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Accessibility Audit

Making Manitoba more accessible by 2020 is the key objective of the Accessibility for Manitoban’s Act (“the AMA”).  In order to comply with the first standard of AMA, the University of Winnipeg is required to gather information for the purpose of completing its Accessibility Plan as required.  Therefore, each unit within the University must reply to the questions in the audit form so as to provide current information about barriers to accessibility in its area and to suggest ways to remove the barriers, if any.  It is directed at all individuals who would normally access our campus and/or any university websites or university materials.

The audit is designed to help you work through the key areas that must be considered under the first of the five standards Standard to be implemented under the AMA. The goal of the audit is to: 

  1. Celebrate past successes, and;
  2. Identify existing barriers and outline proposals for removal.

When completing the audit form, it is important to consider and identify “accessibility barriers”.  These can be anything that limits or prevents a person from being able to receive information, services or goods, or to access space or activities and includes:

  1. Attitudinal Barriers - Attitudinal barriers, including stereotypes and assumptions, may be the biggest barrier. They may be based on stereotypes or assumptions that limit opportunities to people with disabilities.
  2. Architectural and Physical Barriers - Physical barriers prevent people from accessing your services. An example would be a classroom in which spaces between tables are too narrow for a student in a wheelchair to navigate easily.
  3. Informational and Communications Barriers - These are barriers that prevent people from understanding or accessing information.
  4. Technology barriers - These often relate to information and communication.
  5. Systemic Barriers - Systemic barriers are usually created by policies and procedures. Often, a policy is applied to everyone equally but has a negative impact on individuals or groups of persons with disabilities.

In completing the audit, it should be clear that the term “customer” is used in the legislation and has a broad meaning as noted on page 10 of the presentation.

The University self-audits completed by many units were vital to the completion of the UW Accessibility Plan.

As we work towards updating the Accessibility Plan for 2018-2019, we require a status report regarding the Actions identified by each unit/area in the 2016-2017 Accessibility Plan. Have those Actions been undertaken and, if so, when/how? If not, why not and what are your plans for completion? Please provide your update via email to s.belding@uwinnipeg.ca.

If your unit/area did not previously complete the self-audit, we would still like to hear from you. Our Accessibility Self-Audit template may be found at https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/respect/ama/related-links.html and emailed to s.belding@uwinnipeg.ca once complete. If you would prefer an in-person meeting, please contact Stacey Belding at the email above or (204) 988-7508.

We look forward to receiving your update or the completion of the self-audit no later than May 14, 2018.