed through a community expo to be attended by sports organizations; sports organizations will all be in the same location at the same time providing information about their programs. Raising awareness about accessible sport will not only increase program numbers, but will also profile more people with disabilities participating in sport which will change society's view of what people with disabilities can do. Funding: $17,435.00

Abilities Manitoba: Non-Profit Organization

The project will raise awareness of the first three standards named in the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (Customer Service, Employment and Information and Communication) through a media campaign that offers Manitoba businesses, communities and individual citizens an opportunity to learn about how barriers can be removed to improve the health, independence and well-being of Manitobans living with and without disabilities. A series of short videos and digital posters shared across social media pages as well as through the Abilities Manitoba website will promote the message of accessibility being in the best interests of all Manitobans, emphasizing that most Manitobans will confront barriers to accessibility at some point in their lives. The project will communicate that building accessibility into our employment, customer service and communications practices is not only the law under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, but it is in the best interests of the health and well-being of all Manitobans. Abilities Manitoba plans to promote accessibility well beyond the funding period, as creating an accessible Manitoba is in direct alignment with our regular organizational activities. Funding: $44,650.00

Manitoba Possible Services: Non-Profit Organization

The project will create tools, resources and training to support compliance with AMA standards and raise awareness about the prevention and removal of barriers. The Manitoba Possible Learning Hub is a one-stop shop for information about accessibility and inclusion available to organizations and the public. As new standards are released, Manitoba Possible will build future courses to be included in the learning management system. The Learning Hub will provide information about removing barriers in the community, as well as discussion on topics important to persons with disabilities. These informative topics will be completed through multiple forms of media, including information pages built onto the website, conversation pieces through podcasts, and more. Our goal is to increase the awareness of all forms of barriers experienced by persons with disabilities in an engaging manner. Funding: $39,400.00

Squarely Social: Local Business

The Squarely Social Accessibility Training Initiative (SSATI) will help raise awareness and educate communications and marketing professionals about how to create accessible web and social media content. SSATI will help reduce barriers faced by Manitobans with disabilities with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive impairments and experience the Internet with assistive devices, closed captioning, keyboard-only functionality or other methods such as screen magnification. The SSATI courses will have two streams, one session for leaders and decision makers to affect policies and practices within organizations and one session for marketing and communications specialists to learn how to create accessible web and social media content. Funding: $25,000.00

University College of the North (UCN): Post-secondary Education Institution

The UCN Commitment to the Accessibility project will focus on audit/ consultation and training; upgrading main library database systems and the accommodation process. UCN will contract an external agency specializing in digital accessibility to audit our new website and provide training opportunities related to the development of accessible educational content. Increasing awareness related to digital accessibility will enable us to identify and remove barriers related to information and communication, and provide a seamless digital experience for users to navigate our website. The project will also review and upgrade UCN's Libraries main EBSCO database systems to improve accessibility and usage. Funding: $50,000.00

Access Changes Everything (ACE): Local Business

ACE will create a survey charting the lived experiences of Manitobans with disabilities when they access Manitoba business related digital materials and media (such as websites, videos, etc.). The survey will assess what businesses are currently doing well, and where they need improvement in the digital environment. Results will be analyzed, a quick start guide on digital accessibility created, promoted, and a Manitoba Chamber of Commerce panel presentation given. Funding: $48,750.00

Shakespeare In the Ruins (SIR): Non-Profit Organization

SIR is committed to removing barriers to access for People with Disabilities and other under-represented people and communities. This commitment to accessibility is demonstrated by our investment in initiatives that allow as many people as possible to access and enjoy our performances. SIR has made significant investments this season in accessibility, including: A free, accessible bus charter from downtown Winnipeg to the Ruins on pay-what-you-can Tuesdays; ASL interpretation and live audio description of selected performances; the launch of “Under-the-tent” shows, a pair of matinees staged under a tent for people for whom our promenade experience is a barrier; a new partnership with the Easter Seals Access 2 program, which offers free tickets for support persons; comprehensive training of Front of House and Box Office staff to support these initiatives and investment in our website to ensure it is accessible, and annual assessment and improvement to ensure we're constantly evolving to meet people's needs. Funding: $17,000.00.

