The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA)

The Accessibility for Manitobans Act is a provincial road map for removing barriers. It sets accessibility standards for workplaces, services, and public spaces.

← Back to the full Canada overview (federal + provincial laws)

For official Manitoba guidance, see  Accessibility Manitoba’s AMA resources.

For enterprise teams, the Act ties compliance to how you run your business. This impacts your policy, design, and technology. It means your organization must build inclusion into every part of your work. You must:

• Adopt universal design to create better experiences for everyone.
• Make certain all web properties meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA
• Train teams to find and fix barriers in service delivery.
• Keep clear records of your policies and staff training.

First, let's define the act's scope and what compliance looks like for organizations.

Note: This article provides general information, not legal advice. You should validate scope and obligations against the official texts for your sector and jurisdiction.

Legislation and policy

The Accessibility for Manitobans Act is a law that requires large organizations to change how they operate.

This framework focuses on five key areas, called standards:

• Customer service
• Employment
• Information and communication
• Transportation
• Design of public spaces

Compliance isn't optional. It's a requirement. If your business doesn't follow these rules, you could face large fines.

Standards and business risk

For an enterprise-level company, this means more than just a quick fix. You must audit your business operations to find and remove hidden barriers.

For enterprise-level teams, this usually means setting a repeatable audit process for digital properties, not a one-time review. Some organizations use platforms such as Siteimprove.ai to monitor common WCAG 2.1 AA issues across large sites, prioritize fixes, and keep an evidence trail for internal reporting.

As of May 1, 2025, private businesses must meet the Information and Communication Standard. This means your digital content and websites must utilize an accessible format so that they're equally available to everyone.

Rights that evolve

Recent disability rights updates show that the province is speeding up its enforcement. To stay safe, enterprise teams should focus on these goals:

• Document all accessibility policies and make them public.
• Keep training records for all staff.
• Prepare for the next compliance report by December 31, 2026.
• Utilize the Manitoba Accessibility Office’s website to stay up to date.

This isn't just about doing the right thing. It's about building a resilient brand that everyone can access easily.

Design and technology

Removing digital barriers is about more than checking a box. It's about building products that work for everyone from the start. This is called barrier-free design.

When you make sure of web accessibility, you make your site better for all users.

Universal design vs. retrofitting

Universal design means you bake website accessibility into all your online services from the initial planning on. It's much more cost-effective than trying to fix things later. It also helps you reach a bigger market.

When people with different needs can use your services without any help, it boosts your brand's reputation and lowers your support costs.

Modern assistive technology

Today's assistive technology is changing fast. Many users now use AI-powered tools to read screens or describe images. To support them, your code must be clean.

Barrier-free design  rules make sure these tools work perfectly. This creates a smooth experience for everyone.

Accessibility in daily life

The changes how we live and work. This is advocacy and education that creates real progress every day.

Education and learning access

Educational institutions play a huge part in this shift. New information and communication standards guarantee that students can access all learning materials. This includes digital tools and library resources.

For public sector organizations, this means making websites and apps easy for every student to use. Web accessibility helps make an equitable start for everyone in the classroom a reality.

Career pathways and employment

The Act also opens new doors in the workplace. Many school divisions, such as RETSD, have clear plans to remove career barriers. These programs focus on:

• Fair and inclusive hiring practices
• Better on-the-job support and tools
• Clear communication for all employees

Building these pathways enables large companies to tap into a wider pool of talent. It makes our communities stronger and more inclusive for everyone.

Impact on public services

The act forces a major shift in how the government serves its people. It moves away from generic services and toward inclusive design. This means public programs must work for everyone right from the start.

Better community support

The government uses a compliance framework to track how these changes help people. Community supports are now measured by how well they remove barriers. For example, the Manitoba Government Accessibility Plan shows how the province makes services easier to reach. This empowers every citizen to get the help they need.

Accessible transit and spaces

The Winnipeg 2024 Accessibility Plan shows how cities are working to make transit better. Key changes include:

• Installing wider ramps on buses
• Adding audio cues for stop names
• Training drivers on passenger needs

Redesigning these systems makes public services more reliable.

Advocacy and community support

Advocacy groups are the heart of the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. They push the government and large companies to do more for everyone.

These groups help leaders understand how barriers hurt people. Sharing real, lived stories highlights the importance of these goals, supporting inclusion for everyone.

Programs that build inclusion

Community programs help people live better lives. These groups offer training and tools that make daily tasks easier.

For example, a project launched to meet Manitoba's information and communication standard helps creators make digital content that everyone can use. This kind of teamwork guarantees that no one is left behind as technology changes.

Government support and funding

The province also provides tools to help big organizations succeed. You can find detailed rules in the Accessibility for Manitobans Act text.

These resources guide teams through complex changes. They offer clear paths for funding and support. This helps large enterprises build a culture where inclusion is part of every plan.

Technology and innovation in accessibility

Technology is the engine that drives large-scale inclusion. In 2026, it transforms how teams build and deliver digital services.

Advanced tools now detect and fix code errors in real time. As a result, every update stays compliant with the Accessibility for Manitobans Act.

These tools empower large companies to manage complex sites without costly delays.

Latest assistive technology trends

Teams are moving beyond simple screen readers. The latest trends include:

• Agentic AI: Digital coworkers that help users navigate complex forms and tasks
• Cognitive-adaptive interfaces: Layouts that change to reduce stress for neurodivergent users
• Ambient security: Built-in safety for assistive tools that protect user data automatically

Inclusive design in the development lifecycle

You shouldn't treat digital accessibility as a final check. Instead, it should be part of your design from day one. This "shift-left" approach saves money by preventing costly fixes later.

In practice, "shift-left" often means adding accessibility checks to the same workflows you already use for content and releases. For example, teams may use platforms such as Siteimprove.ai to catch recurring issues earlier (before publishing), so accessibility doesn't become a last-minute scramble.

When you bake accessible design principles into your workflow, you create a better experience for everyone. It makes your products more robust and future-proof.

Build a more inclusive future

The Accessibility for Manitobans Act is a powerful model for how accessibility legislation can change lives.

For large enterprises, success depends on teamwork. When your IT, marketing, and policy teams work together, you create better products for everyone. Accessible information benefits your organization in several significant ways.

This cross-functional approach reduces risks and improves how you serve the community.

Your next steps

To start your journey toward full compliance with all accessibility requirements, focus on these key actions:

• Conduct a full audit of all digital and physical properties (including ongoing monitoring with a platform such as ai where appropriate).
• Integrate accessibility standards into your annual business strategy.
• Create an accessibility advisory council to oversee inclusive design.
• Start regular training to support accessible customer service in every interaction.

Your compliance with the Act will make a better future for all Manitobans a reality.