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Community > Partners
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MANITOBA GOVERNMENT NEWS RELEASE
News Media Services, Rm 29, Legislative Bldg.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 0V8
Ph: (204) 945-3746 Fax: (204) 945-3988
E-MAIL nmservices@leg.gov.mb.ca
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April 14, 2003
MORE MANITOBANS GAIN ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY
Sale celebrates 600 "On-ramps"
Provincial access to computers and the Internet is growing with the opening
of the 600th Community Connections site, Energy, Science and Technology
Minister Tim Sale announced today.
"Community Connections is an excellent example of the province working in
partnership with communities, the federal and municipal governments, the
not-for-profit and private sectors to help Manitobans, wherever they live,
take advantage of emerging opportunities in the global economy," said Sale.
The 600 access sites at public locations like schools, libraries and
community centres are funded equally between the province and the federal
government. There are 61 sites in northern Manitoba, 338 in rural areas and
201 in Winnipeg.
Speaking on behalf of Sale at the African Canadian Disability Community
Association today, Industry, Trade and Mines Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk said,
"this program has a unique focus on a variety of assistive technologies that
ensures the needs of the disabled are accommodated. Our goal is to offer as
many Manitobans as possible access to computers and the Internet."
With the help of Community Connections, the African Canadian Disability
Community Association is one of the sites using specialized technology that
improves access to the Web for Manitobans with disabilities.
The site is one of 18 featuring WEB-4 All technology as part of the largest
pilot of the technology in Canada. WEB-4 All sites have software technology
that helps users set up public Internet computers to meet their individual
needs, such as having screens enlarged or read aloud.
These specialized sites help accommodate the disabled by including at least
one computer which is set up with a height adjustable desk, with a large
screen (19-inch) and a Braille printer.
Assistive Technology Grants are available to rural access sites to purchase
technology to assist persons with disabilities in accessing the Internet.
Some examples of assistive technology are expanded keyboards, trackball
mice, screen reading and screen magnification software.
Through Community Connections, additional activities such as computer
training and youth development are supported in the local community to
encourage public use of the Internet. |
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