Barrier Free Manitoba

Disability Matters Vote Presents Accessibility Solutions Lab

One of the five main priorities in the Disability Matters Vote campaign this election is focused on Accessibility. Join Barrier-Free Manitoba on July 27th for a province wide Accessibility Solutions Lab, where the solutions come from you! Because who better to identify lasting and effective solutions to the common accessibility challenges then those that face them daily? We will explore three broad categories of barriers and work with you to capture creative, innovative and effective solutions that work for everyone involved. Each political party will be invited to send one representative to ensure your ideas help inform all candidates who will be looking for your vote in October! No registration required. ASL interpretation will be available.

A Disability Matters Vote Event, hosted by Barrier-Free Manitoba
Share your barrier, Find your solution
Join us virtually to crowd-source solutions at our Accessibility Solutions Lab
Thursday, July 27th, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon
Join Zoom meeting via this link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86723227363
 

---

SAVE THE DATE

Disability Matters Vote Launch

Disability Matters Vote (DMVote) is a non-partisan public awareness campaign. This campaign is a joint initiative of Abilities Manitoba and Barrier Free Manitoba committed to three goals:

• To ensure all Manitobans with disabilities can participate fully in election activities and those who are eligible to vote can do so.
• To promote priority attention for disability issues in the provincial election.
• To support Manitobans in making informed voting decisions.

Disability Matters Vote will be holding their 2023 campaign launch on Thursday, July 13th from 1:30 - 3:30 at the CN Stage and Field at The Forks. Come out, show your support, and send a clear message to all political candidates that DISABILITY MATTERS!

www.dmvote.ca

---

Open Letter to Honourable Minister Heather Stefanson

Last November we brought forward concerns with the Government of Manitoba’s inaction regarding the development of COVID-19 critical care guidelines and triage protocols for Manitoba—free of ableist bias—and meaningful consultation of persons with disabilities in the development of same. Disability communities across the globe have forecasted the devastating impact that an ableist bias will have/is having on persons with disabilities related to critical care access.

Read the full letter here. (PDF)

Alternate formats available upon request. 

---

Government of Manitoba Announces the Manitoba Accessibility Fund

Barrier-Free Manitoba wishes to acknowledge the Government of Manitoba’s announcement yesterday of the new Manitoba Accessibility Fund. This $20-million endowment fund, to be managed by The Winnipeg Foundation, will be an important resource for municipalities, businesses, and organizations to support their efforts in becoming fully compliant with Manitoba’s Accessibility Standards.

Read the full statement here (PDF).

Alternate formats available upon request.

---

Pandemic and Disability Issues Report

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a humanitarian emergency on a global scale. Manitobans, like others around the world, have faced new, unexpected and unprecedented challenges. In Manitoba and elsewhere, the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on persons with disabilities and their families.

Read the full text of the joint report by Disability Matters Vote, Abilities Manitoba and Barrier-Free Manitoba here (PDF). 

Alternate formats are available upon request. 

---

Accessible Vaccination Planning

Barrier-Free Manitoba recently wrote to the Manitoba Vaccine Task Force to highlight the importance of vaccine eligibility. 

Read the full letter here (PDF). 

Alternate formats available on request. 

---

Second Call to Government for COVID-19 Triage Protocols

Barrier-Free Manitoba, together with disability organizations throughout Manitoba, has issued a second call to government for COVID-19 triage protocols on International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 

Press release (PDF)

Background to press release (PDF)

---

Response from the Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living

Barrier-Free Manitoba received a response to our open letter from The Honourable Cameron Friesen, Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living. 

Please read the letter here. (PDF)

Alternate formats available upon request. 

---

Open Letter to Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living

Last week, Barrier-Free Manitoba along with a dozen other disability organizations, sent an Open Letter to the Minister of Health, Seniors, and Active Living expressing our concern surrounding the lack of critical care guidelines and triage protocol to guide health care professionals decisions in the event that the health care system becomes overwhelmed.

Read the Open Letter here (PDF)

Updated letter with additional organizations and private citizens (PDF)

Please join our call for guidelines that does not put people with disabilities at further risk. Share, support, and add your voice.

---

Compliance Framework Highlights

BFM has published highlights of the forthcoming review of the Government of Manitoba's eagerly anticipated Compliance Framework.

Find the highlights here (Word | PDF).

---

Barrier-Free Manitoba Common Findings

BFM has conducted and disseminated a review of each Standard produced under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. In recognition of Manitoba Access Awareness Week, we have produced an overview that provides common findings of the development and enactment of the Standards thus far.

