Accessible Information and Communication Standard: An accessibility standard, under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act, the Accessible Information and Communication Standard focuses on removing and preventing barriers that exist digitally, in-print or through interaction with technology or people.

Accessible Information and Communication: Information provided in-person, in print or on websites where communications are clear, direct and easy to understand. Accessible communication also involves relaying information that is free from barriers that prevent or hinder a person from obtaining, using or benefiting from the information.

Accessible or Alternate Formats: Information provided in different ways other than conventional print.

Examples include: Large print, MS Word (instead of PDF), recorded audio, electronic or digital documents formatted to be accessible for use with a screen reader or screen magnification program, Braille, plain language, text transcripts of visual and audio information, American Sign Language (ASL) and/or close captioned interpreted documents.

Alt Tags or Alternative Text: Provides alternative information (including descriptions of visual content) in place of images, pictures or graphics for individuals with vision impairments who use screen readers.

American Sign Language: Sign language common to English-speaking North Americans. In Quebec another form of sign language is used (LSQ). Interpreters use gestures and physical expression to translate spoken words into “sign language” for persons who are Deaf.

Barriers: Obstacles that limit access to information and prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in society. Most barriers are not intentional and arise because the needs of people with disabilities are not considered from the beginning.

Captioning: Text that appears at the bottom of the screen (television) that allows persons who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing to follow the spoken dialogue. Closed captioning is similar but the text must be decoded to appear on the screen. Captioning is an example of a technology developed for persons who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing, but it is used by everyone, especially in bars and sports facilities.

Communication: The transfer of information between two or more persons or entities or any combination of the two.

Communication supports: Ways for people who cannot access verbal or audio information to receive communication visually or ways for people who are non-verbal to communicate with people who speak. Communication supports include texting, captioning and video description services, alternative and augmentative communications, plain language, sign language, video relay services, Deaf-Blind Accessibility Interpreters, note taking, reading information aloud, and other supports that facilitate effective communication.

Educational Institutions: Include colleges and universities (as defined in section 1 of The Advanced Education Administration Act), adult learning centres (registered under the Adult Learning Centres Act), private and vocational institutions (as defined in section 1 of The Private Vocational Institutions Act) and public and independent schools (as defined in section 1 of The Education Administration Act).

Internet (External) websites: All organizations must ensure that their internet (external) websites and web content meet or exceed globally followed World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.

Intranet (Internal) websites: The intranet (internal) sites of public sector organizations, large municipalities, educational institutions and libraries sites must conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

Large Municipalities: Manitoba's 10 largest municipalities, as defined by the province as cities, include Brandon, Dauphin, Flin Flon, Morden, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Steinbach, Thompson, Winkler and Winnipeg.

Large Print: Print produced in a font size of 14 points or larger to facilitate reading for people who have low vision. Font option should be “sans serif” for easy reading.

Libraries: Include municipal public libraries and regional libraries under The Public Libraries Act, libraries operated by The City of Winnipeg, and libraries of educational institutions.

Library resources: Items, materials, recordings or software that can be accessed, used or borrowed at libraries.

Private Sector Organizations: Include businesses and organizations with one or more employees, such as shops, restaurants and professional services, as well as non-profit organizations. Non-profit organizations include charities, churches, community organizations and member associations.

Public Sector Organizations: Include Crown Corporations, Health Authorities, School Divisions, post-secondary institutions, large municipalities (Manitoba’s ten largest cities as defined under the Municipal Act) and government agencies, boards and commissions.

Significant refresh: An update to an existing web application that changes the functionality, user base or purpose of the application.

Small Municipalities: Includes all towns, villages, and rural municipalities within Manitoba, except Manitoba's 10 largest municipalities (refer to: Large Municipalities).

World Wide Web Consortium (W3C): An international community that develops open (free) standards to ensure the long-term growth of the Web.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): Developed through the W3C process, in cooperation with individuals and organizations around the world. The goal is to provide a single shared standard for web content accessibility that meets the needs of individuals, organizations, and governments internationally.

WCAG 2.1 Level AA: Refers to the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA.

Web applications: Software applications that are run on web servers and accessed by users through web browsers (not including mobile apps). Web applications, also called web apps, are programs that allow users to perform actions online.