The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and digital accessibility

Definitions

“accessible communication” means communication of information in a manner that is free from barriers that prevent or hinder a person from obtaining, using or benefiting from the information. (« communication accessible »)

“accessible format” includes large print, recorded audio and electronic formats, braille and other formats usable by persons with disabilities. (« format accessible »)

“communication” means the transfer of information between two or more persons or entities or any combination of them. (« communication »)

“communication support” includes captioning, alternative and augmentative communication supports, plain language, sign language and other supports that facilitate effective communication. (« aide à la communication »)

“educational institution” means

(a) an adult learning centre registered under The Adult Learning Centres Act;

(b) the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology continued under The Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology Act;

(c) a private vocational institution as defined in section 1 of The Private Vocational Institutions Act;

(d) a public school and an independent school as defined in section 1 of The Education Administration Act; and

(e) a university or a college as defined in section 1 of The Advanced Education Administration Act. (« établissement d’enseignement »)

“educational material” means

(a) textbooks;

(b) supplementary learning resources, including reference books, workbooks and educational kits;

(c) student records; and

(d) class, lesson, workshop or program

(i) descriptions,

(ii) availability,

(iii) scheduling, and

(iv) requirements. (« matériel pédagogique »)

“information” means data, facts or knowledge that is written, photographed, recorded or stored in any manner. (« renseignements »)

“large employer” means an employer who,

(a) in the case of a seasonal workplace, employs at least 50 employees to do work that is expected to continue for at least 90 days; and

(b) in the case of any other workplace, employs at least 50 employees. (« grand employeur »)

“library” means

(a) a municipal public library under The Public Libraries Act;

(b) a regional library as defined in The Public Libraries Act;

(c) a library operated by The City of Winnipeg; and

(d) the library of an educational institution. (« bibliothèque »)

“library resources” means an item, material, recording or software that can be accessed, used or borrowed at a library. (« ressources »)

“WCAG 2.1 Level AA” means the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA.(« niveau de conformité AA des Règles pour l’accessibilité des contenus Web 2.1 »)

“web content” means information that is published on

(a) the Internet website of an organization listed under clause 2(a), (b) or (c); and

(b) the intranet website of an organization listed in clause 2(a) or (b). (« contenu Web »)

Phase-in of obligations

(a) on the day that is one year after the coming into force of this regulation, a department of the government;

(b) on the day that is two years after the coming into force of this regulation,

(i) a government agency as defined in section 1 of The Financial Administration Act,

(ii) a health authority as defined in The Health System Governance and Accountability Act,

(iii) The City of Winnipeg and a municipality that is a city, as listed in Schedule A of the Municipal Status and Boundaries Regulation, Manitoba Regulation 567/88 R,

(iv) an educational institution, and

(v) a library;

(c) on the day that is three years after the coming into force of this regulation, any other organization subject to The Accessibility for Manitobans Act that has one or more employees in Manitoba.

M.R. 123/2023

Promoting accessible communication

Accessible measures, policies and practices

3(2)  Large employers and organizations listed in clauses 2(a) and (b) must document the measures, policies and practices established under this regulation and make those documented policies publicly available.

Accessible communication training

(a) a person who communicates directly to the public or to another organization in Manitoba on behalf of the organization, including employees, agents and volunteers;

(b) if the organization is an educational institution, a person who is an educator;

(c) a person who develops or maintains the organization’s web content;

(d) a person who purchases or procures information technology or communication tools;

(e) a person who develops or implements the organization’s measures, policies and practices respecting accessible communication.

4(2)  Accessible communication training must include the following:

(a) instruction about how to identify, prevent and remove barriers to accessible communication;

(b) instruction on how to provide information through a communication support or accessible format;

(c) a review of The Human Rights Code, The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and this regulation.

4(3)  An organization must ensure that

(a) training is provided to a person as soon as reasonably practicable after the person is assigned the applicable duties; and

(b) ongoing training is provided in connection with changes to the organization’s measures, policies and practices respecting accessible communication.

4(4)  Large employers and organizations listed in clauses 2(a) and (b) must create and document an accessible communication training policy, including a summary of the content of the training and when the training is provided.

