June 3, 2013
Provincial Government Proclaims Manitoba Access Awareness Week
All Manitobans are encouraged to participate in activities and consider ways to make the province more inclusive for everyone, Family Services and Labour Minister Jennifer Howard, minister responsible for persons with disabilities, said today as she proclaimed June 2 to 8 Manitoba Access Awareness Week.
“Each year at this time we celebrate accomplishments and also focus on the work to be done to increase awareness of the barriers people with disabilities face and promote removal of these barriers,” said Howard. “We are proud to have recently introduced the accessibility for Manitobans act to help make more places and services barrier-free, as Manitobans with disabilities have a right to equal access to information, events and public spaces.”
About 16 per cent of Manitoba’s population has one or more disabilities and around the world it is estimated 650 million people live with disabilities, the minister said.
The official kickoff of Manitoba Access Awareness Week took place under the canopy at The Forks at noon today. This year’s awareness campaign features several public events focusing on accessibility legislation and employment.
On June 4, the Alliance of Manitoba Sector Councils is hosting a breakfast seminar with Dr. Kevin Stolarick of the Martin Prosperity Institute and research associate of Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class. The presentation will focus on the economic opportunities resulting from access and inclusion of people with disabilities.
On June 5, Manitoba Hydro is sponsoring a disability awareness training event for employers interested in hiring and retaining employees with disabilities. The event is 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Manitoba Hydro Building, 360 Portage Ave., Winnipeg.
Another highlight of the week is a celebration of Manitoba accessibility leaders at an awards ceremony at noon on June 7, in the Manitoba Legislative Building, the minister said.
More information on Manitoba Access Awareness Week activities is available at: www.gov.mb.ca/dio/maaw.html.
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