On June 7th Manitoba Access Awareness Week 2013 concluded with an Awards Celebration to honour individuals, organizations and businesses that provide leadership in making Manitoba an inclusive society.  The Honourable Jennifer Howard, Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities, acknowledged the leadership provided by all nominees and presented five awards including to Jane Sayer for her Outstanding Individual Voluntary Contribution toward creating a fully inclusive society.  For more information, see http://www.gov.mb.ca/dio/maaw.html

Ms. Sayer was celebrated for her years of work as a strong
 Advocate for the acquired Deaf-Blind community.

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Accessibility Legislation
Introduced in Manitoba

The province has introduced legislation that will move Manitoba further toward the goal of a fully accessible province. The Accessibility for Manitobans Act was given its First Reading in the Manitoba Legislature, Wednesday, April 24, 2013.

The legislation’s purpose is to remove barriers by working with the public and private sectors to make proactive, long-range plans that enhance accessibility for everyone. This bill will lay out a framework for the development and implementation of accessibility standards that will improve the independence and social inclusion of Manitobans where they live, learn, work and play.

To view the Bill in its entirety, click here
Scroll down to The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and click. The Bill may not be posted until tomorrow.

To view the News Release, click here

The Accessibility Advisory Council’s Final Report offered the Council’s recommendations on enacting legislation for the prevention and removal of barriers and served as the basis for legislation.

Please find below Recommendations of the Accessibility Advisory Council on Accessibility Legislation as well as the Government Response to Recommendations of the Accessibility Advisory Council on Accessibility Legislation.

Government Response to Recommendations of the Accessibility Advisory Council on Accessibility Legislation (pdf)
Government Response to Recommendations of the Accessibility Advisory Council on Accessibility Legislation  (word version)

Recommendations of the Accessibility Advisory Council on Accessibility Legislation (pdf)
Recommendations of the Accessibility Advisory Council on Accessibility Legislation (word version)

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Disabilities Issues Office (DIO)

Our vision is a fully accessible Manitoba, where all abilities are valued, diversity and independence are celebrated, barriers are removed and human rights are protected.

Mission:  The DIO was established to support the Province of Manitoba in promoting the participation of persons with disabilities as full citizens in all aspects of society within the framework of public policy and programs of the provincial government.

The DIO:

• supports the Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities in ensuring the development of disability inclusive policies and programs
• identifies and helps address issues to enhance government initiatives affecting persons with disabilities
• promotes positive attitudes about disability to help make Manitoba a more inclusive society for persons with disabilities
• supports communication between the disability community and government through regular consultation
• focuses on long term policy change.

The DIO is guided in its work by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:  http://www.cashra.ca/documents/CASHRA-CRDP-brochure_accessible.pdf

For highlights of the 2011-12 DIO Annual Report, please see the Fall 2012 DIO E-Newsletter:  http://www.gov.mb.ca/dio/pdf/dio_e-newsletter.pdf

 

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