Peter Tonge Consulting

05/08/2024

Accessibility at Artspace Survey

Peter Tonge Consulting is working with the Artspace team as they plan for some physical improvements at the Artspace building. As they make these plans, we would like to hear from you about accessibility issues you may have encountered or noticed.

We appreciate your input, and if you would like to connect more deeply on this, we have left a spot for you to leave your contact email for follow-up. You can skip any question that does not apply to you.

If you have any questions about this process, this survey, or Peter Tonge Consulting, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Link to survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/78NZWNT

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

05/01/2024

The Cerebral Palsy Association’s Winnipeg Bike Race is almost here! The Stationary Bike Race is the largest fundraiser for the Cerebral Palsy Association, which provides support and services in the form of grants for specialized mobility devices, communication equipment, and computer technology to support individuals and families living with cerebral palsy. The Association also provides university and college scholarships and advocacy in areas such as education, housing, accessibility, and human rights.

There is still time to give! Please follow this link: https://www.supportcerebralpalsy.ca/participant/44/796/9041/

If you can, please help. Your generosity will have an impact!

04/24/2024

Beginning May 1st, provincial legislation for the Accessibility for Manitobans Act will introduce a new accessibility standard. This standard will apply to all public sector library and educational institutions in Manitoba. The Accessible Information and Communication Standard Regulation aims to make digital, print, and technological interactions barrier-free.

Key points of the standard:

- It builds upon existing requirements of Manitoba's Human Rights Code.
- It helps organizations identify and remove barriers for print and website users.
- It adopts globally recognized web content accessibility guidelines.
- It is mandatory for all organizations in Manitoba with one or more employees.

The main requirements of the Accessible Information and Communication Standard include:

- Websites must meet WCAG 2.1 level AA standards for accessibility.
- All new or updated content must adhere to WCAG 2.1 level AA guidelines.
- Informing the public that your information is accessible is required.
- Organizations must offer information in accessible formats upon request.
- Organizations must establish a process for receiving and responding to accessibility feedback.
- Employees must receive accessible communication training to identify and remove barriers.

Is this news to you?

You can work towards compliance by the May 1 deadline by prioritizing your efforts with this strategy:

- Start with the documents you use most often.
- Make sure documents most commonly accessed by others are accessible.
- Make a plan and implement how you will offer alternative formats

You can reach out if you have questions or if you need some help to meet this deadline. Let’s work towards moving your organization forward. It's what we do!

04/17/2024

Earlier this month, I had the chance to participate in my favorite sport: wheelchair fencing. Not only did I get to take part, but I also had the opportunity to demonstrate it to others. The Manitoba Fencing Association, along with 33 other sports, was part of a province-wide accessible sports expo held in Niverville, organized by Accessible Sports Connection Manitoba.

Attendees had the chance to try wheelchair fencing for the first time, and we were able to showcase our passion for the sport both live and through local media. I want to extend a big thank you to my fencing buddy Sam and Coach Daria for their help in promoting the sport!

I'm using our blog to actively recruit members for our wheelchair fencing team. If you're interested in trying wheelchair fencing or learning more, please join us on Monday evenings at 145 Pacific Ave. in Winnipeg.

04/10/2024

When you're selecting new team members, it's important to consider how people with disabilities can bring value to your organization. Take a close look at the areas where your organization can improve and think about how candidates with disabilities might contribute. By asking the right questions in interviews, you can find the people who offer fresh perspectives, unique talents, and the hard and soft skills that can help your growth. Having representation from people with disabilities ensures that different viewpoints are considered, leading to better decision-making and collaboration. So, when hiring, focus on bringing in people who can bring something new to the table, rather than just fitting into the existing culture.

04/02/2024

Mark your calendars for May 11th, 2024! For the 4th year in a row, I am taking part in the Cerebral Palsy Association’s Winnipeg Bike Race. The Stationary Bike Race is the largest fundraiser for the Cerebral Palsy Association, which provides support and services in the form of grants for specialized mobility devices, communication equipment, and computer technology to support individuals and families living with cerebral palsy. The Association also provides university and college scholarships and advocacy in areas such as education, housing, accessibility, and human rights.

To donate, please follow this link:
https://www.supportcerebralpalsy.ca/participant/44/796/9041/

If you can, please donate. Your generosity will have an impact!

