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This article was published 03/06/2014 (3289 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Selinger government and Red River College (RRC) will launch a pilot program this fall that will give 20 people with intellectual disabilities more access to job-training programs.

“This new program is an excellent way to improve accessibility to education while supporting the government’s goal to grow the workforce by 75,000 workers,” Finance Minister Jennifer Howard said in statement today.

Howard is the minister responsible for persons with disabilities.

The province says a 2013 report from the Canadian Association for Community Living estimated that 70 per cent of adults with intellectual disabilities are unemployed or out of the labour force, and are also three times more likely than non-disabled Canadians to live in poverty.

RRC will work with employers to ensure the program leads to successful job matches for graduates.

The Manitoba government will spend $266,000 towards the 20-student Transforming Futures program that begins in September. Registration begins June 9. More information available here.

Howard made the announcement during Manitoba Access Awareness Week, celebrated each year to raise awareness of the barriers Manitobans with disabilities face.