The Accessibility for Manitobans Act

There are new accessibility laws that affect all Manitoba businesses and organizations, including RMTs. From the sole proprietor RMT working from a home based business, to the independent contractor or clinic owner working in a multi-disciplinary practice, all businesses should have a policy in place to ensure that they are in compliance with the standards of the Act as they are implemented.

There are 5 Standards associated with the Act:

The Accessible Customer Service Standard which addresses business practices and training needed to provide better customer service to people with disabilities. This Standard came into effect on November 1, 2018. How does the Customer Service Standard affect me as an RMT?
The Accessible Employment Standard will address paid employment practices relating to employee-employer relationships, which could include recruitment, as well as hiring and retention practices. This Standard comes into effect on May 1, 2020. How does the Accessible Employment Standard affect me as an RMT?
The Information and Communications Accessibility Standard will address barriers to accessing information – information provided in print, in person, on websites or in other formats. This Standard is currently under development and the implementation date is not available at this time. MTAM will update this page when more information becomes available.
The Accessible Built Environment Standard which will address outdoor spaces, including sidewalks, curbs, roadways, and parks. This proposed Standard complements the current Manitoba Building Code. The implementation date for this Standard has not yet been set. MTAM will update this page when more information becomes available.
The Accessible Transportation Standard will apply to public transportation and will address barriers Manitobans might encounter while getting to work or school, shopping, socializing and other aspects of daily life. The implementation date for this Standard has not yet been set. MTAM will update this page when more information becomes available.

Introduction to the Accessibility for Manitobans Act

NEW! "Accessibility for Manitobans: Everyone Benefits" Free Online Training
http://www.accessibilitymb.ca/online-training.html

General FAQs

Q. Does the Accessibility for Manitobans Act apply to my practice as a massage therapist?
A. Yes. The Act applies to public, private and non-profit organizations in all work settings (i.e., massage therapy clinics, home-based or mobile practices, solo practictioners).

Q. How does this affect me as a member of the public?
A. As a member of the public if you have a disability, you should expect that the massage therapy organization / place of business you attend has met the applicable Standards within the Act.

Q. Is there a sample plan my business can use?
A. Yes. MTAM has created a sample plan/policy available exclusively to MTAM members and available in the members-only section of the MTAM website.

Q. Are there resources to help create an accessibility plan?
A. The Disability Issues Office has created an Employer Handbook and an Employee Tips sheet to aid organizations in creating the necessary policies and documents for their business. For those businesses with contractors rather than employees, additional resources are available from Workplace Safety and Health.

Q. Who do I contact if I have more questions?
A. For more information, please read the Government of Manitoba FAQ document or contact the Disability Issues Office directly at (204) 945-7613. For more free on-line resources and information about Manitoba’s accessibility legislation, visit Accessibility Manitoba.

DISABILITY STATISTICS: The FACTS By Numbers

3.8 million Canadians identify as having a disability.
13.7% of Canadians self-identify as having a disability.
443,900 job-ready Canadians with disabilities are available for work in Canada.
180,500 job-ready Canadians with disabilities have a post-secondary education.
$40 billion is the estimated buying power of the disability community in Canada.
$1 trillion is the estimated buying power of the disability community globally.
53% of Americans have a disability or have a close family member who has a disability.
6% of people with disabilities use a wheelchair – that’s 1% of the general population.
90% of people with disabilities rated average or better in job performance.
Almost 60% of people with disabilities require no accommodations at all. Of those who do, the typical one-time expenditure by employers was $500.

2017 Canadian Business SenseAbility