Province welcomes employer applications for accessibility fund

The Manitoba government is calling on employers in the province to apply for funding for projects that will improve accessibility and remove barriers for those living with disabilities.

The 2024-2025 Manitoba Accessibility Fund (MAF) will provide employers grants up to $50,000 for these projects.

“This grant program plays a crucial role in supporting better accessibility in Manitoba organizations and agencies,” said Nahanni Fontaine, families minister and minister responsible for accessibility. “I look forward to collaborating with this year’s recipients and seeing how their projects can help remove barriers and make Manitoba more accessible for everyone.”

Late in 2023, Ottawa’s new Disability Inclusion Business Council (DIBC) officially launched its Canadian Business Disability Network (CBDN), an independent, self-governed business disability network.

Activities eligible for funding under Manitoba’s accessibility program include, but are not limited to:

• projects, programs and events that help raise awareness about barriers faced by Manitobans with disabilities and how to prevent and remove these barriers, guided by The Accessibility for Manitobans Act's principles and standards\
• tools, resources and training events or webinars to support compliance with The Accessibility for Manitobans Act standards affecting customer service, employment and information and communications
• activities to integrate the requirements of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act standards into the policies, processes and initiatives of an organizational sector, professional association, geographic region or demographic group
• tools and technology to remove barriers to information and communications, with digital enhancements consistent with the Worldwide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA or above

The Manitoba government is accepting applications from:

• non-profit organizations
• local businesses or local corporations based in Manitoba providing services to Manitobans that are registered with the companies office
• municipalities and local authorities, such as planning districts and Northern Affairs Community Councils
• on-reserve organizations or businesses that meet all other eligibility requirements
• universities, colleges and school divisions

Accessibility projects across the province

Late last year, Accessibility Standards Canada released the new national accessibility standards for disabled employees.

The MAF, managed by The Winnipeg Foundation, was launched in 2021 with an initial $20-million investment. 

In 2023, it provided more than $890,000 to 42 organizations. One of the organizations that received funding was the South Interlake Regional Library, which got $27,900 to assist in removing barriers to information and communications electronically by making adaptive technology available and bringing more than 1.2 million book titles to disabled Manitobans in rural areas.

“We believe that literacy is a human right that belongs to everyone. The MAF grant is providing the resources to help us bring reading materials from the Centre for Equitable Library Access to print-disabled library users in rural areas through assistive technology,” said Clint Curle, director, South Interlake Regional Library, back then.

Since 2021, the program has supported increased compliance with the Accessibility for Manitobans Act through $1.6 million worth of funding for 72 projects across the province.

Here’s how to be a more accessible employer.