Awareness Dates

MAAW

Manitoba Access
Awareness Week

May 25 to 31, 2025

Resources

Originally recognized in the 1980s, Manitoba Access Awareness Week (MAAW) is celebrated the week starting on the last Sunday in May of each year. This weeklong awareness celebration promotes accessibility and inclusion. It also acknowledges the people who are working to prevent, identify and remove barriers to accessibility, while also raising awareness about accessibility issues within the province that affect people with disabilities and many others.

Spread Awareness

Nearly every Manitoban either has a disability, knows someone with a disability, or will develop a disability at some point in their life. People with disabilities come from all social, economical and educational backgrounds. A disability can occur at any stage of life and may be temporary or permanent. Removing barriers benefits all Manitobans.

Help spread awareness about accessibility issues during Manitoba Accessibility Week.

• follow along on social media by using #AccessibleMB
• encourage conversations within your community, at home, in the workplace or online about issues affecting Manitobans with disabilities
• learn more about The Accessibility for Manitobans Act
• view and read the Manitoba government's official MAAW proclamation

DEAM

Disability Employment
Awareness Month

Date: October, 2025

Resource

The Manitoba government officially proclaimed October as Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) in 2012. This month-long celebration is part of a national effort, with provinces across Canada also participating in the awareness celebrations.

Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the positive contributions people with disabilities make toward developing a more diverse and inclusive workforce for all. During the month, employers are encouraged to highlight the positive contributions that employees with disabilities make within their businesses.

Raise Awareness

Did you know that nearly one in four Manitobans has a disability?

That means that chances are, one of your employees or future employees may have a disability. Making small accommodations in the workplace cost little to nothing and can positively affect your business. It expands your businesses pool of qualified candidates and can help retain employees.

Start the conversation by celebrating Disability Employment Awareness Month.

• follow along on social media by using #AccessibleMB
• learn more about Canada’s contributions by visiting Canada.ca
• learn about Manitoba’s Accessible Employment Standard and The Accessibility for Manitobans Act
• view and read the Manitoba government's official DEAM proclamation

IDAM

Indigenous Disability
Awareness Month

Date: November 2025

Resource

The British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) created Indigenous Disability Awareness Month in 2015. In 2021, the Manitoba government recognized November as Indigenous Disability Awareness Month (IDAM).

Manitobans join people across the country in promoting awareness of the barriers experienced by Indigenous people living with disabilities.

Annually, Indigenous Disability Awareness Month is recognized in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and by the Assembly of First Nations, BC First Nations Summit, Métis Nation of BC, Council of Yukon First Nations, the Town of Inuvik, and hundreds of other organizations and communities across Canada. The recognition of the month is the only Indigenous disability-specific awareness initiative of its kind in the world.

In 2017, the United Nations International Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recommended to Canada to officially recognize and proclaim November as IDAM as an annual event.

Get Involved

Indigenous peoples across Canada experience a disability rate that is much higher than that of the general population. Indigenous Disability Awareness Month (IDAM) brings awareness of the barriers and issues that Indigenous peoples living with disabilities and their families experience every day. Despite these barriers, there is much to celebrate.

Indigenous Disability Awareness Month highlights the achievements of Indigenous peoples living with disabilities and recognizes the significant and valuable contributions they make to our communities, including socially, economically and culturally.

Get involved and recognize the valuable contributions that Indigenous peoples with disabilities make to their communities.

• follow along on social media by using #AccessibleMB
• view and read the Manitoba government's official IDAM proclamation
• learn more about The Accessibility for Manitobans Act
• visit British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society to learn more about their programs and initiatives

IDPD

International Day of Persons
with Disabilities

Webinar Date: December 3, 2025

Resource

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is a celebration held annually on December 3. Proclaimed in 1992, by The United Nations General Assembly, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities promotes an understanding of disability issues and calls for supporting the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

Each year, Manitoba joins people across the world in promoting the rights and well-being of people with disabilities in every aspect of life, including political, social, economic and cultural.

Participate this year

The world's population is ever increasing and more than one billion people or approximately 15% of the world's population live with some form of disability, with 80% living in developing countries.

Evidence and experience shows that when barriers are eliminated, and people with disabilities are empowered to take part, the whole community benefits. When we prioritize accessibility and inclusion, the result is progress for everyone.

Celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities and show your support for the elimination of barriers.

• follow along on social media by using the #AccessibleMB or #IDPD
• learn more about The United Nations contributions and efforts, by visiting The United Nations website
• learn more about Canada's contributions, by visiting Canada.ca
• learn more about the Accessibility for Manitobans Act
• View and read the Manitoba government's official IDPD proclamation