03/27/2024

My parents were ahead of their time. In 1969, they worked with the school board and local government to enable me to attend a “regular” school. Thanks to them, I attended my local elementary school alongside my friends, sharing the same classroom and coursework, just as my brothers and sisters had done. This experience set my path for life ahead. As I grew older, I continued to work and play in the community along with my siblings and my friends.

Programs supporting students with disabilities or learning differences are continuously being cut. While this might initially appear to be solely about budget constraints, it's more of a decision regarding the model of education. Integration in classrooms is vital in preparing all students for their future. It fosters openness, acceptance, and diversity. This is the path we must continue to pursue.

In 1969, my parents couldn’t fathom a world where we could have hybrid classrooms, instant captioning, and universal design; they just didn’t want me to be left behind. But we live in a bigger and better world now, full of technology and long-standing, understood concepts of inclusion — we just need to put them to work for us.

03/22/2024

Here at Peter Tonge Consulting, we are pleased to announce a new project in partnership with the Killarney Turtle Mountain Arts Council. The council is currently located in a heritage home in Killarney Manitoba. They are undertaking an expansion and renovation project to make their location more accessible to older patrons and those in the Deaf and disability community.

This project is exciting for many reasons. The council has gathered together accessibility consultants, local designers, and contractors all focused on making the new location as accessible as possible. Each contributor has made inclusion a primary goal. Importantly, this is being done not as an afterthought but during the design stage. As a result, each component will work together to make a very accessible space, and this will be done as cost-effectively as possible. It's also exciting because I love art, art spaces and being around others who make art!

It is our privilege to be involved so early in this project. We are looking forward to its growth and development over the months ahead.

If you live in the Killarney area, are a person with a disability, an artist, or an art lover, we could use your expertise! I’d love to hear about your experience at the TMAC and your hopes for future improvements. Please reach out!

03/13/2024

Did you know that June 1, 2024, is an important date for small federally-regulated private sector entities? Businesses with 10 to 99 employees are required to publish their initial accessibility plans according to the Accessible Canada Regulations.

What's an accessibility plan? It's a document that outlines how businesses intend to remove barriers in various areas, with a specific focus on employment practices. The plan is developed through consultations with individuals with disabilities to ensure it genuinely addresses their needs, as mandated by the Act, section 5(a).

For small federally-regulated private sector employers, like telecommunications companies, transportation, and banks, this means finding ways to make employment practices and hiring processes more accessible. Whether it's reevaluating recruitment strategies or incorporating inclusive employment practices, businesses need to make a plan to create a more accessible work environment.

Got questions or need guidance on starting your business's accessibility plan? We're here to help! Feel free to reach out with your inquiries on progressing your accessibility plan. We can move forward, together!

03/07/2024

How can you leverage technology to enhance inclusivity and diverse learning styles? Here are a few tech-focused strategies:

Screen reader compatibility: Ensure that the online platform and course materials are compatible with screen readers. Test the platform's compatibility and guide on configuring settings for optimal accessibility.
Use accessible formats: Offer course materials in multiple formats, such as HTML, PDF, and plain text. This allows individuals to choose the format that best suits their needs.
Alt text for images: Include descriptive alt text for images to ensure that everyone can understand the content. Alt text provides a textual description of visual elements, making the information accessible through screen readers.
Captioning for videos: Caption all videos to assist individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. This not only improves accessibility but also enhances the learning experience for all students by offering a multi-modal approach.
Accessible learning management system (LMS): Choose or customize an LMS that prioritizes accessibility features. This includes compatibility with keyboard navigation, high contrast settings, and compatibility with assistive technologies.
Collaboration tools: Implement collaboration tools that support real-time communication, creating interaction among students and instructors. Choose platforms that are accessible and offer features like closed captioning and screen sharing.
Make it hybrid: Offer a virtual option if you are offering an in-person option.

By adopting these strategies, educators and course designers can create a more inclusive learning experience, ensuring that people with disabilities and people who are deaf have equal access to educational opportunities. Embracing accessibility enriches the learning environment for everyone!
Photo: Rosey Goodman

03/07/2024

As many of you know, my small but mighty company, Peter Tonge Consulting, is a passion project. I love the important work we do. To make it easier to see what we do, we have created a LinkedIn page. Please follow us there! I’d love to connect!