Find the overview here. 

---

A Call to Action: Accessible Environments for All

Barrier-free access to the built environment is a fundamental human right protected by the Canadian Human Rights Act. Yet, barriers related to the build environment represent the single most-cited human rights violation complaint by persons with disabilities. 

Take action here. 

---

Accessibility in Times of Global Crisis

Barrier-Free Manitoba releases statement on accessibility and the pandemic response. 

Read the full statement here.

---

 

---

 

Disability Matters: Vote!

Disability Matters Vote (DMVote) is a non-partisan public awareness campaign and a joint initiative of Abilities Manitoba and Barrier-Free Manitoba. To find out how you can get involved, go to the campaign website here.

---

BFM Responds to Independent Review

Barrier-Free Manitoba has released their response to the Independent Report on the Effectiveness of the Implementation of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. 

Read more here. 

---

Manitoba Government Releases the Four-Year Legislative Review

The Manitoba government released the Independent Report on the Effectiveness of the Implementation of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act on February 27, 2019. 

Find the full text here (Word / PDF)

---

Best Wishes for the Festive Season

Please accept our wishes for an accessible and joyous festive season. Good will and inclusiveness for all and peace on earth.

---

A Symbolic Transfer of BFM’s Leadership

Click here more for more information.

---

Marking International Human Rights Day

---

Thanks to All Who Joined Us on December 3rd

---

Please Join Us on December 3rd

 

This year's FREE community event to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is scheduled for:

11 am to 12:30 pm.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Main Hall of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights

This year's theme is "Disability Rights: Past, Present and Future" and we will be celebrating three major legislative milestones:

• The Canadian Charter for Rights and Freedoms
• The Vulnerable Persons Act
• The Accessibility for Manitobans Act

ASL and CART services will available. 

If you can’t join us in-person, consider joining us via one of the two streaming options:

One live stream (audio and video of the speakers and the ASL interpreter) will be hosted on the Abilities Manitoba FaceBook page.

A second live stream (audio and captioning) will be hosted on the Disability Matters: Vote 2016 FaceBook page,

Click here for more details about the event.

Please help us keep this a scent-free event. 

---

BFM Declares November 1, 2018 "Accessible and Equitable Service Day"

November 1, 2018 is a historic day both to mark and to celebrate - for the very first time, mandatory standards are now in place that legally require organizations to take specific measures to respect human right to accessible services for 200,000 Manitobans with disabilities.

Click here to find out more.

---

Welcomed albeit Long Overdue Signs of Progress

We were pleased to have received a letter sent on behalf of Familes Minister Heather Stefanson committing to an action plan that will substantially increase the pace of work to implement the Accessibility for Manitobans Act.

Click here for more information. 

---

September Starts Off with 8 Days of Posts on BFM's Concerns

With the new school year starting, BFM launched September with eight daily FaceBook postings and Tweets on major outstanding concerns related to the slow, weak and incomplete implementation to date of the landmark Accessibiity for Manitobans Act. Click here to view a recap of the daily posts.

---

St. Boniface By-Election in the Books

The St. Boniface by-election concluded on Tuesday, July 17. Barrier-Free Manitoba once again worked to ensure that priority disability issues, including accessibility and major shortfalls in the implementation the landmark Accessibility for Manitobans Act, were recognized and addressed by candidates.

Our work on the by-election was co-ordinated through Disability Matters Vote (DMV), the same fine folks who organized the very robust Disability Matters: Vote 2016 campaign for the last general provincial election.

BFM extends our thanks to all four candidates who ran in the by-election. We extend our congratuations to Dougald Lamont, the Liberal candidate and Leader who was elected to represent the constituency. 

Click here to read the candidates' answers to DMV's three disability-related questions.

---

The Broken Promise Campaign

The landmark Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) promised that significant progress toward full accessibility would be acheived by 2023. But implementation has been slow, weak and incomplete. This promise is being broken.

That's why BFM launched the Broken Promise campaign on May 29, 2018. Click here for more information.

The one-month campaign has now formally come an end. Click here to read the final campaign update.

But it's not too late to sign on in support of the campaign and the call for immediate action is required to get the AMA's implementation back on track. We are still inviting groups and individuals to sign on over the summer months. So please click here and join us thousands of other Manitobans in supporting the campaign.