Community Futures Manitoba: Non-Profit Organization

Community Futures Manitoba is launching a new business start-up training program - Build a Better Business. The program includes a series of 10 modules and 15 supplemental educational videos to accompany the modules. This project will include adding ASL to all 10 module videos and the 15 educational videos. ECCOE will be contracted to provide translation of approximately 7 hours of module content from English to American Sign Language (ASL) to meet the accessibility standards. This will enable Manitobans who are Deaf to access Business Education videos as provided by Community Futures Manitoba online. Funding: $20,873.00

Community Access to Justice: Non-Profit Organization

Individuals with communication disabilities face significant barriers to access to justice. Without the support of trained professionals, like communication intermediaries (CIs), people with communication disabilities are rarely able to access police, legal, corrections, and court services as easily or effectively as other Manitobans. The project involves developing a standard set of visual aids and instructions, which CIs would be able to freely access through our organization to support their work. These would be developed in consultation with CIs, service providers, and Manitobans with communication disabilities, who have experienced the barriers to access noted above and how tools like these visual aids can be used to effectively support communication. Funding: $15,000.00

Hanover School Division (HSD): School Division

The project will remove barriers to information and communication. HSD will place playground core communication boards in every playground within the division. Some playgrounds will receive two communication boards as they have more than one playground. These playground core communication boards were developed in conjunction with the Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists in HSD to meet the needs of students who are non-verbal or minimally verbal when they are outside on the playground. Boards will not only benefit students who are non-verbal or minimally verbal but all students. Funding: $30,341.78

City of Winnipeg: Municipality

This project will improve the accessibility of on-line notifications for the public. The City will create a centralized website that displays information on disruptions in a consistent format, which will offer a means for providing user-customized notifications about disruptions. This will significantly improve access to information that is critical to supporting access to City facilities, services and programs. It will also help raise awareness of the broad range of barriers people with disabilities face in their communities and the importance of preventing and removing them. The funding will cover the cost to create a centralized location (website) to publish all disruptions affecting City of Winnipeg managed services and properties. The new website will enable the City to then create a notification system to which residents can subscribe. The City has provided $195,000 for this project. Funding: $50,000.00

Victoria Lifeline: Non-Profit Organization

This project will optimize the Victoria Lifeline website for accessibility in line with the Website Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 Level AA). The website serves as an information and resource hub for current/prospective clients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, partners, and community stakeholders. For example, many of our clients are older adults experiencing age-related low vision, so we would like to incorporate a clear and easy option to allow for manual font size adjustment. For site users who are experiencing hearing loss, we would like to include closed captioning on all educational videos. By optimizing the Victoria Lifeline website for accessibility, it can be an effective resource utilized by people all over the province looking for aging in place and healthy living support services. Funding: $10,000.00

The Good Will Social Club: Local Business

The Free Will project is a four-part initiative to create more meaningful experiences and discussions around music, art, and culture. As a live music venue, we believe that it is our responsibility to uplift voices that often go unheard. It aims to raise awareness about the prevention and removal of barriers within Winnipeg's arts and culture scene and create a more accessible community for Good Will patrons, performers, and staff.

• Part 1: Online Access: Build and maintaining a new website that meets an extensive list of accessibility requirements. This site will provide virtual access to The Good Will experience, with opportunities to read, watch, and listen to content. This virtual content will be more accessible to those with physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory disabilities, who may not be able to attend in-person events.
• Part 2: Amplified Voices: Uplifting as many voices as possible, especially those of people disabled by barriers. Through written essays and video content, we will be able to share the stories and experiences of Winnipeggers who face barriers in the arts and culture scene. Contributors may use this site as a portfolio piece for future creative and career opportunities. We will pay all contributors for their work a base rate and once we can fully monetize the website, we will share the ad revenue with the creators. We hope to provide any equipment they may need, such as laptops or video equipment.
• Part 3: Employee Safety: Helping the Social Club staff contribute to and benefit from a safe and accessible space, we will provide a Safe Space seminar led by Red Tent.
• Part 4: Customer Awareness: Offering another Safe Space seminar to the public. This seminar will help teach our community how to contribute to a safe space, to ensure the community that they can and should make it known if they feel unsafe or unwelcome in our establishment.

