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.

A group of women standing in a room, communicating in ASL.

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.