---

Time for the Comprehensive 4-Year Review

Time flies. The landmark AMA came into force four years ago on Dececember 5, 2013. With all party, all member unanimous support, the new law commits the province to having achieved significant progress toward full accessibility by 2023.

 Over these four years, BFM has worked determinedly, some might say doggedly, to promote the full and timely implementation of the AMA. It’s taken far more work than we had ever expected and, while there has been important progress, it has been slow and partial.

Fortunately, the Act requires that an independent, comprehensive review of the law and its implementation four years after it came into force (and every five years thereafter). This review will provide us all with the chance to applaud what has gone well, identify what has fallen short and call for the changes required to achieve the goal of the AMA.

While a month later than required in the AMA, the Minister appointed Theresa Harvey Pruden to undertake the review though an Order in Council. For more information of this appointment, please click here.

The Province finally released the Terms of Reference for the review on April 11, 2018 and has scheduled the first public consultation event in Winnipeg for June 20, 2018 (click here for details). Please click here to review the clauses in the AMA related to the review.

 

---

 Launch of Participation is Your Right Campaign 

We, along with partner groups, are pleased to launch the "Accessibility is the Law / Participation is Your Right" public information campaign. Click here for more information on the campaign and the rights of all Manitobans with disabilities to attend and participate in public meetings and events.

---

We Asked, They Answered

Barrier-Free Manitoba asked both of the our province's major political parties with leadership races underway to answer three accessibiity questions. We are also asking all the leadership candidates to respond to three other accessibility and AMA-related questions.

The New Democratic Party

Click here to see the responses we recieved from the NDP and click here to see the responses from that party's two leadership candidates. The NDP's leadership convention was held on September 16, 2017. Wab Kinew was elected the new leader of the party.

The Liberal Party of Manitoba

Click here to see the responses from the Liberals and click here to see the responses from the three leadership contestants. The Liberal leadership convention is scheduled for October 21, 2017.  

---

BFM Calls On Minister to to Include Stronger Accessible Employment Measures

Barrier-Free sent a letter to Minister Fielding on July 24 to ask him to consider including stronger measures than had been recommended by the Accessiblity Advisory Council in his final proposal for an accessible employment standard, expected to be released early this fall.

We are pleased to post the letter for your review (Word / PDF).

For more informaion on the letter, please click here. 

---

Accessibility and Leadership Races

One of the best times to engage in political processes is during election time. With not one but two leadership contests now underway among major parties in Manitoba, Barrier-Free Manitoba has reached out to the Liberal and NDP parties, and has or will reach our to all leadership candidates with some basic but important requests and questions.

For more information on the requests and questions, just click here. 

---

Recommendations for the Proposed Accessible Employment Standard

The provincial government has just released the Accessibility Advisory Council’s (the Council) report and recommendations for an Accessibility Standard for Employment under the landmark Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA).

Long awaited (it is dated March 31, 2017), the Council's report incorporates many but not all of BFM's 19 recommendations for the stronger measures needed to make meaningful strides forward toward equitable employment for Manitobans with disabilities.

For more on the AAC's report and BFM's review, click here.

---

Close the Accessibilty Gap in Manitoba

You can help. Join over 1,100+ concerned citizens and 59 organizations, both small and large and representing over 100,000 Manitobans, who are requesting government's commitment to develop and enforce a strong accessible education standard.

Please act today at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/lettertominister

Here's why your support is so important.

Quality education is an essential gateway to labour market success, as well as to the life-long capacity to participate in and make meaningful contributions to one’s family, one’s community and the social and economic well-being of our province. Not only that but equitable access to quality education for those with disabilities is basic human right enshrined in The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, The Human Rights Code and the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

Sadly, while progress has been made over recent decades to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for students with disabilities, Manitoba students and their families continue to face a myriad of serious barriers. 

Unlike the two other provinces that have enacted accessibility-rights legislation to date (Ontario and Nova Scotia), the Manitoba government has not yet committed to develop an accessible education standard under the landmark Accessibility for Manitobans Act.

Barrier-Free Manitoba recommended that the government commit to this in February 2017 (Recommendation No. 15 in our report on the proposed accessible employment standard). Based on direction endorsed by educational stakeholders at a MAAW event held on June 9, 2017, a letter has been prepared to again request this same commitment.

An invitation to 'sign on' in support of the 2+ page letter first went out on June 15. By June 30, when the letter was delivered to Minister Fielding, we had to add another 42 pages to include all the signatories. For more information on the June 30 delivery, please click here. 