Funding: $20,000.00

Border Land School Division: School Division

The installation of 12 communication boards on school playgrounds in 8 communities within Border Land School Division will address barriers to communication for people who are learning to speak, learning English, and for individuals who use augmentative or alternative communication. Communication boards will be installed on school playgrounds in Altona, Gretna, Rosenfeld, Emerson, Dominion City, Vita and Sprague. Border Land Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) will design the communication boards, select the vocabulary, and will provide information for families in a school division newsletter and for the public on the school division website. The boards will have simple instructions about how to use them. School Division maintenance staff will install the boards which will be manufactured by a local business. Funding: $6,500.00

Arts AccessAbility Network (AANM): Non Profit Organization

AANM will create an access guide for an upcoming event called Crip Strength: A Celebration of Deaf and Disability Art and Culture on October 29, 2022. The event will be hosted by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), on Zoom and Facebook Livestream. The event will include a juried exhibition of visual art, programmed dance, theater, musical, and literary performances and readings by artists and scholars who are Deaf or have other disabilities. The creation of an access guide will ensure attendees are aware of accessibility features of the event. It will include pertinent information about the venue, traveling to the event location, how to access the event virtually, the agenda and activities, accessibility features at the event and online and a glossary of terms and concepts. This guide will help ease the anxiety that participants may experience attending a new space whether that be in-person or online. The access guide will be available on AANM's website to download and in hard copy. Funding: $8,690.00

Prairie Theater Exchange (PTE): Non-Profit Organization

PTE is implementing three accessible performance options for each of its live shows to make them more inclusive to potential patrons. In the past, PTE has only had ASL performances for its Theatre for Young Audiences. This will be a significant expansion of our accessibility, and the three options will be featured on standardized days within each run of a play. There will be a Relaxed Performance show (2nd Friday evening), an Audio Described show (2nd Saturday evening) and an ASL interpreted show (3rd Saturday evening), for all live performances. Having these on specific dates within our 3-week run of plays will make it easier for audience members who are looking for these options to know when to come to the theatre. Funding: $20,000.00

Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P): Non-Profit Organization

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection's (C3P) Kids in the Know program (KIK) is a national, bilingual, personal safety education program designed to reduce the risk of child sexual victimization online and offline. To enhance customer services standards and align with the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, with funds from this grant, C3P will update the online training modules to prevent and remove barriers to access and learning for educators in Manitoba and across Canada. Funding: $10,000.00

Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities: Non-Profit Organization

MLPD will partner with Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) Manitoba to increase accessibility awareness and to provide targeted information and training for human resource professionals within Manitoba. The project will work with a series of workshops/events and articles targeted to their members. Topics may include information about the AMA, Accessible Customer Service and Accessible Employment, how to identify barriers to accessible customer service, and how to accommodate the accessibility needs of employees. MLPD will set up pop-up booths at up to 10 events of which 50% could be with CPHR. Funding: $49,490.00

Winnipeg Trails: Non-Profit Organization

"Winterpeg is for Everyone" is a community-based project that provides everyone an opportunity to put into practice the many facets of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. Winnipeg Trails is using increased access to physical activity and active transportation in winter as the ultimate goal of the service being provided, and a very special event called “WinterPeg” as a catalyst for conversation, preparation, and implementation. We will prepare information that our employees, our volunteers, event participants, and the public at large need in order to communicate effectively, reduce physical barriers to hosting inclusive events, and/or get outside themselves. We will provide increased access to tools like inclusive website design and inclusive language, physical space improvements like better site planning, highly adapted equipment like sit skis or wheel blades, and warming blankets and temporary benches. We will provide expertise and demystification on how to use the various adapted winter equipment, along with instructional information and demonstrations. To make what we learn count, all of the information we prepare and glean will be used to inform a parallel process we are calling “Plan Winterpeg” which will look to make recommendations to improve winter travel and recreation for everyone. Funding: $41,066.10

Epiphany Lutheran Church: Non-Profit Organization

The project includes the purchase of Owl Technology to support compliance with AMA standards. This will provide diversity and enable individuals to attend services, meetings and events virtually from the comfort of their homes. Epiphany Lutheran Church has interest from renters to also use the technology for their programming. Funding: $2,000.00

St. James Assiniboia School Division: School Division

The project will enable the purchase of Accessibility Wayfinding signs in schools, including accessibility signs with Braille to identify offices, washrooms, elevators, direction indicators, and accessible emergency exits. Each school would be equipped with a “Reception Accessibility table sign”, an exterior “Service animal welcome” sign and signs to indicate locations of accessible entrances. Accessibility education will be refreshed for front-line workers as well. In addition, each school division building will erect and maintain a “Staff Accessibility Information Centre” bulletin board to provide staff with accessible employment information including emergency procedures, accommodation plans, return to work, and employment recruiting, as well as Accessible Information and Communication strategies being used within the school division. The goal will be to start and complete one school (Strathmillan) then continue with other schools. Phase 1 funding: $11,466.24.

