Manitoba
Printer Friendly

Manitoba Disabilities Issues Office

Welcome to the DIO

Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard, minister responsible for persons with disabilities (centre) is joined by Accessibility Advisory Council chairperson Jim Derksen and vice-chair Yvonne Peters at a Winnipeg forum organized by the provincial Disabilities Issues Office to recognize the United Nations International Day for Persons with Disabilities (December 3) and to announce the membership of the 12-person council appointed to help identify, remove or prevent barriers faced by people with disabilities


In 2002, the Government of Manitoba established the Disabilities Issues Office (DIO) to serve and report to the Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities.

 The Disabilities Issues Office:

  • communicates directly with members of the community
  • consults with organizations and citizens concerned about program gaps and policy
    directions
  • co-ordinates work among government departments, disability groups, community
    organizations and business
  • makes Manitoba a more inclusive society for persons with disabilities  

Moving Change Forward

The Disabilities Issues Office is playing a key role in many initiatives, including:

  • promoting the rights of persons with disabilities through legislative means, and with the  implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
  • working with other government departments to improve access to educational
    opportunities and employment, including in the Civil Service
  • collaborating with other jurisdictions to achieve equal access to services throughout
  • Manitoba ensuring that government services and information is accessible to all citizens 

Leadership

The Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities is mandated to:

  • identify issues affecting persons with disabilities
  • co-ordinate policy development to improve access to public services
  • raise awareness about living with disability
  • represent the needs of Manitobans with disabilities to other levels of
    government