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Accessibility Plan: 2025-2027
*This publication is available in alternate formats upon request.
City of Steinbach Accessibility Plan | Page 2
PART 1: Baseline Report
a. Overview of Programs and Services
The City of Steinbach provides municipal services to approximately 19,000 citizens
in Steinbach. Core services include water and wastewater management, street
and sidewalk maintenance, waste and recycling services, land administration,
parks and recreation facility management. To provide these services, the City
operates and maintains a variety of buildings and facilities which are on both ends
of the spectrum in terms of public access. Some facilities are open to the public at
all times and others are not. There are also limited times where City employees
are required to attend to citizens at their private residences. Lastly, the City is
responsible for communicating with residents about the programs and services it
provides and responding to inquiries. As the City is a public entity, existing to
serve all residents of Steinbach, the removal of accessibility barriers is an
important consideration for the City.
b. Accessibility Achievements
City employees responsible for customer service or accessibility policies
receive training on how to serve people with accessibility barriers within
the first weeks of employment.
The City of Steinbach funds an accessible transit service for senior citizens
and people with disabilities. Fare rates are kept low through subsidies from
local taxation and the government of Manitoba's Mobility Disadvantaged
Transportation Program.
The City of Steinbach has an Accessibility Committee of at least three
members that review all programs, services, policies, procedures, employee
training, new initiatives, new facilities and feedback with accessibility
challenges in mind. The goal of this committee is continuous improvement
in preventing, reducing and removing accessibility barriers.
City of Steinbach Accessibility Plan | Page 3
The City of Steinbach has a process in place for receiving and responding to
feedback concerning accessibility issues.
Most public City facilities have automated doors and/or lever door handles
and are wheelchair accessible.
In most City facilities, dedicated receptionists and/or customer service
representatives are available to greet, direct and offer the public
assistance. These employees are empowered to accommodate all visitors.
This includes physically writing out cheques and filling out forms on
people's behalf, as well as explaining processes.
City facilities where there is no receptionist or customer service
representative have signage to provide direction and identify facility
amenities.
City employees have access to interpreters through the office of Eastman
Immigrant Services when required.
A variety of methods are used to communicate City services and programs
to the public. This includes advertising in the local newspaper, radio ads,
social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, direct
mail and website posts.
The City's website is designed with accessibility as a main goal. Significant
white space, contrasting panels, alternate text for pictures, plain language,
and an easy to read, large font is used. Website links are labeled for
content identification and the site is compatible with screen reader
software. Any documents available on the City's website are also available
in paper copy at City Hall by request.
Computer and internet access are not a requirement for the public to
access City services and programs. Computers are available at the Jake Epp
Library for people wanting to correspond or access City information online.
City of Steinbach Accessibility Plan | Page 4
Steinbach Alert Now, the City's emergency notification service, is a web-
based service that provides notification to citizens using text, email and
phone call during an emergency. Citizens can either sign up online or they
can call or visit City Hall to register for the service. Notifications are offered
through TTY for people that are deaf or speech impaired.
City council meetings are steamed live on YouTube and video recordings
are also made available for playback on the City YouTube channel. YouTube
provides a closed captioning service for the hearing impaired. This is in
addition to paper copies of the meeting minutes which are available online
and in person at City Hall.
c. Accessibility Barriers
City of Steinbach facilities range in terms of physical accessibility depending on
age. Newer buildings are more easily accessible than some of the older facilities.
Below is a list of known accessibility barriers specific to each City facility:
Facility
Accessibility Barriers
Operations Building
51 Millwork Drive
Entrance doors do not have accessible door openers
and handles are click and pull style.
Aquatic Centre
330 Park Road
Signage for changerooms does not have braille.
There are no lift devices in the changerooms.
Fire Hall
477 Main Street
The door for accessible ramp access to the training
room does not have an accessible opener.
City of Steinbach Accessibility Plan | Page 5
Facility
Accessibility Barriers
City Hall
225 Reimer
The northern most entrance door facing Reimer
Avenue does not have an accessible opener.
Main reception desk does not have accessible height
access.
PART 2: Accessibility Plan
a. Statement of Commitment
The City of Steinbach is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for
people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in
ways that allow them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in
inclusion. We are committed to meeting the needs of the people who face
accessibility barriers. We will do this by identifying, removing and preventing
accessibility barriers as is reasonably possible and by meeting the requirements of
The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA). These policies are available on the
City of Steinbach website and in public facilities operated by the City of Steinbach.
b. Policies
1. Accessible Communication
The City of Steinbach aims to remove communication barriers through the
use of various communication tools and methods for people that self-
identify as being disabled by a barrier. This includes welcoming and
supporting the use of: alternate information presentation formats or
methods, assistive devices, support persons and service animals where
possible.
