Barrier Free Manitoba

We are pleased to post today's media release:

For Immediate Release

Hundreds to Celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities and Launch Disability Election Campaign

(WINNIPEG, December 3, 2015) Manitobans mark the 23rd annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities at a celebration from 11 am to noon at the Legislature Rotunda today. The celebration also launches Disability Matters: Vote 2016 (DMV2016), a non-partisan campaign to highlight the importance of cross-disability issues during the upcoming general provincial election.

The Day provides Manitobans with the chance to join with the estimated 1 billion persons with disabilities globally in calling for action to address human rights issues while focusing on the benefits that come from creating inclusive and accessible societies.

“We all have the responsibility to create communities where the human rights of persons with disabilities are promoted and protected and where everyone truly belongs. We need to talk more about how we are going to make sure that this happens,” said Malinda Roberts, DMV2016 co-spokesperson.

The right to political participation and full citizenship will be highlighted in this year’s celebration through the launch of Disability Matters: Vote 2016.

“People with disabilities are a huge voting bloc that has been overlooked in many past elections. Persons with intellectual disabilities, for instance, weren’t even allowed to vote in federal elections until 1988,” said Allen Mankewich, DMV2016 co-spokesperson. “It's important that all Manitobans with disabilities have the opportunity to raise issues that are important to them, and for the parties and their candidates running in the election to make disability issues part of their platforms.”

The celebration, jointly hosted by Abilities Manitoba and Barrier-Free Manitoba, will include greetings from representative of all three political parties represented in the Manitoba Legislature. In keeping with the right to political participation, a request is being made to each party to ensure the accessibility of all their election activities and events.

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