Duty to notify

Requesting accessible information

6(2)  If a person requests information through a communication support or accessible format, an organization must

(a) consult with the person to identify the support or format that would remove the barrier; and

(b) provide the information to the person through the identified support or format in a timely manner.

6(3)  An organization must not impose a cost or fee on a person who requests that information be provided through a communication support or accessible format that is greater than the cost or fee that would be imposed on a person who did not make a request.

6(4)  As an exception to subsection (2), an organization is not required to provide the information through a communication support or accessible format if one or more of the following applies:

(a) it is not technically feasible to provide the information through a communication support or accessible format;

(b) the technology required to provide the information through a communication support or accessible format is not readily available;

(c) providing the information through a communication support or accessible format would result in undue hardship to the organization;

(d) the organization does not have direct control over the information;

(e) the information relates to product labels or other product information.

6(5)  This section does not apply to information contained in

(a) educational materials; or

(b) library resources.

Accessible web content

(a) the web content is published on or after the day this regulation applies to the organization;

(b) the web content is required to access the organization’s goods and services.

7(2)  As an exception to subsection (1), an organization’s web content is not required to meet or exceed the standards set out in WCAG 2.1 Level AA if one or more of the following applies:

(a) it is not technically feasible to publish the web content in accordance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA;

(b) the technology required to publish the web content in accordance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA is not readily available;

(c) publishing the web content in accordance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA would result in undue hardship to the organization;

(d) the organization does not have direct control over the web content;

(e) the web content relates to product labels or other product information.

Accessible web applications

8(2)  As an exception to subsection (1), a web application is not required to meet or exceed the standards set out in WCAG 2.1 Level AA if one or more of the following applies:

(a) it is not technically feasible to publish the web application in accordance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA;

(b) the technology required to publish the web application in accordance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA is not readily available;

(c) publishing the web application in accordance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA would result in undue hardship to the organization;

(d) the organization does not have direct control over the web application;

(e) the web application relates to product labels or other product information.

8(3)  The following definitions apply in this section.

“significant update” means an update to an existing web application that changes the web application’s functionality, user base or purpose. (« mise à jour importante »)

“web application” means a software application that is run on a web server and accessed by a user through a web browser. (« application Web »)

Feedback process must be accessible

(a) receiving and responding to feedback about accessible communication in a manner that is appropriate in the circumstances and is suitable for persons who are disabled by barriers; and

(b) documenting its resulting actions, and making that documentation available on request.

Accessible educations institutions

Duty to notify: educational materials

(a) employees;

(b) students;

(c) applicants and prospective applicants;

(d) parents and guardians of students, applicants and prospective applicants.

Requesting accessible educational materials

11(2) If a person requests educational material through a communication support or accessible format, the educational institution must

(a) consult with the person to identify the support or format that would remove the barrier; and

(b) provide the educational material to the person in the identified support or format in a timely manner.

11(3) If educational material cannot reasonably be provided through a communication support or accessible format, the educational institution must provide a comparable resource to the person who requested the support or format.

11(4) The educational institution must not impose a cost or fee on a person who requests that educational material be provided through a communication support or accessible format that is greater than the cost or fee that would be imposed on a person who did not make a request.

Accessible public libraries

Library resource procurement

Duty to notify: library resources

Requesting accessible library resources

14(2)  If a person requests a library resource through a communication support or accessible format, the library must

(a) consult with the person to identify a support or format that would remove the barrier; and

(b) provide the library resource to the person in the identified support or format in a timely manner.

14(3)  A library must not impose a cost or fee on a person who requests that a library resource be provided through a communication support or accessible format that is greater than the cost or fee that would be imposed on a person who did not make a request.

14(4) As an exception to subsection (2), a library is not required to provide the library resource through a communication support or accessible format if one or more of the following applies:

(a) it is not technically feasible to provide the library resource through a communication support or accessible format;

(b) the technology required to provide the library resource through a communication support or accessible format is not readily available;

(c) providing the library resource through a communication support or accessible format would result in undue hardship to the library;

(d) the library does not have direct control over the library resource;

(e) the library resource relates to product labels or other product information.

Application of regulation

Coming into force