Accessibility

The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) was passed on December 5, 2013 and provides a clear, proactive process to identify, prevent and remove barriers to accessibility.

Under this legislation, the Manitoba government will develop mandatory accessibility standards to address barriers to accessibility with respect to the following five areas:

• Customer service
• Employment
• Transportation information
• Communication
• Built environment

The implementation of AMA will have positive impacts on access to health care services. The removal of barriers addressed through the five standards will result a more welcoming environment for everyone using health care services and for staff, students, volunteers and visitors.

The original Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) Accessibility Plan was approved by the PMH Board of Directors on April 27, 2017. This plan is a living document and will be updated as additional information becomes available. The revised Accessibility Plan is now available and in effect for 2022-2024.

If you would like additional information about Accessibility in Prairie Mountain Health, please contact:

Lara Bossert,
Executive Director – Communications & Corporate Operations
Prairie Mountain Health
[email protected]

One of our first steps is to gain an understanding of the barriers to accessibility in our healthcare facilities are.

What are Barriers to Accessibility?

Barriers to accessibility are obstacles that make it difficult – or sometimes impossible – for people with different abilities to fully participate in school, work, social situations or receive health services. Barriers usually develop because accessibility needs are not considered. There are many different types of barriers, both visible and invisible. They include:

Attitudinal Barriers – may result in people with disabilities being treated differently than people without disabilities (e.g., talking to an individual’s support person assuming the individual with a disability will not be able to understand; assuming a person who has a speech impairment or speaks a different language cannot understand you; thinking a person with an intellectual or mental health disability cannot make decisions, etc.).

Informational and Communication Barriers – arise when a person with a disability cannot easily receive and /or understand information available to others (e.g., print is too small to be read by a person with impaired vision; public address systems alert only people who can hear, etc.).

Technological Barriers – occur when technology, or the way it is used, is not accessible (e.g., websites not accessible to people who are blind and use screen reader software; accepting only online registration forms for programs, etc.).

Systemic Barriers – are policies, practices or procedures that result in some people receiving unequal access or being excluded (e.g., not considering the needs of persons with disabilities at the event planning stage; not being aware of policies that support accessibility, etc.).

Physical and Architectural Barriers – in the environment prevent physical access for people with disabilities (e.g., a door knob cannot be turned by a person with limited mobility or strength; aisles are narrowed by displays or equipment making them impassable by a person using a wheelchair or walker, etc.).