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B. ACCESSIBILITY ACHIEVEMENTS
The following are steps already taken by WSD to achieve accessibility.
Strategic Plan
WSD
has included in its Strategic Plan 2016 to 2020 a strategic priority to
address barriers to learning. This priority aims at further developing
initiatives and innovative approaches addressing individual student’s
needs and accessibility requirements, mental health issues, childcare
needs and nutritional needs.
Attitudinal
Mental Health Initiative
The
overall goal of WSD’s Mental Health Initiative is to achieve a culture
in WSD where mental health and well-being are embedded into every
student’s school experience. Some elements within the initiative:
- Mental
Health Literacy (MHL) an understanding of mental wellness and illness.
It is knowing how to promote positive mental health and how to prevent
mental illness. By increasing knowledge about mental wellness and
illness, we reduce stigma and strengthen our own mental health and that
of those around us. Focusing on MHL at the start of the initiative
allowed all staff to share a common language. By June 2017 all schools
within WSD will have completed the MHL workshop.

- Healthy
Minds Week: A variety of presentations, workshops and activities are
offered to students, staff and families to promote mental health.
Information and Communication
WSD
Website uses captions for video uploaded to Vimeo. All printed
documents created from May 2016 onward advertise the availability of
alternate formats.
WSD Library Support Services provides a
resource-rich lending library of materials for classrooms and teachers
across the division in multiple formats, including digitally. The WSD
Digital Library, powered by OverDrive, provides students and staff with
immediate any-time anywhere access to a wide variety of e-books,
audiobooks, and interactive story books. How-to guides have been
translated to languages other than English and are available on the
divisional website.
Technology
Sharepoint 2013 division
and school websites have been evaluated using WCAG 2.0 (Level A) on
various browsers and platforms. The division website has a good
foundation in page navigation, labelling and structure. Website
information can be translated using integrated tools in Sharepoint.
IPads
are utilized in schools to support students and teachers with
accessibility support tools. Wifi is in all WSD buildings and provides
access for use of personal devices. The WSD telephone system is Voice
over internet Protocol (VoiP) with voicemail to email capability.
Interactive
surfaces are available in all newly built school classrooms. Many
interactive boards are utilized in existing schools to provide touch
accessibility. In addition, parents/guardians have access to information
on the public website.
Office 365 and G-Suite
Winnipeg
School Division offers a variety of technology tools designed to support
the varying needs, including disabilities, of both staff and students.
Office 365 and G-Suite for Education are two such tools that are
available to all WSD staff and students. These tools give users access
to web-based services that allow for the creating, sharing, and saving
of documents to a cloud based system for easy, anytime access to files.
The built-in sharing features to these two platforms allow users to
share content directly with others via a link, eliminating the need to
send file attachments. Direct management and editing of content in a web
browser makes files more accessible for users.
G-Suite for
Education provides users with a cloud based platform that allows for the
easy creation and sharing of files from any web-browser. Existing
online only, G-Suite apps give users the ability via their Google Drive
to create, share, and access their files from any device anywhere they
have an internet connection. G-Suite apps include Google Docs, Sheets,
Slides, Forms, Classroom just to name a few. As a management tool,
Google Classroom allows teachers to digitally hand out and receive
assignments from students as well as the ability to view, comment, and
support student work in progress. G-Suite for Education is currently a
tool available to all staff and students in Winnipeg School Division.
Office
365 is a cloud based Microsoft Office platform that allows users to
share and store all of their files in OneDrive cloud storage. With a
complement of programs (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, Sway etc) that
allow users to create, collaborate and share their work, Office 365
gives users the flexibility to access their work from any device,
anywhere they have a connection. Office 365 is also accessible from a
device running Microsoft Office 2013 or higher. This is currently a
service that is available to all staff and students in Winnipeg School
Division.
Both of these tools can be accessed by staff via
the staff portal and students can access these technology services from
the Winnipeg School Division website.
Systemic
Diversity and Equity Education Policy & Recruitment Policy
WSD
has put in place a Diversity and Equity Education Policy (IGAB-updated
06/15) and a Recruitment Policy (GCC 08/08) in which the division is
committed to an educational philosophy and hiring practices that
recognize the fundamental equality of people of all origins, abilities,
gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ethnic origin, ancestry,
culture, socio-economic background or status, religion or spirituality,
family status, mental and physical abilities, physical features
including body size and shape, intelligence or ability, learning
references, ancestry or place of birth, first language or mother tongue.
It supports and accommodates the acceptance, respect and appreciation
for all people, their languages and cultures, for their commonalities as
well as their differences.
Aboriginal Education Policy
Winnipeg
School Division has implemented a wide variety of initiatives to
support Aboriginal education, Aboriginal students and Aboriginal staff,
beginning with the establishment of a Native education consulting
teacher position in 1979. WSD implemented the Aboriginal Education
Policy (IGABA) in 1996, which was revised in 2005.
Safe and Caring Policy: Trans and Gender Diverse Students and Staff
WSD
has implemented a Safe and Caring Policy for Trans and Gender Diverse
students and staff (IGABB 06/16) as the division is committed to
providing safe, accessible learning opportunities, dignity, respect and
equity for all including trans and gender diverse students and staff.
Employment Equity Policy
WSD
has an Employment Equity Policy (GBA 02/04) that recognizes that the
division is committed to the removal of employment barriers, the
identification and removal of discriminatory practices and striving
toward a fair representation of women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with
disabilities and minorities at all levels within the division. The
division also recognizes the importance of not only teaching students
about equality, but demonstrating to students and staff the division’s
commitment to equality.
Certified Service Animals Policy
WSD
has adopted the Certified Service Animals Policy (JHFA 12/15) in which
the division is committed to supporting the use of certified service
animals in schools requested by a parent/guardian or employee as long as
the appropriate planning and preparation have taken place.
Physical and Architectural
Buildings
Winnipeg
School Division was established 145 years ago. Through long term
capital planning, the division has addressed multiple accessibility
issues for newly built schools and many of the older facilities. WSD
currently has 39 locations with either elevator(s) and/or lifts to
provide full or partial access within the facility. The majority of WSD
facilities have one or more direct access to buildings either by ramps,
elevators or paths. One or more auto door operators are located at
accessible entrances at 32 facilities. There are 40 WSD locations with
accessible washrooms and 37 locations with visibility strips on either
or both the interior and exterior stairs.
Transportation
WSD
currently operates 20 Wheelchair Lift equipped Type C (Conventional)
School Buses with a total wheelchair capacity of 82 wheelchair
passengers. Divisional demands for wheelchair accessible buses are
greater than the ability to fulfill the need within current provincial
bus replacement funding. The division has supplemented the provincial
funding to purchase more buses than the formula would provide, both
wheelchair accessible and standard units.
All drivers operating
buses transporting wheelchair passengers undergo an internal training
program on the unit’s operation, wheelchair securement and safety best
practices, in addition to the Provincially established School Bus
Operator’s Certificate Training. Furthermore, all WSD school bus drivers
are first aid certified as well as trained in the URIS program yearly.
Part 1 Section C