Healthy Muslim Families: Non-Profit Organization

The proposed project will enable the organization to gain a better understanding of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act and other legislation that exists internationally and nationally on the rights of people with disabilities. It will raise community awareness about the AMA and standards. The project will help us become an employer that better supports employees with disabilities. We hope to gain a greater understanding of the intersections of Gender-Based violence as it relates to Muslim women with in/visible disabilities. We will also train our staff to better serve and support community members with disabilities and raise community awareness to become barrier-free and inclusive. Funding: $20,000.00

Marymound Inc. : Non-Profit Organization

Marymound would like to do a complete rebuild of our website. The rebuild will meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards for accessibility, as well as the AMA Accessible Information and Communication Standard. With approved funding, Marymound would build, revise, and launch the website that meets accessibility standards by March 2023. Engagement with Manitobans with disabilities/disability experiences would occur during development, initial revisions and final site updates. Funding: $25,000.00

S.P.L.A.S.H. Child Care: Non-Profit Organization

The project is an accessibility audit where we will consult with our existing employees, families, partners, community members and disability organizations that undertake accessibility audits. We will then create accessible policies for employees and families, include accessibility training in our orientation procedures, update our website and other communication materials, and purchase accessibility software. Funding: $34,479.39

New Media Manitoba: Non-Profit Organization

This project will enhance access to information and communications by equipping Manitoba-based service providers with the knowledge of how to create more accessible digital content. This would be done through a series of workshops and one-to-one audits provided by a recognized authority on the subject, Lisa Snider. Our hope is to create foundational knowledge among companies on the importance of creating digital content with accessibility in mind so that it becomes a daily practice. Funding: $46,000.00

Deaf Centre Manitoba (DCM): Non-Profit Organization

This project includes Deaf Awareness and a Mental Health Workshop at the Deaf Resource Centre (DRC). The DRC will continue to provide American Sign Language Video-News (ASL V-News) on social media. The DRC plans to design a Deaf awareness workshop for participants focussing on customer service and employment. Stakeholders and public sector organizations will also be included. DRC will create a best practice guide. Deaf Centre Manitoba (DCM) Inc collaborated with the core team and networks and organizations by hosting a webinar on mental health resources, an in-person workshop and a conference. It is based on the large numbers of Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing people who are dealing with mental health issues. The Deaf Resource Centre (DRC) provides the ASL V-News, and project funding will enable DCM to expand ASL V-News over the next year. Funding: $49,500.00

Manoverboard: Local Business

Manoverboard will design and develop an attractive, thoughtful, informative and accessible website that will act as an important resource for other designers, in Manitoba and around the world, thus demonstrating and highlighting the importance of web accessibility. While there are many sites about web accessibility, this will be one of the first to show designers, developers, and those in adjacent professions that accessible design can also be beautiful, informative and engaging. Funding: $25,000.00

Bibliothèque Régionale Jolys Regional Library: Non-Profit Organization

Bibliothèque Régionale Jolys Regional Library proposes to purchase Technology for Accessible Reading to support older and younger patrons who for various reasons cannot read a radiational book and have difficulties accessing reading materials due to reading disabilities such as dyslexia. Funding: $7,600.00

Manitoba Choral Association: Non-Profit Organization

Manitoba Choral Association (MCA) is planning a workshop that will focus on Accessibility in the Choral Arts. The workshop will take place in a hybrid format to increase participation, and will be facilitated by Jenel Shaw, Executive Director of the Arts AccessAbility Network of Manitoba. The workshop will be geared towards leaders of Manitoba choirs and choral organizations, including directors, educators, administrators, board members, and others. Participants will come away with a better awareness of the barriers that persons with disabilities may face when accessing choral arts activities, and practical tools to prevent and remove these barriers in their own choirs. The event will equip choir leaders and organizations with suggestions on how to shift practices and better comply with the AMA and its standards. Funding: $2,000.00