City of Steinbach Accessibility Plan | Page 6
2. Accessible Facilities
The City of Steinbach aims to maintain barrier free access to its public
facilities so that they benefit everyone as intended. Public entrance ways,
hallways and meeting rooms are maintained with accessibility concerns in
mind. Where possible, City employees are available upon request to assist
with existing accessibility barriers in older buildings. We welcome and
support the use of: assistive devices, support persons and service animals
where possible.
In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption of services or facilities
for customers disabled by barriers, we will post notices on the premises
and on the City of Steinbach website to announce the disruption. We will
post notices for inaccessible washrooms, automatic doors and
entranceways. Notices will be posted at the entrance to affected public
facilities.
3. Accessible Employment
The City of Steinbach is committed to providing an accessible workplace for
City employees. Reasonable workplace accommodations and individual-
specific emergency response strategies are available to meet the needs of
employees. Management seeks to reduce or eliminate accessibility barriers
that affect employee performance or opportunities for training and
advancement.
4. Assistive Devices, Support Persons & Service Animals
The City of Steinbach welcomes and supports the use of personal assistive
devices, support persons and service animals when accessing our goods,
services or public facilities. In cases where assistive devices, support
persons or service animals present significant and unavoidable health or
safety concerns, other measures will be taken to ensure the person with a
disability can access our goods, services or facilities.
City of Steinbach Accessibility Plan | Page 7
When it is not easy to identify that an animal is a service animal and if
appropriate, City employees may ask:
a. Is the animal assisting you?
b. What assistance has the animal been trained to provide related to
your disability?
If service animals are prohibited by another law, we will do the following to
ensure people with disabilities can access our goods, services or public
facilities:
a. Explain why the animal is excluded
b. Discuss with the customer another way of providing goods, services
access to public facilities
5. Accessibility Committee
The City of Steinbach will maintain an Accessibility Committee of at least
three members that reviews all programs, services, policies, procedures,
employee training, new initiatives and facilities with accessibility challenges
in mind.
6. Employee Training
City employees responsible for customer service or accessibility policies
receive training on how to serve people with accessibility barriers. Training
includes:
Background and purpose of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act.
The requirements of the Accessibility Standard for Customer Service.
Explanation of all policies relating to the Accessibility Standard for
Customer Service.
How to interact and communicate with people with accessibility
barriers including those who use assistive devices, service animals or
support people.
City of Steinbach Accessibility Plan | Page 8
How to use the equipment or devices available on-site or otherwise
provided, to help people access goods, services and public facilities.
These include automatic doors and wheelchair lifts at the swimming
pool.
What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing
our goods, services or public facilities.
City employees will also be informed and trained where necessary
when changes are made to our accessible customer service policies.
7. Public Consultation
The City of Steinbach provided a draft copy of this Accessibility Plan to the
public for feedback before finalizing and submitting to the Province of
Manitoba. A $100 gift card draw was offered to entice people to fill out the
survey and ____ responses were received. The following feedback was
incorporated into this plan...
8. Feedback
The City of Steinbach welcomes feedback on how we provide accessible
customer service. Feedback helps us identify barriers and respond to
concerns. The City of Steinbach accepts feedback on accessibility issues and
complaints in person at any of our public facilities, over the phone, and on
our website. All accessibility feedback is reviewed by the City of Steinbach
Accessibility Committee. A City employee will respond to issues and
complaints within three regular business days. Documentation of feedback
is available on request.
c. Actions Planned for 2025-2027
The City of Steinbach Accessibility Committee will continue to meet with
the purpose of reviewing City policies, practices, new By-Laws, programs,
services, employee training, communications, and feedback with
City of Steinbach Accessibility Plan | Page 9
accessibility concerns in mind. Where possible, the committee will make
recommendations to reduce and remove accessibility barriers.
The Accessibility Committee will obtain an Accessibility consultation/ audit
of publicly accessible spaces in older buildings.
The Accessibility Committee will review future amendments and additions
to Manitoba accessibility standards and implement necessary changes to
policy and standard practices.
The City intends to replace the current City website so that it is WAC2.111
compliant.
d. Expected Outcomes for 2025-2027
1. Steinbach residents with accessibility barriers are able to access City
services, facilities and programs while maintaining their independence.
2. City employees are trained to be conscious and aware of accessibility
barriers and recognize accessibility challenges.
3. City employees are confident in accommodating an accessibility barrier
having been provided with training and the tools to assist.
4. City employees with accessibility barriers are accommodated with
reasonable solutions to provide equal opportunities.
5. Senior management considers and incorporates accessibility requirements
in their short and long term planning going forward.
City of Steinbach Accessibility Plan | Page 10
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contact Person:
Adam Thiessen - Manager, Corporate Services
204-346-6530
[email protected]
______________________________________ Date: ________________
Troy Warkentin
City Manager