$28.3M For Accessibility In MB Schools

Manitoba's Provincial government has recently announced new funding totalling $28.3 million that will assist disabled students across the province.

In an announcement at the Ecole Macniell school, Protection and Government Services Minister James Teitsma and Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski revealed the sum of funding, and the fact that $12 million of this will go towards schools in Dauphin-area school districts.

Michaleski spoke on the benefits that schools like Ecole Macniell will see, which coincidentally, is where he went to school.

"The issue of accessibility is important. We want to make sure that there's no barriers. We want to eliminate as many barriers for people and families. Minister Teitsma mentioned it too, there's other people that attend these schools, and they're going to make use of these accessibility features as well. Again, a great investment for all of Manitoba and all Manitoba communities"

In total, 35 schools will be receiving funding in order to allow as many students and families as possible to more easily access schools and resources.

The funding is designed to build new infrastructure in schools that will empower students that are affected by mental and physical disabilities, and Minister Teitsma thinks many students will benefit from this.

"I would definetly say it's in the thousands if not tens of thousands as we have 28 school. I think the idea of making spaces more welcome and inclusive is also an example for all the students who attend that school to understand how to integrate a person with disabilities in their lives and in their class rooms."

The construction projects range from accessible hygiene rooms, accessibility entry ramps, elevators to access all floors of the school, and several other forms of lifts for stairs, libraries, and gymnasiums.

The school divisions that will be seeing this funding are as follows: