Accessible Information and Communication Standard Training Module

Section 2: Introduction to The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and the Accessible Information and Communication Standard

In this module, you will learn about The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA), its five regulated accessibility standards and an overview of the requirements of the Accessible Information and Communication Standard.

Before viewing this introductory video, consider for a moment all of the things you’ve done so far today that have involved communicating with others or giving or receiving information.

Accessible Info and Comm s2-p1-introduction_video.mp4

Video Transcript, The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and Standards

Scott Best: I think one of the most important parts of the information and communication standard is that it puts everyone on a level playing field.

You know, people who don't face barriers or don't have accessibility issues maybe don't think about that.

Collen Watters: Oh, I think it's vital because then I can I feel inclusive, I feel equal, I feel able to perform my work duties

That's the same as everybody else, and if that's not there, then then that's a barrier.

Shawna Joynt: Well, I'm an Indigenous woman. I'm hard of hearing. And I'm on a couple of government councils as well.

My strength is that I wanted to become involved in the Deaf Community, to advocate for the rights of Deaf people and to remove barriers.

In one area of Manitoba. I visited a public school where a Deaf child was a student. While observing, I was stunned to see the interpreter was someone with only a 101 level of sign language.

Not a fluent signer, just 101. This meant the child was missing a lot of information, and this was their education. And I've been involved ever since, as that impacted me profoundly.

I don't want that for our youth. We need to change for our young people.

Scott Best: I'm totally blind and I have been pretty much since the age of three. I had about 3% vision for the first three years of my life. And then when I was three years old, I lost the rest of it to glaucoma.

I'm a writer and an editor, so I write and edit a lot of public documents for the government: News releases, web copy.

Just the fact that everything is so digital has helped a lot, but there are still some things.

When a document, say, is in an image format that my screen reading software won't recognize. But thankfully it's a pretty easy fix, people are going to have something like that in a text format of some kind anyway. So, you just post that on the website instead of the image.

Collen Watters: I work as a policy analyst at the Manitoba Accessibility Office.

Well, I have no vision. So as a result, I use a white cane. And for my work I use a screen reader, information and communication is vital to everybody and it needs to be accessible to everyone.

Charts particularly the screen reader will just read blank lines.

Shawna Joynt: Well, just, I would really like to see more access to interpreters. Also... make sure the interpreter has what they need. It's important that the two of us work together to ensure that things go smoothly.

You know, teamwork.

Colleen Watters: It’s important and I feel positive as we move forward that if information is accessible, then the standard requirements can be met. So that they can provide accessible information and make their programs and services inclusive for everyone.

Shawna Joynt: Because we are all one. And, we should all respect one another. We all have different abilities, different ways. It's important to recognize that and respect that and try to accommodate that.

Scott Best: I think the progress that I've seen has really been in awareness. People are far more aware that they need to be thinking about accessibility. It's a really great feeling because - now it's a little bit more of a of a level playing field.

I don't have to ask for accommodations as much anymore. Accessibility is being built into the normal processes, and I think that's great because that's really the way that it should be.

Nearly every Manitoban has a disability, knows someone with a disability, or will have a disability in the coming years.

There are many ways people access information and communication as a result of their differing abilities to see, hear and understand information or communicate with others. Presenting information in a variety of ways will improve communication for everyone.

Accessible information and communication such as websites, written documents and training materials benefit all audiences by making information clear, direct, and easy to understand.

Accessible information and communication is usable by a wide audience, including people with disabilities and those who use a variety of devices, software and hardware. Providing accessible information and communication is important to ensure that all people have equal access to your information.

The Need for Legislation

The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) (opens in a new tab) was enacted in 2013. The AMA has two main goals:

Goal 1: identify, prevent and remove accessibility barriers to participation
Goal 2: make progress towards achieving accessibility in Manitoba

Manitoba’s efforts will focus on awareness-raising, education and training obligated organizations to fulfill the requirements set out in the law. Like other laws, the AMA also sets out compliance and enforcement measures, including inspections, orders to comply and monetary penalties for non-compliant organizations.

The Accessibility Standards

Accessibility Standards, or regulations, are the building blocks of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. Regulated accessibility standards outline who has to do what and by when, to enhance accessibility.

The Manitoba government appointed an Accessibility Advisory Council to assist in developing five regulated standards under the AMA, which include:

Accessible Information and Communication Standard

Enacted on May 1, 2022, Manitoba’s Accessible Information and Communication Standard is the third accessibility standard under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. Its aim is to identify, remove and prevent barriers that exist digitally, in print or through interaction with technology or people.

The Accessible Information and Communication Standard:

builds on existing requirements of Manitoba’s Human Rights Code (opens in a new tab)
helps organizations identify, reduce and remove barriers for website users and members of the public trying to access information or contact them
adopts globally recognized web content accessibility guidelines as a minimum requirement
applies to all organizations in Manitoba with one or more employees

The Standard requires all organizations to remove barriers related to information and communication for people with disabilities by creating and acting on policies, measures and practices respecting accessible communication.

Requirements focus on the following areas:

web content
the duty to notify (this means that organizations must provide notice that information, educational, and library materials are available through communication supports and alternative formats)
responding to requests for accessible information and communication supports
feedback process
training
policy documentation
specific requirements for educational institutions and public libraries

Examples of persons who benefit from accessible information and communication include:

people who have no vision or low vision: they may use screen readers or large print programs such as the ZoomText Magnifier/Reader
people with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia: they may need a document in an audio format
people with dexterity disabilities: they may use voice recognition software or a tracking ball and mouse instead of a computer keyboard
people who are Deaf or hard of hearing: they may require information interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL)
people with cognitive or intellectual disabilities: they may request documents in plain language

Alternate or Accessible Formats

People with disabilities may use adaptive or assistive technology that requires a certain format so the technology can access the information in a specific manner for the user. Alternate accessible formats, such as printed or electronic documents must be available to ensure everyone has equal access to the information.

Examples of alternate or accessible formats include:

large print
electronic or digital documents which are formatted to be accessible for use with a screen reader
braille
writing in plain language
text transcripts of visual and audio information, such as video transcript
American Sign Language (ASL) and/or close captioned interpreted documents and videos

Communication Supports

Communication supports are ways for people who cannot access verbal or audio information to receive it visually or ways for people who are non-verbal to communicate with people who speak. For instance, people who do not understand verbal communication may be Deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing

Examples of communication supports include:

sign language interpretation
video relay service (VRS)
intervenor services
captioning or audio description
notetaking
reading the written information aloud to the person directly

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