But it's not too late to 'sign on'. We will be sending an updated list of those who support the letter and the request for a strong accessible education standard to Minister Fielding later this year.

So, if you are committed to disability and human rights and to the accessibility of our educational systems, from child care through to post secondary, please add your support today! 

To read the letter and 'sign on', please go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/lettertominister

For more information on the letter and the request, click here. 

Please act today to ensure the full accessibility of educational systems in Manitoba.

---

BFM Makes 19 Recommendations to Strengthen Proposed Standard

Barrier-Free Manitoba has submitted the report with our final comments on the proposed accessible employment standard. The report is based on our best efforts to answer one essential question:

• If implemented as described, will the proposed employment standard ensure that substantial progress toward a fully accessible labour market is achieved by 2023 as required under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act?

Our answer to this question is an unequivocal ‘No’. While what is proposed in the discussion paper may ‘inch’ us forward, achieving the substantial progress that is required under the Act will depend on much stronger and considerably expanded measures.

Accordingly, we are making 19 recommendations to build on key strengths, address significant limitations and complete further work that will be needed to establish and implement a strong and effective accessible employment standard in Manitoba.

For more info and to download a copy of the report, click here.

---

Proposed Accessibility Standard for Employment

The Accessibility Advisory Council (AAC) has released "Discussion Paper on a Proposed Accessibility Standard for Employment". This sets out the AAC's proposal for an accessibility standard to address the myriad of barriers to equitable employment opportunities and outcomes faced by Manitobans with disabilities.

This is the second of five accessibility standards that will be developed under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA). The first of the standards, the Customer Service Standard, came into force in November 2015.

Interested stakeholders and the public are asked to provide comment and feedback on the proposed standard by February 15, 2017. Barrier-Free Manitoba will be preparing a detailed review.

For more information on the proposed standard, the consultation process and Barrier-Free Manitoba's plans to respond, click here.

 

---

Fast Approaching AMA Compliance Deadlines 

The first deadlines for action under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act are finally arriving.

1. The very first deadline is November 1, 2016. This is when all of the 14 provincial government departments are required to:

• Have developed policies that ensure accessible customer service and make these policies available on request.
• Have trained or ensured that all staff that provide services are trained in The Manitoba Human Rights Code and accessible customer service.
• Ensure that all public meetings are accessible to persons with disabilities.

2. The second deadline, December 31, 2016, relates to multi-year accessibility plans. By that date, all provincial government departments, crown corps, health authorities, colleges, universities, school divisions and many large municipalities are required to have developed comprehensive plans on what measures that they have taken and will take in the coming years to identify, prevent and remove barriers that disable people. And these plans must have been developed in consultation with Manitobans with disabilities.

Click here for more on the compliance requirements and deadlines, and the related information that Barrier-Free Manitoba has formally requested from government.

---

December 3, 2016 - SAVE THAT DATE

Remember the 1,600 persons who crammed into the Legislative Building last December 3 to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (and to launch the Disability Matters: Vote 2016 campaign). It was a great and powerful event - see the picture below to jog your memory!

Plans are now in place to hold a similarly large scale event to mark the International Day this year.

Time/Date/Place

• 1 pm to 3 pm
• Saturday, December 3, 2016
• Canadian Museum for Human Rights

ASL and computer note taking supports have been already booked. Please contact Jennifer Rodrigue if you require other accommodations.

Please help us make this a scent-free event.

Stay tuned for more details.

---

Thank You!

Thanks to all who were able to attend the federal government's consultation held in Winnipeg on October 3rd. And thanks to all those who even considered attending given the extermely short notice that was provided by the government.

We believe that Minister Qualtrough is committed to addressing disability rights in Canada. Let's hope that they listened to what we had to say.

We encourage all who were unable to attend and/or have more they want to say to complete the online survey posted at: https://hrsdc-rhdcc.sondages-surveys.ca/s/Accessibility_accessibilite_TXT/?l=en

For more information on the consultation process and participation options, please view our primer.

---

Details on the October 3 Federal Consultation

The federal Office of Disability Issues has finalized arrangements for the consultation event to be held in Winnipeg on October 3, 2016.

4:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Monday, October 3rd
Room: Delta AB
Delta Hotel by Marriott
350 St. Mary Avenue

The following is the agenda for the public sessions:

Agenda

• Welcome and opening remarks
• Public discussion

1. What are the main barriers to accessibility that Canadians with disabilities face?
2. What would it take to fix those barriers?
3. How can we change attitudes in Canada to better include and respect people with disabilities?

