Summary

1. Community Involvement

Feedback from key stakeholders will play an important role in guiding the implementation of a future disability strategy. Over the coming months, a variety of sectors will be consulted to ensure we are moving in the right direction.

Consultation begins with this document and an invitation to provide your comments to the Disabilities Issues Office (DIO). Experts’ discussion groups and community consultations will also be organized. Please visit the DIO website for further information at www.manitoba.ca/dio.

2. Cross-government Co-ordination

In 2002, the province established the Disabilities Issues Office to serve Manitobans with disabilities and report to the Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities. The DIO will continue to co-ordinate the work of government departments, disability groups, corporate and community organizations.

The Assistant Deputy Minister’s Committee on Disability Issues was created to ensure senior officials collaborate in creating a seamless approach to disability issues across government. It will be renewed to direct the government-wide implementation of the provincial disability strategy.

Government-wide working groups will develop and implement specific initiatives within the strategy. These working groups will use staff and resources from the departments involved, as well as from the DIO.

Disability access co-ordinators will be placed in all government departments. They will be trained and supported by the DIO to implement Manitoba’s Policy on Access to Government Publications, Events and Services.

Through the use of a Disability Lens, all provincial departments will be encouraged to consider the specific needs and circumstances of persons with disabilities, and to ensure that all persons with disabilities are included in the creation, implementation and evaluation of government activities.

3. Leadership

This discussion paper will renew the mandate of the Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities. This includes: fostering the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in all segments of society within the framework of public policy, programs and provincial legislation.

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4. Reporting

The Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities will provide an annual, public report to the Legislature on the status of persons with disabilities in Manitoba.

The Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities will convene a provincial forum in 2012 to receive feedback on the renewed action plan from persons with disabilities and their families.

Demonstrating Progress

To measure progress, key indicators of progress will be tracked. The list below includes examples of indicators that may be used to track the success of this initiative.

Employment and Income Security

• employment rate of persons with disabilities employed by the civil service
• employment rate of persons with disabilities of working age in Manitoba
• earnings gap between persons with disabilities and persons without
• poverty rate of persons with disabilities, using the Market Basket Measure

Housing

• number of housing units that are fully accessible
• availability of housing units with supports
• number of housing units that contain visitable features

Rights and Justice

• percentage of disability-related human rights complaints

Gender and Diversity

• increase the percentage of housing with supports that allow persons with disabilities and seniors to age in their own homes
• increase the services and supports available to Aboriginals in urban areas

Disability Supports

• access to technical aids and devices for persons with disabilities

Accessibility

• number of accessible campsites, yurts and cabins in provincial parks
• percentage of accessible public buildings

Education and Training

• percentage of persons with disabilities enrolled in post secondary institutions
• number of spaces for students with disabilities in the Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP)
• number of spaces in the applied behaviour analysis (ABA) pre-school program
• number of direct service workers using the Journey of Support manual for orientation

Health Promotion

• diabetes rates in Manitoba
• motor vehicle accidents, falls and workplace, drowning and farm injuries
• number of children with health care needs able to participate in community activities

Community Living

• number of persons transitioning from the Manitoba Developmental Centre to community based placements

Smarter Government

• number of Access Centres across the province

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Questions for Feedback

1. What other ways can the province further strengthen the involvement of the community guiding and monitoring the implementation of this strategy?
2. Are there other disability-related issues you want included in a future?
3. Are there other ways you want to see the government use to evaluate the strategy?

Leave your Feedback now.

If you have comments or suggestions about the proposals in this discussion paper, please forward these to the:

Disabilities Issues Office
Room 630 – 240 Graham Avenue
Winnipeg MB  R3C 0J7
Phone:  204-945-7613
Fax:  204-948-2896
Toll free: 1-800-282-8069 (ext. 7613)
TTY:  204-948-2901
E-mail:  openingdoors@gov.mb.ca
Website:  www.manitoba.ca/dio

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