Pre-registration for the public event is optional but recommended, especially for individuals who require accessibility accommodations. Persons and organizations wishing to pre-register have been asked to contact the Office of Disability Issues:

Phone: 1-844-836-8126
TTY: 819-934-6649
Fax: 819-953-4797
Email address: accessible-canada@hrsdc.gc.ca
Mailing address:
Consultation - Federal Accessibility Legislation
c/o Office for Disability Issues
Employment and Social Development Canada
105 Hotel-de-ville St., 1st floor, Bag 62
Gatineau QC K1A 0J9

For more complete information on how to particiate in the consultation process, view our primer or visit the federal government website.

---

National Consultation Events / Options

Barrier-Free Manitoba encourages Manitobans to use any or all of three available options to participate in the consultation process to inform the legislation that will transform how the Government of Canada addresses accessibility.

1. Complete an online questionnaire.

2. Apply to attend the National Youth Forum schedule to be held in Ottawa on Nov. 1, 2016 (application deadline is Sept. 15).

3. Attend the in-person consultation event that will be held in Winnipeg on Monday, Oct. 3, 2016.

Please click here for more information on each of these options.

---

Consultation Process Launched on Proposed National Disability Act

On June 22, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities announced the launch of a national consultation process to inform the development of planned legislation that will transform how the Government of Canada addresses accessibility.

All Canadians are encouraged to have their say in the consultation process, either by attending one of the 18 in-person engagement sessions, which will start in September and be held across Canada, or by participating in the online consultation which will be launched in the coming weeks. Canadians are also encouraged to follow @AccessibleGC on Twitter, Accessible Canada on Facebook and to follow the #AccessibleCanada hashtag. The consultation process will run until February 2017.

For more info on the annoucement, please click here.

Watch the You Tube video here.

---

Recent Changes for BFM's Steering Committee

A number of changes have recently been made to Barrier-Free Manitoba's Steering Committee. Following is a revised list of the members of the Steering Committee and, where applicable, their organizational affiliations:

• Dale Kendel
• David Steen
• Jeannette DeLong (Abilities Manitoba)
• Janet Forbes (Children's Coalition)
• Jennifer Frain (New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults and Families)
• Marion Cooper (Canadian Metal Health Association, Manitoba and Winnipeg Branch)
• Oly Backstrom (Manitoba Supported Employment Network)

For more information, please click here.

---

CHANGE and CONTINUITY

The election of a new government and the swearing in of Premier Pallister and his smaller cabinet on May 3rd have ushered in a period of significant change. The change will provide new opportunities, as well as new challenges.

At this point, the contours of these opportunities and challenges remain unclear. Forming a new government and assuming new responsibilities for a $15+ billion operation are massive tasks. There are thousands of priorities competing for immediate attention, a host of foundational decisions are required, and the Premier and the Ministers need to be briefed on all their key areas of responsibility.

Barrier-Free Manitoba will also be making some changes. We look forward to announcing these soon. And those who have had leadership roles in the historic Disability Matters: Vote 2016 campaign will need to decide what comes next.

Despite these changes, there will also be many areas of continuity. The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) will be one of these. The AMA passed Third Reading in December 2013 with all-party, unanimous member support. As part of the 2016 election campaign, the Progressive Conservative Party committed to the timely and effective implementation of the AMA (click here to see the party's responses to questions about the Act) and pledged, if elected, to establishing standards in the following areas during their first term in office:

• Employment
• Transportation
• Information and communication
• Built environment

This means that the next four years will be very busy ones in realizing a fully accessible Manitoba. One of the first steps will be the tabling of an annual implementation plan by the Minister responsible for the AMA (as required by the Act). But as Cabinet announcement on May 3 did not include a Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities, we don't yet know which Minister will be tabling the plan.

We look forward to providing updates to you as developments unfold.

---

Thanks to the thousands of Manitobans who shared their passion and commitment for rights, equity and justice through the wondrous Disability Matters: Vote 2016 campaign.

---

The Provincial Election

While disability issues affect almost every Manitoban, these issues have historically been overlooked in provincial elections. With an estimated 168,000 Manitobans with disabilities eligible to vote this April, and with significant representation in all constituencies (including those that will be most closely contested), Disability Matters: Vote 2016 (DMV2016) is already changing this history.

As DMV2016's has demonstrated, disabilities matter a great deal.

Focus on Priority Disability Issues

DMV2016 asked each of the major political party to provide clear position statements and commitments on five priority issues of greatest importance to Manitobans with disabilities.

• A Fully Accessible Manitoba
• Fair Living Wages for Those Serving Manitobans with Intellectual Disabilities
• Timely Access to Disability-Related Services
• Unleashing Employment Potential
• Dignified Income

Click here to see the responses from the four major parties.

DMV2016 also asked each and every candidate (with a campaign email address) running in the election for answer two questions about their personal experience with, and views about, disability issues. Almost two-thirds of the candidates answered these questions.

Click here to see candidate responses.

---

We Rocked It!

An estimated 1,600+ Manitobans literally jam-packed the Legislative Building today to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and launch Disability Matters: Vote 2016.

Indeed, it was an overflow crowd with some folks turned back at the front door (including a few media staff).

An extraordinary turnout to be sure. Sister events were also held throughout the province (Brandon and Thompson for sure).

Thanks to all who turned out or watched the live stream. Apologies to all who experienced communication and other barriers that limited their participation - our plans for accommodations were overcome by the sheer size of the crowd.

And thanks to all who helped us promote the event.

With the provincial election scheduled for April 19, 2016, we have an awful lot of work ahead.

If you want to help out, please sign up as a volunteer at: http://www.disabilitymatters2016.ca

For more coverage of the extraordinary day, click here.

---

The Next BIG Thing: Disability Matters: Vote 2016

In partnership with Abilities Manitoba, Barrier-Free Manitoba is pleased to announce Disability Matters: Vote 2016, a non-partisan, cross-disability community project to more fully engage Manitobans with disabilities in the next Manitoba general election.

The official launch of Disability Matters: Vote 2016 will coincide with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities:

December 3, 11am – Noon
Manitoba Legislature – Rotunda
Refreshments will be served

Please join us. Note taking and ASL supports have been arranged for the event.

Work on this important community project has really only started and there is just so much to do.

---

Drive Thru Five

Barrier-Free Manitoba has launched Drive Thru Five to ensure strong community advocacy throughout the critical first five years of implementation of the landmark Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) that was passed in 2013.

Two years have already passed and we need to step up our game for the three years that remain before 2018. And we need your help.

We are urging all Manitobans committed to disability and human rights to now endorse the call for the AMA's timely and effective implementation. It's one thing to have a new law on the books. It's quite another to ensure timely and game changing action.

Not only is this very important but it is also really easy. Just complete the webform at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BFMandAMA

We've made an incredible difference by working together to secure passage of the AMA in December 2013, and last week’s completion of the Customer Service Standard. We now need to redouble our collective efforts to further disability rights through to 2016 and beyond.

---

First Manitoba Accessibility Standard Finalized

After over 7 years of spirited advocacy, Manitoba finally has its very first Accessibility Standard. On the morning of October 21, 2015, Minister Irvin-Ross announced (see the Press Release) that the Customer Service Standard has now been made into regulation and will come into force on November 1st. Following are links for downloadable versions of the new regulation: (Word / PDF).

This a major step forward in the implementation of the landmark Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA). We are very pleased that the regulation addresses three of the primary concerns identified in our final May 2015 brief. The regulation also addresses the majority of the recommendations we made in earlier reports stretching all the way back to May 2014. Read our primer for a summary of highlights of the standard.

There are plenty of reasons for celebration! The Customer Service Standard will provide real and lasting improvements in the lives of the 175,000 Manitobans with disabilities, their families and their communities. These improvements will continue as the first legacy of our work to date, benefiting Manitobans throughout the decades to come.

Please join us in celebrating this accomplishment!

---

Public Sector Charged with Lead Role in Making Manitoba Fully Accessible

The development and enforcement of accessibility standards is the best known feature of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA). But another key requirement under the AMA is the creation of Accessibility Plans by public sector bodies. The plans are on top of the standards.

In 2016, all government of Manitoba departments and large public sector bodies with significant interaction with the public are required to create Accessibility Plans. This includes government departments, crown corporations, regional health organizations, colleges, school divisions and cities of more than 10,000.

Each of these plans must be made in consultation with the disability community and must incorporate the following:

• A report on the measures taken to identify, prevent and remove barriers that disable people.
• Measures that will be taken in the period covered by the plan to identify, prevent and remove barriers.
• Measures that are in place to assess the effect on accessibility for persons disabled by barriers when new policies, activities or initiatives are undertaken.

These plans must be made public. The plans must also be reviewed and renewed every two years.